Some may argue, but one thing they all agree on is; Outkast changed the landscape for hip-hop in the South, and world wide to be more specific. The year was 1992, and the state of southern rap was constrained into two boxes….. the box that Luther “Luke Skywalker” Campbell built, or the empire coming from H-town created by hip-hop legeng, J. Prince and the Rap-A-Lot movement. In those days it was either or! The Cash Money takeover was in its infancy and Master P was just beginning to bubble. Outkast, was the first Major label act out of the south to have the machine pushing it.
The duo from the A-T-L (Atlanta), consisting of rappers Andre “3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton collectively known as Outkast, shot out of a cannon and is world renowned as legends in hip-hop. The duo has been a staple in music since droppoing ther 1994 classic, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, spurned the single “Player’s Ball” which exploded.
From there the stage was set, in 1996 the duo followed up with ATLiens and the infectiouness album Aquemini in 1998. There was nothing left to dispute. Outkast encompasses all the elements of greatness that has yet to be duplicated by any group in the industry. The unique blend of southern productions wrapped around a superb flow from both mc’s creates an euphoria that is unmatched.
In 2000, the group released it’s fourth album Stankonia which dropped a bomb shell with what is regarded as one of the most iconic songs ever, B.O.B. (Bombs Over Bahgdad) which displayed the groups full arsenal of creativeity. Before the paint could dry for B.O.B., Outkast released ‘Ms. Jackson’, an ode to all men dealing with a failed relationship which usually results in the whole baby dady syndrome. The album turned out to be the most iconic album ever!! In 2003, the double album Speakerboxxx / The Love Below double project which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200. The album had the the hit singles “Hey Ya!” and the anthem “The Way You Move”. The album would go on to win a Grammy Award for Album of the Year and recently has been certified, Diamond.
Outkast is rap royalty. Although the group hasn’t dropped an album in years, they are the greatest hip-hop group of all-time. With over 25 million records sold, with six Grammy Awards, Outkast are the true pioneers in the game.
INFLUENCE
Outkast influence over popular hip-hop and pop culture can’t be overstated! The funky mixture of hip-hop, r&b, and funk all mixed up in one constellation of goodness is a recipe for greatness. No one does it better! In the past decade, Outkast has been responsible for some of the most iconic collaborations in history. Outkast’s style of writing and production has inspired a wave of artists to come behind them. From Ciara to Chris Brown, the duo has worked with just about every big and up-and coming artists in the business. Although the years has passed since the groups last studio album, “Idlewild” in 2016 , the demand for the group remains high and anticipated.
Today, both “Andre 3000” and “Big Boi” are busy exploring their acting opportunities and rumors of an album seem distant and in the future, we still hold hope of such a reunion. Outkast influence assisted with a movement out of Atlanta was unprecedented.
From the release of their first project, to present, Outkast has been putting on for the “A” and continues to take over the world!!! Bow down and give praise to the Kings!! Period! We stand patiently for the heavenly flow that is soon to come! We will keep ya posted~
