Big Boi embodies what it means to be a quintessential ATLien, so it was only right that he came out to turn the city up amid this year’s 404 celebrations

The rapper has shaped Atlanta’s sound through his contributions to music as one-half of the legendary duo OutKast alongside fellow musician André Benjamin.

When the pair proclaimed that the “South got something to say” during the infamous 1995 Source Awards, it was one of those defining moments that put Atlanta’s hip-hop scene on full display.

During this year’s 404 Day celebration at Smorgasburg Atlanta, a weekly open-air food festival located in the city’s South Downtown neighborhood, Big Boi and Impossible Foods partnered to celebrate Atlanta through cuisine, and a free concert was also held.

“Well, actually, I don’t eat beef or pork, haven’t in like 30 years. I’ve always been on the Impossible Burger — it’s either that or a chicken sandwich or a turkey burger,” Big Boi told Blavity just minutes ahead of hitting the stage at the event.

“This is my burger of choice, so when they came to me, we just wanted to go big, and I was like, OK, cool. We’re gonna double it up, put the cheese on there, the lettuce, tomatoes, and raw onion, and that’s gon’ be mine,” he added.

Celebrating 20 years of ‘ATL’

March 28 marked 20 years since the motion picture ATL, starring T.I., Lauren London, Evan Ross, Jason Weaver and many more, including Big Boi, debuted in theaters.

In a recent interview with Blavity’s Shadow and Act, Ross discussed the chance encounter that occurred outside of the former Atlanta nightclub Compound, which led to Big Boi’s role as Marcus in the film. 

Ross also revealed that nearly all of the lines said by Big Boi in the film were improvised and simply evidence of the rapper’s pulse on the culture and his city; this continues today through events like the 404 Day celebration.

“It’s all about the people, man,” Big Boi said. “It’s about the Southern hospitality, definitely the music, the style, the fashion, and it’s a respect that we have for one another. So the camaraderie is what’s been keeping us here. And as long as everybody keep trying to elevate, we’re going to stay.”

On owning an owl as a pet

It doesn’t get more Atlanta than being a legacy rapper who also owns a pet owl, aptly named Hootie Hoo. In fact, that’s what makes the Peach State city what it is today — the individuality of all the people who have the pleasure of calling Atlanta home.

“It’s just some fly s**t, you know what I’m saying?” Big Boi said. “I’m firmly into animals. And I’ve always just loved the birds, so when I got the opportunity to own one, I took it upon myself to go out and get it. She’s really cool. She’s over in the dressing room right there, and I’m gonna take her out when I go out so people can see. Everybody’s been asking about her.”

While Hootie wasn’t too keen on being on stage alongside Big Boi for the performance, where the rapper ran through hits like “Ms. Jackson,” “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You),” and “B.O.B (Bombs Over Baghdad),” Organized Noize member Sleepy Brown was right by the rapper’s side to perform Atlanta anthems to the hometown crowd.

Additionally, fans went crazy when Dungeon Family member Corey Andrews, better known as BlackOwned C-Bone, appeared to perform “Kryptonite (I’m on It).”