OutKast, the iconic duo consisting of rappers André 3000 and Big Boi, has left a profound and enduring legacy in the musical and cultural landscape. While together, the duo released six albums, and their sophomore studio album, ATLiens, turned 27 in August this year. Besides their success, OutKast has been widely celebrated for their groundbreaking approach to music. They famously blended various genres, including Hip Hop, funk, soul, jazz, and R&B. Moreover, they created a distinctive and ever-evolving sound that defied easy categorization. Overall, ATLiens is a remarkable album that effectively showcases the duo’s peculiar genre-blurring style. 27 years after its release, its cultural impact and relevance in Hip Hop is still strongly felt. Furthermore, it is regarded by many as one of the greatest Hip Hop albums of all time.
Rappers André 3000 (André Benjamin) and Big Boi (Antwan Patton) of Outkast poses for photos at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Chicago, Illinois in October 1998. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
ATLiens was released on August 27, 1996, following the duo’s 1994 debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. The album marked a notable evolution in OutKast’s sound and style. It was particularly a more experimental and daring album than their debut. Also, it explored a broader sonic soundscape as well. At the time of the album’s release, the rappers were both 21-year-olds, but they had begun writing and recording songs for it since they were 18. Soon after releasing their debut album, OutKast worked on ATLiens between late 1994 and early 1996.
The beats on ATLiens were handled by Organized Noize, a production team known for their work with the Dungeon Family. Their sound incorporated a blend of funk, dub, gospel, soul, and electronic elements, expertly creating otherworldly and futuristic production. This helped to reflect the duo’s desire to explore uncharted territory in Hip Hop. Furthermore, their musical evolution succeeded in challenging conventional norms.
The genre-blurring production provided by the duo, with help from Organized Noize, effectively depicts the artists’ vision. In addition to this, the lyrics on the album delve into a wide range of topics including social issues, personal introspection, and sci-fi references. ATLiens also reflected the duo’s artistic growth, as well as their open-mindedness and experimental nature.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the four songs released as singles from the 15-track album are some of its strongest offerings. “Elevators (Me & You),” “ATLiens,” “Wheelz of Steel,” and “Jazzy Belle” were some of the hit songs on the album, and received significant airplay, all while contributing to the commercial success of the album. There are a limited number of collaborations on ATLiens, and guest verses only appear on four of the 15 songs on the album. The featured artists are: Witchdoctor on “Ova Da Wudz” and “E.T. (Extraterrestrial),” T-Mo and Khujo on “Mainstream,” and Big Gipp and Cool Breeze on “Decatur Psalm.”
ATLiens unsurprisingly received critical acclaim upon its release. Critics had particular praise for its innovative production, lyrical complexity, and unorthodox themes. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and has since sold over two million units in the United States, earning it a 2x Platinum certification by the RIAA. With the album, OutKast became a formidable force in Hip Hop’s history. As a matter of fact, Billboard ranked the duo atop their list of the greatest rap groups of all time.
ATLiens remains a seminal work in OutKast’s discography. Moreover, it is often cited as one of the greatest Hip Hop albums of all time. The highly influential album solidified the duo as icons of Southern Hip Hop. Its widespread success and critical acclaim was the beginning of a magnificent run for OutKast in mainstream media. ATLiens maybe 27 years old, but it is renowned and respected for pushing creative boundaries. It is an inimitable album in Hip Hop that deserves every bit of honor it receives, and then some.
At this year’s 2023 VMAs, Colombian artist Shakira was honored with the Video Vanguard Award. While many fans applauded the decision, others felt MTV missed an opportunity to pay tribute to hip-hop’s 50th anniversary by not honoring a hip-hop artist for the award. SOHH, here’s a compiled list of hip-hop artists who could have been […]
Only two rap albums have ever taken home the Album Of The Year award at the Grammy’s. The first to ever do it was Lauryn Hill with her certified classic The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. The second and most recent win by a rap album was Outkast in 2004 for their double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. The album took home multiple awards that night. Those victories helped supplant Andre 3000 and Big Boi as one of the definitive rap groups of all time. In a recent appearance on the Elliott Wilson Experience Big Boi stopped by to give his thoughts on the night, the win, and something surprising that happened in the aftermath.
Firstly Wilson wanted to know the Atlanta legend’s thoughts on Outkast still having the most recent rap album to win Album Of The Year. He asked if that was a good or bad thing. “I mean, good in the sense of the level of respect that the group and the work got for that,” Big Boi answered quickly. “I can remember after we won, Quincy Jones sent me a card and was like, ‘Are you surprised?’ And I was like, ‘But how you get my mothaf*ckin’ address?!’” The full talk is available on Elliott Wilson’s Patreon, but you can watch a clip of it below.
For fans hoping that acknowledgment might be the first step in an eventual Outkast reunion, don’t hold your breath. Back in June frequent Outkast collaborator Sleepy Brown shot down any rumors of the duo getting back together. His main reason for the comments was that Andre 300 was off doing his own thing. What do you think of Big Boi’s stories from Outkast’s legendary 2004 Grammys? Let us know in the comment section below.
During a recent interview, Big Boi shared his thoughts on Billboard naming OutKast the best rap group of all time. The outlet dropped their ranking at the end of June, putting the duo ahead of fan-favorites like Wu-Tang Clan, NWA, A Tribe Called Quest, and more. The list sparked a bit of a debate, with some social media users feeling as though they shouldn’t be considered a “group” because there are only two members. Regardless, the duo has managed to make countless invaluable contributions to the world of hip hop since their ’90s debut.
In a clip of the interview, Elliott Wilson asks Big Boi whether or not the opinions and rankings even mean anything to him anymore. “It just depends who you ask,” he replies, “I’ll take it.” He continues, insisting that it’s subjective. “Everybody’s got an opinion and it just depends on the person, really,” he says. “They don’t do that on the other side,” Big Boi adds, “like, [who’s] the best, Nirvana or Led Zeppelin.” He continues, noting how hip hop in particular tends to put an emphasis on competition among artists. “Go make some jams and shut the f*ck up,” he says.
Though Big Boi appears to be relatively unfazed about his group’s ranking, the clip managed to reignite the debate on who the greatest rap group of all time is. As expected, Wu-Tang Clan super fans made their voices heard. A good amount of commenters, however, appear to agree with the sentiment that artists shouldn’t be pit against one another. “We’re all great in our own likeness,” one user notes.
Though fans would love the opportunity to catch OutKast live, it looks like it won’t be happening any time soon. Sleepy Brown told TMZ in June that for the time being, Andre 3000 is only focusing on his own projects. “[Andre 3000] is on a-whole-nother journey and he’s, you know, doing something. But me and Big [Boi] are still doing tours and stuff like that. Don’t hold your breath for no OutKast reunion. Don’t do it to yourself. It’s not gon’ happen, folks.
Outkast won’t be reuniting anytime soon… at least that’s what collaborator Sleepy Brown told TMZ recently. The group’s album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, is turning 20 years old this year — but there are no plans for any serious surprises.
“Nah, they not,” he said. “[André 3000] is on a whole nother journey and he’s, you know, doing something. But me and Big [Boi] are still doing tours and stuff like that.”
“Don’t hold your breath for no Outkast reunion,” he added. “Don’t do it to yourself. It’s not gon’ happen, folks. If you wanna see us, we gon’ be Dungeon Family. That’s about it.”
Later in the interview, Sleepy Brown was also asked about what his personal favorite Outkast album was.
“The thing about it [is], each album was a different journey. Outkast has taken people through country music with ‘Rosa Parks,’ they did rock with Stankonia, they did every genre you could ever think of in music, so it’s kinda hard to say which one is what.”
He continued, “But I’mma say Aquemini. For me, that album was the moment when Outkast really flourished as producers, too. So for me, that album is me watching them grow. That’s why it’s my favorite.”
Check out Sleepy Brown’s interview about Outkast here.
Don’t expect any new Outkast music, according to Sleepy Brown. The singer was caught at LAX by TMZ, and he stated the run is officially over. The album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below turns 20 this year, and Brown said a reunion isn’t likely.
“They not. Dre is on a whole nother journey and is doing something out there,” Brown said. “Me and Big still going, still doing tours. Don’t hold your breath on any Outkast reunion. If you want to see us we going to be Dungeon Family. That’s about it.”
Meanwhile, Andre 3000 is touring Japan, playing his flute.
Andre 3000 is one of hip hop’s most famous geminis, recently celebrating his 48th birthday on May 29th. The hip-hop legend came up alongside Big Boi as one-half of Outkast. Together, they released six studio albums, spawning some of hip-hop’s most iconic records. Andre 3000’s career and legacy have been cemented by Outkast’s historic run but he has since moved on to other successful solo ventures and collaborations. He has had a prolific acting career, notably starring as Jimi Hendrix in the biopic, Jimi: All Is By My Side and the animated series, Class of 3000 on Cartoon Network. Nowadays, he can be seen in random locations playing the flute.
The closest thing to a solo album from André 3000 came in the form of the second disc on Outkast’s penultimate album, Speakerboxxx / The Love Below. The Love Below was handled entirely by Andre, including production. Still, Speakerboxxx / The Love Below was still billed as an Outkast album. Beyond Outkast, André 3000 has produced songs for other artists, including Killer Mike, Kelis, Gwen Stefani, and Kids See Ghosts. He even produced a song on Big Boi’s debut solo album. He also released a 2-song EP in 2018 dedicated to his mother. Since the last Outkast album in 2006, André 3000 has expressed that he has little desire to release a full-length album, though he tends to hop on songs from other artists and obliterate his verses. An André 3000 feature verse is rare but always a moment as he tends to outshine whoever he is on a song with.
The Top Collabs of Andre 3000’s Solo Career
This is a list of André 3000’s best solo collaborations, drawing from his work with other artists outside of Outkast. Although some of his recent contributions, such as Kanye West’s “30 Hours,” have been minimal, he’s continuously showcased his unique flare on songs in recent years, such as the remix of Chris Brown’s “Deuces.” Still, Andre 3000 has had some unexpected collabs throughout the years that showcase exactly why he’s a rare breed in hip-hop. Below is a ranking of his best guest appearances throughout the years outside of his work with Big Boi. Take a look at the list below.
11. Frank Ocean – “Pink Matter” (2012)
What makes “Pink Matter” such a special collaboration is that it goes beyond just a simple guest verse. Frank Ocean pours his heart out onto the song’s slow, melancholic instrumental. For his verse, André 3000 fits perfectly into the pockets of the production’s downbeat rhythm. His contributions aren’t limited to bars, though. He follows his short yet potent verse with a show-stealing guitar solo. Towards the end of the song, André also sings a soulful outro. Many of Andre 3000’s collabs throughout his solo career consist of a guest verse, which is rare on its own. He and Frank Ocean went above and beyond on this song.
10. Beyoncé – “Party” (2011)
Beyoncé’s “Party” is the ultimate summer block party song. The song heavily samples Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s “La Di Da Di.” Beyoncé’s vocals shimmer over the song’s glamorous instrumental before Kanye West strips back the production for André’s verse. He “sets the scene” within his first line and weaves between different flows in a short verse. He approaches the song in a calm and collected manner and seamlessly flows over the beat.
9. Erykah Badu – “Hello” (2015)
André 3000 and Erykah Badu have a strong relationship, both as co-parents and as musical collaborators. “Hello” is a reflection of both of those relationships. The song interpolates “Hello It’s Me” by The Isley Brothers. It starts with a lush instrumental and André 3000 effortlessly floats over the simple chords with impressive rhyme patterns. He handles the song’s bridge, sings a second verse, and ends the song by singing the outro with Erykah Badu. The song is a highlight in Andre 3000’s solo career.
8. Drake – “The Real Her” (2011)
“The Real Her” is one of Drake’s best collaborations, featuring Lil Wayne and André 3000. In the beautifully moody song, Drake sings about falling in love with a stripper and wanting to know who she really is. Lil Wayne continues the same sentiment when rapping about how she stands out to him even though she has met other rappers. While the two rap about their feelings toward the girl, André focuses on the girl’s experiences. Though this thinking makes him feel attached, he does not give in to temptation.
7. Jeezy – “I Do” (2011)
Throughout his career, André 3000 has appeared on many all-star collaborations, many of which are on this list. No matter who is on the song, he manages to have the best verse, and “I Do” is a prime example of that. He joins Jeezy and JAY-Z for a song that gives “Int’l Players Anthem” vibes. Much like that UGK song, the song is extremely soulful and discusses marriage, although Jeezy and Jay marry the streets on “I Do.” André however, actually expresses his love for his woman.
6. Kanye West – “Life of the Party” (2021)
This song is the most recent addition to André 3000’s best collaborations in his solo career. “Life of the Party” comes from a deluxe version of Kanye West’s Donda album and its soulful instrumental brings fans back into the “old Kanye.” Though Kanye spits one of his best verses in recent memory on the song, it is André 3000 who steals the show before Kanye even begins. He raps about the pain of missing his mother and what he would say to her as he pens his verse.
5. Lil Wayne – “Interlude” (2011)
The intro, interlude, and outro of Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV album are essentially one long posse cut split into three songs. Each song features the same beat. Lil Wayne handles the intro by himself while the outro features Bun B, Nas, Shyne, and Busta Rhymes. “Interlude” is arguably the best out of the three as Tech N9ne spits his signature chopper flow, rapidly impressing with his complex rhyming. While only having 46 seconds to rap, André 3000 comes in with a relaxed verse and nicely contrasts Tech N9ne’s with his raps.
4. B.o.B – “Play the Guitar” (2011)
“Play the Guitar” is definitely playful. The funky instrumental allows B.o.B to showcase his animated flow, making for one of his greatest rapping performances. The song is fun on its own but André 3000 steals the show and makes the song his own. Some of the songs on this list are serious rap performances or vulnerable poetry-like verses. However, André is definitely enjoying himself on “Play the Guitar” as he slides across the beat. It makes for one of the most memorable verses of André 3000’s solo career.
3. Anderson .Paak – “Come Home” (2019)
“Come Home” is already a compelling album intro on its own as Anderson .Paak provides his signature soul to the percussive production. The 2019 track features a rare contribution from André, who spits a dazzling verse that only he could write. The verse is a masterclass in rhyme schemes as he raps at double time with tongue-twisting bars. The verse is even more magnificent as he manages to squeeze in multiple double entendres that will have you doubling back.
2. T.I. – “Sorry” (2012)
T.I. once admitted that André 3000 outrapped him on “Sorry” and it is clear why. The song is one of T.I.’s best rap performances but Andre 3000 rapped one of his best verses in his post-Outkast career. He starts his verse rapping fast but slows it down after saying, “I don’t even like rapping fast but that’s how the world comes to me.” André incorporates his different flows and cadences throughout the verse, even harmonizing part of it. He ends his verse with a bang, rapping, “all some pussy n**** on the Internet can say is, ‘That verse ain’t good.’”
1. Rick Ross – “Sixteen” (2012)
Like the majority of the collaborations on this last, André 3000 manages to make another artist’s track his own when he hops on it. Rick Ross’s “Sixteen” sounds like it was specifically designed for André to do just that. The idea of the song is that 16 bars just is not enough for a rapper to get their point across, which is articulated in the chorus. On the song, André goes above and beyond, handling the song’s hook and bridge while also rapping a 2-minute verse and playing a guitar solo at the end.
Rick Ross curates the song with a luxurious beat from J.U.S.T.I.C.E League, rapping a clean verse, and leaving everything else to André. Ross spits 32 bars while André raps a whopping 50, reflecting on his upbringing and how it got him to his current position. An André 3000 guest verse may be rare as he has not rapped much in his solo career, but verses like these are what make them such an event.
Slick Rick’s influence on hip-hop goes unnoticed by the majority of hip-hop fans in the present day. However, most 90s icons will credit the London-born MC for his impact. Rapper Slick Rick has been sampled across the board, from Beyonce to MF DOOM. Even Snoop Dogg’s “La Di Da Di” off of Doggystyle directly draws inspiration from Dougie E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s iconic “Lodi Dodi.” Nowadays, Slick Rick sits in the hall of fame of East Coast MCs. We’re reflecting on what is arguably his greatest album to date, The Art of Storytelling.
By the time Slick Rick was 18 years old, he was already making waves in the hip-hop industry. He joined Doug E. Fresh’s Get Fresh Crew under the stage name MC Ricky D. The Roots’ Questlove told Rolling Stone, “Point blank: Slick Rick’s voice was the most beautiful thing to happen to hip-hop culture. Rick is full of punchlines, wit, melody, cool cadence, confidence, and style. He is the blueprint.” His early success culminated with his signing to Def Jam Records in 1986, becoming only the third artist who inked a deal with the label.
Slick Rick’s The Art of Storytelling Revived His Career
NEW YORK, NEW YORK–MAY 15: Rapper Slick Rick (aka Richard Martin Lloyd Walters) and his mother appear in a photo shoot taken on May 15, 1991 in New York City. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives)
Just over a decade after his debut album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, the then 34-year-old was in utter need of a career revival. Subsequent projects in the forms of The Ruler’s Back and Behind Bars didn’t achieve the success of Rick’s debut. However, The Ruler was still able to solidify his own sonic lane by the time his fourth studio album rolled around. He made his debut in the late 80s, just as hip-hop began gaining commercial steam. However, as the 90s rolled around, and a new generation of rappers who he influenced emerged, legal issues and other hurdles had him in and out of the public eye throughout the peak of his relevance.
With The Art of Storytelling being Slick Rick’s final album, his overarching vision was to create a record that was timeless. Upon its release, the project reached No.8 on the Billboard 200 and No.1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart. As implied by the album’s name, Slick Rick had garnered a reputation for his iconic pen. Known for tracks that were almost too personal, if such a thing exists, the focus of The Art of Storytelling is on uncompromising honesty. Rather than the grandiosity of many of his contemporaries, Rick was writing verses existing in the weeds of reality.
Slick Rick during The 4th Annual Jammy Awards – Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
In particular, the project’s crown jewel would become the Outkast-aided “Street Talkin’.” More specifically, Big Boi shines on what would become one of the most commercially successful cuts in Slick Rick’s discography. The Art of Storytelling also featured Nas, Raekwon, and Snoop Dogg. The star-studded feature list was an obvious testament to how much respect Rick had garnered in the music industry. He assumes a variety of personas to parallel his precarious state of mind throughout The Ary of Storytelling. His morality tales surrounding poverty brought to life the stories of his upbringing. Slick Rick told The Guardian, “I think what I brought to hip-hop was a visual, storybook-type of a style, like reading a children’s book, but in rap form.”
However, the influence of The Art of Storytelling goes beyond its in-depth lyricism. The project’s soundscapes set the DNA for many of hip-hop’s sonic tropes going forward. The Chipmunk-soul induced “Frozen” blatantly wears a Kanye West The College Dropout era hat. Tracks such as “Me & Nas Bring It To Your Hardest” or “I Own America” are engaging boom-bap outings, mirroring the style that Rick grew up around. In addition, the emphasis on the drum pacing feels prototypical of future tracks from groups such as The Neptunes. With much of the album being sampled and referenced throughout future generations, The Art of Storytelling’s influence travels far beyond its numbers.
Slick Rick Spent Five Years in Prison
HOLLYWOOD – JUNE 29: Rap legend Slick Rick poses backstage at the 2004 Black Entertainment Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on June 29, 2004 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Leading up to The Art of Storytelling, Slick Rick had been through the wringer. Back in 1990, Slick Rick was convicted of attempted murder in the second degree in 1991. He was sentenced to three-and-a-third-to-ten years in prison. Rick ultimately served five years and twelve days behind bars. The story began with Slick Rick’s mother hiring his first cousin, Mark Plummer, as his bodyguard. However, Plummer would allegedly begin attempting to extort money from the artist while threatening Rick and his mother. The conflict led to Slick Rick firing four shots at Plummer after finding bullet holes in his front door, with one hitting Plummer and another hitting a passerby. While neither were seriously injured, the incident permanently altered Rick’s career.
Slick Rick’s time in prison gave him a fresh mindset heading into The Art of Storytelling. He told The Guardian, “But you learn from your mistakes; what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. You learn from your prison time, your bad and good situations. It’s like the story of Van Gogh with the ear-cutting-off: it depends on how you look at something.” The primary reason for Rick’s struggling second and third albums was that he was forced to create them in brief moments on bail. The time constraints forced him to rush the project. With The Art of Storytelling, Slick Rick was able to approach the album with a sense of purpose and reflection for the first time in a decade. The result? A generation-defining album for hip-hop.
Big Boi and André 3000 of OutKast are revered as two of the greatest MCs of all time, a take that’s cooler than a polar bear’s toenails at this point. The duo’s material still gets spins and love today, and a Dallas DJ named Menace recently showed appreciation in his own unique way. Moreover, he recreated the beat to the duo’s title track from their 1996 classic album ATLiens. Much to Menace’s surprise, none other than Killer Mike reached out to him and let him know that someone very special heard the recreation as well. Furthermore, Menace took to Twitter to express that Big Boi watching his recreation made his day.
“How fun is my life?” Menace began his appreciative message. “Earlier today I made a video recreating the “Atliens” beat with the original sample. Hours later I get a text from Killer Mike as he’s watching the video with f***ing BIG BOI in the studio!!!! Ha! Day made.” Big props to Menace for reaching the two hip-hop legends. Also, this adds to the lore surrounding Killer Mike’s next album MICHAEL.
Menace’s DJ Tribute To “ATLiens” Shouted Out By Killer Mike
How fun is my life? Earlier today I made a video recreating the “Atliens” beat with the original sample. Hours later I get a text from Killer Mike as he’s watching the video with fucking BIG BOI in the studio!!!! Ha! Day made. pic.twitter.com/XKDUJzQFvB
Recently, the R.A.P. Music MC revealed the tracklist (with hidden features) and the album cover. However, something that got fans even more excited was the news that the album will reportedly featureLil Wayne and André 3000 himself. While this news didn’t see official confirmation from the Run The Jewels member, it’s certainly not impossible. After all, Big Boi was also in the studio with him based on what Menace showed us, so is a reunion on the cards? Probably not, but a fan can dream. No matter who or what shows up on MICHAEL, we’re sure that it’ll be a fulfilling and triumphant return for the Dungeon Family alum.
Meanwhile, praise and influence continue to be two big factors on OutKast’s side. For example, Joe Budden recently labeled them the greatest rap group of all time, whereas T.I. believes they are the best Atlanta rappers ever. Whether it’s from fans or the industry, no all-time hip-hop rotation is complete without 3 Stacks and Sir Lucious Left Foot. For more news on OutKast and the latest updates on Killer Mike, keep checking in with HNHH.
