Big Boi Speaks on New Solo LP, Outkast's Coachella Reunion & Joint EP with Phantogram

Ahead of the second Outkast performances on Coachella later today, Big Boi took some time to talk to The Hollywood Reporter and comment on the duo’s much-discussed reunion but also his upcoming third solo album that he hopes to finish this year despite a busy tour schedule. The album, yet untitled, will be a follow-up to 2012’s Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors and is set to host various guest appearances that Big Boi is keeping secret for the moment.

“I’m just working on it now. I’ve got a lot of music, but it ain’t done until you turn it in. We’re about to do 40-something more concerts, so [I’ll be] recording on the road and traveling.” “I’m shooting for this year,” he added. “You’ll definitely get a couple of songs before the end of the year. Whether the project is done or not just depends on how wild this road gets.”

As for his reunion with Andre 3000, he’s eager to continue revisiting both Outkast songs and solo material during these upcoming shows but also stresses the importance of having an open mind about it. For the pair’s second round stage later tonight, we should expect a new setlist.

“It’s been good. It’s been fun. It’s been one date so far. A lot of family and friends came out. We just jumped into the deep end of the pool like, ‘Let’s do it!’ Friday is round two and we gotta crank it back up again. The setlist might be slightly different. What happened was our set got cut by like five songs. We had to cut “Player’s Ball” and “Chronomentrophobia” because of the time constraints. But there’s probably a couple of songs [fans] didn’t hear then they’re gonna hear this time.”

The Atlanta native also a full collaborative release with Phantogram, titled Big Grams, in the works. At present, the plan is to release it as an EP, but Big Boi would have nothing against it becoming a full-length effort.

“We’ve got songs which were already recorded when we were working on my last record. They come down to Stankonia and we camp out for like a week and trade vibes. They go back to New York, then they come back down and we just keep the process going.”