If you have ever, ever professed to love hip-hop, here are two things you need to do/plan to do, immediately, if you haven't completed at least step one:
1) Get Big Boi's new solo album, Sir Luscious Left Foot ... the Son Of Chico Dusty.
If you haven't listened yet, well, what the hell have you waiting for? A loopy chunk of Southern funk, on the disc Big Boi's often-overlooked, rapid-fire but smooth rapping skills are firing at full cylinders. Sure, there are big-name collabos -- one particular Crossfade favorite, an album standout, is "Shine Blockas," which features Gucci Mane. But the star here is Big Boi himself, and the album, as a complete package, follows a complete musical and lyrical arc so satisfying, it'll make you love Island Def Jam for jumping on this solo release after his original label, Jive, let it gather dust on a shelf.
2) Show up to Sobe Live this Wednesday, August 8, by 8:30 p.m. for a free concert by Big Boi himself.
Yeah, it's free, no catch -- so get there early. The first 300 to 500 fans in line will get in with a ticket. The event is sponsored by HP and MySpace, as part of HP's campaign to improve sound quality on PCs.
In other words, the company is pushing its new HP laptops with integrated Beats Audio, quality soundcards and speakers approved by Dr. Dre himself and legendary industry honcho Jimmy Iovine.
If you can't get in, or can't make it at all, the show will stream live on MySpace, at myspace.com/hp. Otherwise, be 21 or older and get to SoBe Live, at 1203 Washington Avenue on South Beach. If you need to call the club, the number is 305-725-3353.
