Big Boi

The new album is slated to feature appearances from Kid Cudi, A$AP Rocky, Little Dragon, Theophilus London and Sleepy Brown, but Big Boi says he really hit it off with indie electro-rock duo Phantogram. He told Billboard, "Recording with them was one of the best studio sessions we've had. It was really good. We have a little side project that we're thinking about working on right now too, called Big Grams. [It's] a collaboration with me and Phantogram. I think we'll put out a little EP or something after they drop the next record. Me and T.I. just did a song as well. I have a couple tricks up my sleeve but that's enough for now.

He added that while Vicious Lies is "almost finished," he doesn't have to turn the record over to his label until the end of September. Big Boi describes the new material as "electro-funk. Before, I thought I'd be going traditional funk but now I think it's that soulful, soothing, sultry grooveshark. We just really had fun with it and making sure that the production is top notch and the lyrical content is there."

He also explained why he opted not to appear on a recent Frank Ocean song alongside OutKast cohort Andre 3000. Big Boi said that Andre decided "'I don't think we should give away an OutKast song on someone else's album' -- which I fully respect. To give away a full OutKast feature on a project that's not mine or his, is not what we wanted to do right now. Can't have an OutKast reunion on someone else's album."