Speculation began to swirl after Killer Mike and Big Boi both posted a photo to their individual Twitter and Instagram accounts that featured André 3000, Big Boi, Mike and his Run The Jewels counterpart El-P together in one room.
Die-hard Hip Hop fans, of course, were praying it was an indication they are all working on a top secret project together, but in reality the photo was taken just after RTJ performed at a private show for Vevo at Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City on Tuesday (April 25).
Mike’s caption to the photo read: “Ain’t nobody fucking with my clique!!!!!!!”
Daddy Fat Stacks also posted an image with a caption that celebrated 23 years of Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, and the fact he and André coincidentally showed up wearing the same Jordans.
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Run The Jewels’ DJ, aka Trackstar The DJ, who was in the room when the photos were taken told HipHopDX that while he was supportive of a collaboration between the four MCs, he couldn’t confirm anything concrete.
“We mostly talked about Big Boi’s upcoming album and the ‘Kill Jill’ joint with Mike, and the fact they were wearing matching Jordans,” Trackstar explained. “I can’t really add anything more encouraging than whatever they’ve all already said. I’m pretty certain everyone loves the idea, but if/when it happens, it’ll come about naturally. Unsurprisingly, I am firmly in favor.”
Trackstar also revealed it was most likely pure chance that André and Big Boi were in the same place at the same time.
“Dre and Big both showed up separately to say what’s up after the show, but somehow wearing the same Jordans,” he said. “I don’t know if they had talked and knew each other was coming, or if they just communicate telepathically. Neither would surprise me.”
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Killer Mike rose to prominence alongside the Outkast duo on songs like “Snappin’ and Trappin” from 2000’s Stankonia and “The Whole World.” In fact, the Atlanta native even earned a Grammy Award in 2003 for the latter, which took home the golden gramophone for Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group. He’s also scheduled to appear on Big Boi’s forthcoming solo album, Boomiverse,so it would make perfect sense if the four Hip Hop heavyweights teamed up for something.
Still, Outkast reunion rumors have been squashed in the past, most recently when a rep for André said there was “no [Outkast] news to report” in September 2016 after Gucci Mane mistakenly claimed he was in the studio for them. (The verse ended up being for Big Boi’s solo album).
Outkast famously reunited for a handful of shows in 2014 and took part in the Dungeon Family reunion concert last September, but have been working on their separate solo careers ever since. Ice Cold jumped on Frank Ocean’s “Solo (Reprise)” and A Tribe Called Quest’s celebrated album, We got it from Here…Thank You 4 Your service, on the track “Kids” last year, while Big Boi has been staying busy working on his forthcoming project(s). Whatever’s going down between them will hopefully benefit Hip Hop purists and music fans alike in the very near future. For now, check out the photos above and daydream.
