Big Boi's Lifelong Love for Kate Bush's Music

The Outkast rapper has long been a devoted fan of the English art pop legend.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 5:50pm

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Rapper Big Boi has been a longtime admirer of Kate Bush's music, with his appreciation for her work dating back to his teenage years when his uncle first introduced him to her albums like "The Kick Inside" and "The Hounds of Love". Big Boi has cited Bush as his favorite artist of all time and has even named her as his dream collaboration, recognizing her as a pioneering songwriter, producer, and performer. This devotion culminated in Big Boi inducting Bush into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.

Why it matters

Big Boi's fandom for Kate Bush, an English art pop icon, is an unexpected pairing that highlights the diverse musical influences that have shaped the Outkast rapper's own creative vision and sound. Despite the apparent stylistic differences, Big Boi has long championed Bush's innovative approach to songwriting and production, seeing her as a kindred spirit in pushing the boundaries of what music can achieve.

The details

Big Boi's love for Kate Bush's music began in his teenage years when his uncle introduced him to her albums like "The Kick Inside" and "The Hounds of Love". He was immediately drawn to Bush's distinctive vocal style and the production that "set a tone" for him. Over the years, Big Boi has continued to express his admiration for Bush, even revealing that "Babooshka" was his ringtone at one point. In 2003, he named Bush as his dream collaboration, and in 2023, he had the honor of inducting her into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, recognizing her as a pioneering songwriter, producer, and performer.

  • Big Boi was first introduced to Kate Bush's music when he was around 14 years old.
  • In 2003, Big Boi named Kate Bush as his dream collaboration.
  • In 2023, Big Boi inducted Kate Bush into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The players

Big Boi

An American rapper and one-half of the hip-hop duo Outkast, known for his eclectic musical tastes and appreciation for Kate Bush's innovative work.

Kate Bush

An English singer-songwriter and record producer, considered a pioneer of the art pop genre and known for her distinctive vocal style and experimental approach to music.

Russell

Big Boi's uncle, who first introduced him to Kate Bush's music when he was a teenager.

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What they’re saying

“I loved the production first and foremost because it kind of set a tone. Then, the way she was singing the songs— her voice was just angellic. I hadn't heard nobody do it like that.”

— Big Boi (Pitchfork)

“I consider me and Dre to be funkateers, man. Growing up, we listened to everything and I think that gives us the ability to make a free-flowing type of music. It doesn't matter whether it's country, reggae or rock and roll. Kate Bush is my favorite artist of all time.”

— Big Boi (The Guardian)

“I was that kid from 'Stranger Things'. It does not surprise me at all that Kate has enjoyed a huge surge in popularity decades after she emerged on the scene. I know that some of you are thinking, 'What does Kate Bush have to do with hip-hop?' What I love about Kate's music is that I never know what sound I'm going to hear next. They sound fresh and surprising every time. They fill my head with ideas and expand my ambitions for what music can achieve. Kate is a songwriter, producer, and performer without equal. If that's not hip-hop, I don't know what is.”

— Big Boi (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)

The takeaway

Big Boi's lifelong appreciation for Kate Bush's innovative and genre-defying music serves as a testament to the power of open-mindedness and the ability to find inspiration in unexpected places. His championing of Bush's work highlights the cross-pollination of ideas that can occur when artists from vastly different backgrounds come together, pushing the boundaries of what music can achieve.