Big Boi to join Celebrity Big Brother?

Image: Big Boi

The internet is awash with gossip today that one of hip-hop’s most revered and relevant rappers will be dropping into the TV show which gripped the nation (in the last decade), Celebrity Big Brother. Big Boi, one half of Outkast and part of the Dungeon Family clique in Atlanta which also spawned Cee-Lo Green, has reportedly accepted a fee in the region of three hundred thousand pounds to go on the show, quite the coup considering the artist remains a huge draw within the genre.

The rest of the reputed cast certainly lives up the show’s rich traditions, with 90s heartthrob Abz of the recently formed 5ive, washed up supermodel Sophie Anderton and aggro in a can columnist Carol McGiffin. And then there's their fond legacy of racism, rumoured to be represented by controversial former football pundit Ron Atkinson, widely believed to be 'seizing the opportunity to show viewers a different side to his character'. That should work out well Ron. We’re definitely looking forward to you and Big Boi discussing the merits of Rosa Parks.

With your writer having been entranced by Big Boi performing live as recently at Glastonbury 2011 (check out the footage above) and his solo work being warmly received by critics, we’re not sure he needs the attention. And with those Outkast publishing credits and a bevy of business interests that include a partnership with Converse and a dog breeding empire he hardly needs the finances either. Let’s just hope it’s a rumour as vicious as his rapid fire delivery can be.

We’re countering that feeling of dejection rappers tend to give us every now and again (look away Busta Rhymes fans) by focusing on the realness the music can deliver, and it doesn’t come much more vivid than Slaughterhouse. The rugged and raw quartet hit Manchester’s Gorilla in less than a fortnight, the Aftermath artists continuing a strong presence of hip-hop in the city which has already seen KRS-One, the Pharcyde, Camp Lo and Immortal Technique rock up in recent months. Check out our preview of the show here, and their track ‘Throw it Away’.

Until that dates comes we’re going to lash Aquemini on the Skiddle HQ Stereo and hope all this talk goes away.

Tickets are no longer available for this event