When it comes to Hip Hop duos, no group has been impactful in terms of pushing the envelope like OutKast. Big Boi and Andre 3000 have the catalog to back it up. Let’s chop it up about their albums…
In 1994, Kast dropped their debut Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik under the LaFace imprint. During a time when the South was closely associated with booty music, Big Boi and Andre went against the grain by giving us consciousness with tracks like “Get Up, Get Out.” However, we were still given us something we could bump in our rides with “Players Ball” and the album’s title track.
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For their debut, the duo received Best New Artist of the Year award at the 1995 Source Awards. This would be the stage where Andre famously said “the South got something to say.” Additionally, Dre forewarned us that he and his rap mate were about to change the game once given an open ear and mind.
“But it’s like this though,” Andre said. “I’m tired of folks, ya know what I’m saying, dem close minded folks, ya know what I’m saying, like we got a demo tape and nobody wanna hear it.” The next year, came ATLiens.
On ‘Kast’s sophomore, they added a different element to their production with the use of outer space sound effects which were used in tracks like “ATLiens” and “Wheelz of Steel.”
ATLiens sold over two million copies in the U.S. The album spawned the singles “Elevators (Me & You),” “ATLiens,” & “Jazzy Belle.” Big Boi and Dre forge ahead of their Southern rap peers after this release.
In 1998, OutKast released their third album, Aquemini. Again, they would take their production to new heights with the use of live instruments. Their delivery and flow kept pace as well which was evident in “Return of the G.”
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OutKast would continue with their winning formula in terms of sound diversity. For example, the production on their fourth album Stankonia was infused with Electric Funk and Psychedelic Soul, which were influenced by George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkdelic and Sly & The Family Stone. Their sixth album Idlewild, the soundtrack to the movie of the same name, sounds were comprised of funk, jazz, and gospel.
Every album by the the Georgia natives have received numerous accolades and have done extremely well on the charts — but which OutKast album is the best?
In your opinion, which OutKast album is the best?
Polls Are Closed!!
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – 43%
Aquemini – 29%
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik – 14%
Stankonia – 14%
ATLiens – 0%
Idlewild – 0%