As promised by promoters, Big Boi’s first show ever in New Zealand was as much of a greatest hits set as it was a showcase of his new material. Not that his new work was actually going to be an issue, of course – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty was easily one of the best albums released last year and the crowd’s response to hearing the songs from it was just as genuine as the long list of Outkast tracks he picked from the vaults (including his verse from early-1993-classic ‘Player’s Ball’). And while songs like ‘Rosa Parks’, ‘B.O.B.’, ‘The Way You Move’ or the drowsy opus ‘SpottieOttieDopaliscious’ (the latter which justified bringing his entire horn section on tour) were brilliant, it was the songs from his new album that often glowed the most. His DJ used the stage as a backdrop for Big Boi’s videos, playing them in-sync to the music – many songs were sliced up or played in halves to make way for the A-side crammed set or to give way to the fact that some of the best moments from the album also came from other rappers (T.I. on ‘Tangerine’, Yelawolf on ‘You Ain’t No DJ’) but there wasn’t any contention in the room during ‘Fo Yo Sorrows’, ‘Shine Blockas’ or ‘Shutterbugg’. And shortly after inviting half-a-dozen girls on stage for the masterful strip-club rumble that’s ‘Tangerine’ (recalling Ghostface Killah’s performance of ‘Back Like That’ in the same venue two years ago), the show was soon over. It’s just too bad that it ended so early.

Promoters have announced that Big Boi’s Auckland show on August 25 has moved from Logan Campbell Centre to the Powerstation (a venue which is x1000 better, we might add). Tickets already purchased for the show will remain valid and for those that don’t already have one, they can be purchased via Ticketmaster from 10am today. After last week’s run-in with the law, Big Boi also took the time to confirm that he will definitely be heading down under. Watch below:

AP reports that Big Boi was arrested on Sunday for three counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. The rapper, who is scheduled to play in Auckland on August 25 at the Logan Campbell Centre (tickets are still on sale), was found with ecstasy, MDMA powder and Viagra pills in Miami – he was held on a US$16000 bond but later released.

Considering it’s one of the biggest hip-hop shows of the year, it deserves an equally big support announcement. Joining Big Boi at his show at Logan Cambell Centre on August 25 is Homebrew, PNC, Savage w/ Deceptikonz and DJ Sirvere w/ Deach. Tickets are still on sale to the event and are available now from Ticketek.

Big Boi announced on Twitter a few days ago that he’s been in the studio with Modest Mouse. Details of that are still scarce, but you can watch ‘Be Still’, the latest video from Sir Luscious Leftfoot: The Son Of Chico Dusty, featuring Janelle Monae who proves that these at least these two make a pretty great collaboration. See the video below and find tickets to Big Boi’s Auckland show here before they sell out.

You read that right – Big Boi has announced one New Zealand show at Auckland’s Logan Campbell Centre on August 25. The legend, backed by his full band, will be playing tracks from Sir Luscious Left Foot and Speakerboxxx as well as songs from Outkast’s back catalogue. Support acts will be announced on May 18 and tickets go on sale 9am April 14 from Ticketek. It’s probably worth mentioning that tickets for this won’t last long.

Big Boi w/ full live band
Thursday August 25
Logan Campbell Centre, Auckand

Who else got hyped when they heard Shutterbugg at the beginning of the new season of Entourage? It’s been awhile since For Yo Sorrows turned up on the internet last year, sparking excitement around the fact that Sir Luscious Left Foot was actually going to be released. It all seemed perfect until the news came that Andre 3000 wouldn’t be appearing on the album due to record label politics but Sir Luscious is filled with plenty of other worthy appearances including spots from T.I., Gucci Mane, Yelawolf, Janelle Monae and more. The album is out in New Zealand on Monday but for the time being you can stream it directly from his MySpace.