The group's original musical style was a mixture of Dirty South and G-Funk. Since then funk, soul, pop, electronic music, rock, spoken word poetry, jazz, and blues have been added to the group's musical palette. The duo consists of Atlanta native AndrΓ© "Andre 3000" Benjamin (formerly known as DrΓ©) and Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton.
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is one of only four hip-hop albums to be certified Diamond in the U.S. for shipping over 10 million units. Along with Outkast's commercial success, they have maintained an experimental approach in their music and are widely praised for their originality and artistic content.
Benjamin and Patton met while attending Tri-Cities High School, a Visual and Performing Arts School. Benjamin's parents were divorced and he was living with his father. Meanwhile, Patton had to move with his four brothers and six sisters from Savannah to Atlanta. Benjamin and Patton eventually teamed up and were pursued by Organized Noize, a group of local producers who would later make hits for TLC. The duo initially wanted to be called "2 Shades Deep" or "The Misfits", but because those names were already taken they later decided to use "OutKast" based on finding "outcast" as synonym for "misfit" in a dictionary. OutKast, Organized Noize, and schoolmates Goodie Mob formed the nucleus of the Dungeon Family organization.
OutKast signed to LaFace Records in 1992, becoming the label's first hip hop act and making their first appearance on the remix of label mate TLC's "What About Your Friends". In 1993, they released their first single, "Player's Ball". The song's funky style, much of it accomplished with live instrumentation, was a hit with audiences. "Player's Ball" hit number-one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.
Their debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, was issued on April 26th, 1994. This initial effort is credited with laying the foundation for southern hip hop and is considered a classic by many hip hop aficionados. Every track on Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik was produced by Organized Noize and featured other members of the Dungeon Family. Follow-up singles included the title track and "Git Up Git Out", a politically charged collaboration with Goodie Mob that was later sampled by Macy Gray for her 1999 hit "Do Something." On this early material, both AndrΓ© and Big Boi contrast lyrical content reflecting the lifestyles of pimps and gangsters with politically conscious material commenting on the status of African Americans in the South. OutKast won Best New Rap Group at the Source Awards in 1995. In the same year, the group contributed "Benz or a Beamer" to the popular New Jersey Drive soundtrack.
ATLiens was OutKast's second album, released on August 27th, 1996. The album exhibited more self-consciousness, and further solidified OutKast as the flagship representatives of the 1st generation Dungeon Family and the Southern hip hop movement. The album helped the group earn more recognition among East Coast hip hop fans in the East and West coasts.
For this album, OutKast joined with partner David "Mr. DJ" Sheats to form the Earthtone III production company, which allowed the group to produce some of their own tracks. "ATLiens" was the group's second Top 40 single (following "Player's Ball" from their first album), and reflected the beginning of AndrΓ©'s increasingly sober lifestyle: "No drugs or alcohol/so I can get the signal clear," he rhymes about himself. "Elevators (Me & You)," OutKast's first self-produced single, became the group's first Top 20 hit the same year.
OutKast's third album Aquemini was released on September 29, 1998 and also reached the number-two position on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States; its title was a combination of the zodiac signs of Big Boi (an Aquarius) and AndrΓ© (a Gemini). The album was widely praised as possibly the group's best material to date: when reviewed by popular hip-hop publication The Source, it received the much-coveted "5 Mics" (out of five) rating.
Producing more material themselves, both Big Boi and AndrΓ© explored more eclectic subject matter, delving into sounds inspired by soul, trip hop, and electro music. The album featured production by Organized Noize and collaborations with Raekwon, funk pioneer and musical forebear George Clinton, and Goodie Mob.
In 1999, OutKast and LaFace Records were sued by Rosa Parks over the album's most successful radio single, which bore Parks' name as its title. The lawsuit alleged that the song misappropriated Parks' name, and also objected to some of the song's obscene language.
The song's lyrics were largely unrelated to Parks, save for a line in the chorus: "Ah ha, hush that fuss / Everybody move to the back of the bus". The song, which OutKast maintained was intended partly as homage, only refers to Parks as a metaphor: the purpose of the song's chorus is to imply that OutKast is overturning hip hop's old order, that people should make way for a new style and sound. The initial lawsuit was dismissed. Parks' representation hired lawyer Johnnie Cochran to appeal the decision in 2001, but the appeal was denied on First Amendment grounds. In 2003, the Supreme Court allowed Parks' lawyers to proceed with the lawsuit.
In 2004, the judge in the case appointed an impartial representative for Parks after her family expressed concerns that her caretakers and her lawyers were pursuing the case based on their own financial interest. Later that same year, the members of OutKast were dropped as co-defendants, and Parks' lawyers continued to seek action against LaFace and parent company BMG. In 2003 AndrΓ© told UK journalist Angus Batey that, following a Detroit concert in the midst of the legal battle, relatives of Parks had approached him and implied that the case was less to do with Rosa than with the lawyers. The suit was finally settled on April 14, 2005, with neither OutKast nor their label having to admit any wrongdoing. The group did, however, have to agree to perform some sort of tribute to Parks.
Originally titled "Sandbox", the pair's fourth album, "Stankonia", was released in October 2000 to excellent reviews. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., and would eventually be certified quadruple-platinum. Stankonia's first single was "B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)", a high-tempo jungle-influenced record. The second single, "Ms. Jackson," combined a pop hook with lyrics about divorce and relationship breakups, particularly AndrΓ©'s breakup with singer Erykah Badu; the titular "Ms. Jackson" character being a doppelgΓ€nger for Badu's mother. It was at this time that AndrΓ© changed his stage name to the current "AndrΓ© 3000".
The single became their first pop hit, landing the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the number-two position on the UK Singles Chart. The album's final single was the Organized Noize-produced "So Fresh, So Clean", featuring a credited guest appearance from regular guest vocalist and Organized Noize-member Sleepy Brown and garnered a remix featuring Snoop Dogg. All three singles' videos had heavy MTV2 airplay, and Outkast won two 2001 Grammy Awards, one for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Ms. Jackson", and another for Stankonia as Best Rap Album.
During the recording of Stankonia, OutKast and Mr. DJ began producing tracks for the artists on their Aquemini Records imprint through Columbia, including Slimm Cutta Calhoun and Killer Mike, who made his debut on Stankonia's "Snappin' & Trappin."
Webzine Pitchforkmedia.com named Stankonia the 4th greatest album released between 2000 and 2004 in its 2005 feature. In 2009, B.O.B. was chosen as the number one song of the decade.
In December 2001, OutKast released a greatest hits album, Big Boi and Dre Present...OutKast, which also contained three new tracks. One of these new tracks was the single "The Whole World," which won a 2002 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Killer Mike also was featured on the song, gaining some exposure among areas outside of his native Atlanta. The other two new songs were called "Funkin' Around" and "Movin' Cool (The After Party)"
The same year OutKast participated in the only Dungeon Family group album, Even in Darkness, along with Goodie Mob, Killer Mike, Sleepy Brown, Witchdoctor, and Backbone among others, and featuring Bubba Sparxxx, Shuga Luv and Mello. In 2002, the group and Killer Mike contributed the lead single "Land of a Million Drums" to the Scooby Doo soundtrack.
In September 2003, OutKast released a double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It is essentially two solo albums, one by each member, packaged as a single release under the OutKast banner; the two members also appear on each others' discs for a few songs apiece. Big Boi's Speakerboxxx is largely a funk and Dirty South blended party record; AndrΓ© 3000's The Love Below features only brief instances of hip hop, presenting instead elements found in funk, jazz, rock, electronic music, and R&B.
The album is also OutKast's biggest commercial success yet, having debuted on the Billboard 200 albums chart at number-one and stayed there for several weeks. The album eventually sold over five million copies, and, as double-album sales count double for Recording Industry Association of America certification, the album was certified diamond for 10 million units shipped in December 2004. Its latest certification, in May 2006, reaches 11 million copies in shipping.
The first two singles from the album(s), which were released nearly simultaneously, were Big Boi's "The Way You Move" and AndrΓ© 3000's "Hey Ya!" The video for "Hey Ya!" is based on The Beatles' landmark appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The video's storyline has "The Love Below"βa fictional band with all members, through the use of special effects, played by AndrΓ©βperforming in London. "Hey Ya!" was the number one song on the very final weekend of American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. It was also number one a week later on the very first weekend of American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest. The singles spent ten weeks at number one on the Hot 100 singles chart, with "Hey Ya!" spending nineteen weeks and "The Way You Move" briefly taking over in February 2004. These singles were seen as a breakthrough for the hip-hop industry, being among the first hip-hop songs to be widely played on adult contemporary radio stations.
OutKast's next official single was not released until the summer of 2004. "Roses", a track featuring both members from The Love Below half of the album, did not meet the level of success as either of its predecessors, but it became a modest-sized hit on urban radio and the American music video networks. The video for "Roses" is loosely based on the musical West Side Story and Grease. It featured sparring 1950s-style gangs, one representing Speakerboxxx, and one representing The Love Below, parodying the widespread arguing among critics and fans as to which half of the album was better and that the two members were estranged. The final singles were AndrΓ© 3000's "Prototype", which was paired with a science fiction-themed video about alien visitors, and Speakerboxxx's "Ghettomusick," which featured both members of OutKast and a sample from a song by Patti LaBelle, who also makes an appearance in the video.
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below won the Grammy Award for the 2004 Album of the Year, becoming only the second rap album to ever receive the honor (the first being The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill in 1999). OutKast was one of the headlining acts at the show, and gave two performances: Big Boi performed "The Way You Move" during a medley with George Clinton & P-Funk and Robert Randolph and the Family Band, while AndrΓ© 3000 performed "Hey Ya!" as the show closed. In February 2004, AndrΓ© 3000's performance, which featured female dancers moving wildly around a green teepee in war paint and feathered headdresses, was criticized by the Native American Cultural Center, who called for a boycott of OutKast, Arista Records, NARAS, and of CBS, the broadcaster of the awards show. CBS later apologized.
Between OutKast albums, Big Boi and AndrΓ© 3000 ventured into film projects. AndrΓ© co-starred in John Singleton's action film Four Brothers and also had a part in Be Cool, while Big Boi took a featured role in the T.I. movie ATL. Both members also began working on a joint film, Idlewild, directed by OutKast music video director Bryan Barber. Idlewild, a Prohibition-era musical film set to a blues-influenced hip-hop soundtrack, was released on August 25, 2006 by Universal Pictures. The Idlewild soundtrack was released August 22, 2006. Its lead single, "Mighty 'O'", features both OutKast members, and was briefly played exclusively on local Atlanta radio stations before being issued as a single in May 2006. They released and shot the video for "Morris Brown" instead. A video for "Idlewild Blue (Don'tchu Worry About Me)" soon followed.
Aquemini Records folded in 2004, and Big Boi founded a new record label, Purple Ribbon Entertainment, to be distributed by Virgin Records. Among its first signees were Sleepy Brown, Bubba Sparxxx, and Killer Mike, Big Boi has released a group album/compilation, titled Big Boi Presents... The Purple Ribbon All-Stars - Got Purp? Vol. 2.
One album remains on the band's LaFace contract. It was originally planned as a ten-track release called 10 The Hard Way; shortly after Idlewild was released, the duo confirmed the album is still in the works, though both have begun new projects without releasing any new information on the album. Due to both Big Boi and AndrΓ©'s interest in separate projects such as movies, TV (AndrΓ©'s Class of 3000) and solo albums, rumors of a split have turned up frequently in the media. AndrΓ© denied those rumors in a phone interview with MTV News, stating that even though they do not feel like performing on stage together, OutKast is "still tight". In an August, 2006, interview with UK journalist Craig McLean, after emphasizing that they would not split, the pair looked beyond music and film careers, Big Boi suggesting he may consider running for the job of Mayor of Atlanta in the future.
In 2007, Andre 3000 confirmed a new OutKast album would be released, but said that he and Big Boi released solo records first, stating the group album is still possibly two years away. Big Boi's solo album will be released first in June/July of 2009, with the first single, "Royal Flush" (also featuring Andre 3000, essentially making it an OutKast song), planned to have been released on December 31, 2007, but was not released on the announced date. Big Boi announced on his MySpace that the release date for Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty is now sometime in the summer of 2009.
On Nov 14, 2008, the Guardian reported that OutKast will release their follow-up to Idlewild in 2009 after Big Boi and Andre 3000 release their solo albums in the same year. As of August 2009, the albums have not yet been released.
Bob
OutKast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One, two, three
Yeah, inslumnational, underground
Thunder pounds when I stomp the ground (woo)
Like a million elephants or silverback orangutans
You can't stop a train
Who want some? Don't come unprepared
Better be a household name
Weather man tellin' us it ain't gon' rain
So now we sittin' in a drop-top, soakin' wet
In a silk suit, tryin' not to sweat
Hit somersaults without the net
But this'll be the year that we won't forget
1-9-9-9, Anno Domini, anything goes, be whatchu wanna be
Long as you know consequences are given for livin'
The fence is too high to jump in jail
Too low to dig, I might just touch hell, hot
Get a life, now they on sale
Then I might cast you a spell
Look at what came in the mail
A scale and some Arm & Hammer
Soul-gold grill and a baby mama
Black Cadillac and a pack of Pampers
Stack of question with no answers
Cure for cancer, cure for AIDS
Make a nigga wanna stay on tour for days
Get back home, things are wrong
Well not really, it was bad all along
Before you left adds up to a ball of power
Thoughts at a thousands miles per hour
Hello, ghetto, let your brain breathe
Believe there's always mo', ow
Don't pull the thang out, unless you plan to bang
Bombs over Baghdad (yeah, yeah)
Don't even bang unless you plan to hit something
Bombs over Baghdad (yeah, uh)
Don't pull the thang out, unless you plan to bang
Bombs over Baghdad, yeah (ha, ha, ha)
Don't even bang unless you plan to hit something
Bombs over Baghdad
Uno, dos, tres, it's on
Did you ever think a pimp rock a microphone?
Like that there Boi and will still stay street
Big things happen every time we meet
Like a track team, crack fiend, dyin' to geek
Outkast bumpin' up and down the street
Slam back, Cadillac, 'bout five nigga deep
Seventy-five emcee's freestylin' to the beat
'Cause we get krunk, stay drunk, at the club
Should have bought an ounce, but you copped a dub
Should have held back, but you throwed the punch
'Spose to meet your girl but you packed a lunch
No D to the U to the G for you
Got a son on the way by the name of Bamboo
Got a little baby girl, four year, Jordan
Never turn my back on my kids for them
Should have hit it, quit it, rag-top
Before you re-up, get a laptop
Make a business for yourself, boy, set some goals
Make a fat diamond out of dusty coals
Record number four, but we on a roll
Hold up, slow up, stop, control
Like Janet, Planet, Stankonia's on ya
Movin' like Floyd, comin' straight to Florida
Lock all your windows, then block the corridors
Pullin' off my belt 'cause a whipping's in order
Like a three-piece fish before I cut your daughter
Yo quiero Taco Bell, then I hit the border
Pitty-pat rappers tryin' to get the five
I'm a microphone fiend tryin' to stay alive
When you come to ATL, boy, you betta not hide
'Cause the Dungeon Family gon' ride, ha
Don't pull the thang out, unless you plan to bang
Bombs over Baghdad (yeah)
Don't even bang unless you plan to hit something
Bombs over Baghdad (uh, yeah)
Don't pull the thang out, unless you plan to bang
Bombs over Baghdad (y'all heard me, yeah)
Don't even bang unless you plan to hit something
Bombs over Baghdad, yeah
Bombs over Baghdad, yeah
Bombs over Baghdad, yeah
Bombs over Baghdad, yeah
Bombs over Baghdad, yeah
(B-I-G B-O-I)
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top
Bob your head, rag-top (one, two, three, let's go)
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
Power music, electric revival
OutKast's song "B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)" is a high-energy anthem that shows the duo's skill in combining innovative beats and rhymes. The song is full of abstract imagery and clever wordplay, showcasing Andre 3000 and Big Boi's skills as lyricists. They use the music to challenge the listener to move forward, embrace change, and blaze your own path. The song was first released in 2000, at a time when Outkast was at the forefront of the hip-hop scene, winning them a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
The song opens with the lyrics "In-slum-national, underground / Thunder pounds when I stomp the ground," which set the tone of the song's aggressive and powerful beat. They compare themselves to "a million elephants with silverback orangutans," to communicate their strength and power. The song also serves as a political commentary on the power dynamics of the world, with references to the cure for cancer and AIDS, and the poverty and struggles endured by those living in the ghetto.
The chorus, "Don't pull the thang out unless you plan to bang / Bombs over Baghdad," is a call to arms, urging listeners to take action and fight for their rights. The repetition of "Bob your head, rag top" throughout the song reinforces the powerful and infectious energy of the music, while the line "Uno, dos, tres, it's on / Did you ever think a pimp rock a microphone?" is a nod to the duo's unique style.
In summary, "B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)" is a highly energetic and politically-charged song that showcases OutKast's skill in blending innovative beats and rhymes. The song's abstract lyrics and powerful chorus serve as a call to action, pushing listeners to take control of their own lives and fight for what they believe in.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Confirmation and agreement to what is about to be said.
In-slum-national, underground
The music is subversive and has not been accepted by the mainstream.
Thunder pounds when I stomp the ground (woo)
This is a power song with a strong, rhythmic beat.
Like a million elephants with silverback orangutans
The artist is invoking imagery of a powerful and unstoppable force.
You can't stop a train
"You can't stop us"- the artists and the style of music they represent.
Who want some? Don't come un-prepared
This is a challenge for anyone who thinks they can compete with the artists.
I'll be there, but when I leave there
This is a statement about how the artists' music will make an impact on listeners.
Better be a household name
The artists' music should be known to everyone who hears it.
Weather man tellin' us it ain't gon' rain
Life is unpredictable and no one can truly know what will happen.
So now we sittin' in a drop-top, soakin' wet
Despite knowing the weather forecast, the artists find themselves in a less-than-ideal situation.
In a silk suit, tryin' not to sweat
The artists are trying to maintain a refined appearance despite the circumstances.
Hit somersaults without the net
The artists take risks and are willing to put themselves in danger.
But this'll be the year that we won't forget
The upcoming year will be unforgettable for the artists.
One-nine-nine-nine, Anno Domini, anything goes, be whatchu wanna be
This is a statement about how the year 1999 was a time of freedom and individuality.
Long as you know consequences are given for livin', the fence is
There are risks to living and being yourself, but it's better than living within limitations.
Too high to jump in jail
Being trapped in jail is not a viable option for living a fulfilling life.
Too low to dig, I might just touch hell, hot
Living a life with limitations and fear might as well be living in literal hell.
Get a life, now they gon' sell
People will try to commercialize anything that becomes popular.
Then I might catch you a spell, look at what came in the mail
This is a reference to receiving drug paraphernalia and other illicit items in the mail.
A scale and some Arm and Hammer, so grow grid and some baby mama
These are references to drug culture and taking advantage of women.
Black Cadillac and a pack of Pampers
This is a juxtaposition of luxury and mundane items, and a reference to drug culture and fatherhood.
Stack of question with no answers
The artists are grappling with life's big questions without any clear answers.
Cure for cancer, cure for AIDS
These are wishes for medical advancements to help save lives.
Make a nigga wanna stay on tour for days
The excitement of touring is preferable to dealing with mundane life problems.
Get back home, things are wrong
Returning home means dealing with reality and problems.
When I really knew it was bad all along
The artists knew their home life wasn't ideal, but it becomes more apparent when they return from touring.
Before you left adds up to a ball of power
Every experience and moment in life adds up to create a sense of strength and resilience.
Thoughts at a thousands miles per hour
The artists' minds are racing with thoughts and ideas.
Hello, ghetto, let your brain breathe
The artist is encouraging listeners to stop and smell the roses, even in difficult living situations.
Believe there's always mo', ow
Despite the difficulty of life, there is always the possibility that things can get better.
Don't pull the thang out, unless you plan to bang
This is a warning against using weapons unless one is prepared to face serious consequences.
Bombs over Baghdad
This is a reference to the US-led bombing campaign during the Gulf War.
(Yeah, ha ha yeah)
This is an additional exclamation to emphasize the lyric preceding it.
Don't even bang unless you plan to hit something
Only fight if you have a good reason to.
Bombs over Baghdad, yeah
This lyric is repeated for emphasis and to evoke the idea of chaos.
(Yeah, uh-huh)
This is a moment of affirmation for the artist.
(Ha, ha, ha, yeah)
This is a moment of joy and celebration bridging the two lines it separates.
Uno, dos, tres, it's on
This is a call to start the music and begin a performance.
Did you ever think a pimp rock a microphone?
This is a rhetorical question about the intersection of hip hop culture and pimp culture.
Like that there Boi and will still stay street
The artists can still maintain street cred despite achieving mainstream success.
Big things happen every time we meet
The artists are on a roll and continue to make bigger and bigger strides in their career.
Like a track team, crack fiend, dyin' to geek
This is a metaphor about the artists' energy and drive to create music despite hardship.
Outkast bumpin' up and down the street
Referencing the group's own music being played on the street - they are becoming more popular and well-known.
Slam back, Cadillac, 'bout five nigga deep
This line is a boast about their prominence and success.
Seventy-five emcee's freestylin' to the beat
This describes a group session of freestyling rappers, with the artists as the central figures.
'Cause we get krunk, stay drunk, at the club
This is a reference to the type of parties and events that Outkast is invited to.
Should have bought an ounce, but you caught the dub
This is a lament for spending too much money on a less than ideal purchase.
Should have held back, but you throwed the punch
This is a regretful statement about giving into emotion and making a mistake.
'Spose to meet your girl but you packed a lunch
This is a humorous take on being over-prepared for an event.
No D to-the U to-the G for you
The singer has a stronger work ethic and commitment than their detractors.
Got a son on the way by the name of Bamboo
This is a reference to one of the artists having a son named Bamboo on the way.
Got a little baby girl four year, Jordan
This is a reference to one of the artists having a four-year-old daughter named Jordan.
Never turn my back on my kids for them
Family will always come first for the artists.
Should have hit it (hit it) quit it (quit it) rag (rag) top (top)
This is a reference to having a sexual partner without committing to a relationship.
Before you read up, get a laptop
This is a statement about the power of technology and the importance of getting educated.
Make a business for yourself, boy, set some goals
The artists are encouraging their audience to aspire to greatness and self-sufficiency.
Make a fair diamond out of dusty coals
This is a reference to taking something that seems ordinary and making something great out of it.
Record number four, but we on a roll
The artists have had multiple successful albums and are continuing to make more.
Hold up, slow up, stop, control
The artists are asserting their own power and control over their music and their careers.
Like Janet, planets, Stankonia's on ya
This is a reference to Janet Jackson's 1989 hit single "Control" and the influence that Stankonia (the studio where Outkast recorded their music) has on the hip hop world.
Movin like Floyd comin' straight to Florida
This is a reference to boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s speed and agility in the ring.
Lock all your windows then block the corridors
This is a warning to their detractors to beware of Outkast's power and influence.
Pullin off a belt 'cause a whipping's in order
This is a reference to spanking, and the idea that Outkast will mete out punishment to those who cross them.
Like a three-piece just 'fore I cut your daughter
This is a nonsensical line that does not have a clear meaning.
Yo quiero Taco Bell, then I hit the border
This is a light-hearted reference to going out for fast food after crossing the US-Mexico border.
Penny pap rappers tryin' to get the five
This is a reference to rappers who are only in it for the money but don't have any real talent.
I'm a microphone fiend tryin' to stay alive
The artists are dedicated to their craft and are determined to keep making music despite the challenges they face.
When you come to ATL boi you betta not hide
This is a playful reference to the artists' hometown of Atlanta and how proud they are of being from there.
'Cause the Dungeon Family gon' ride, ha
The Dungeon Family is the name of the collective that Outkast belongs to, and this line is a reference to the group's loyalty and determination.
(Ah, yeah)
This is a moment of affirmation and approval.
(Uh yeah)
This is a moment of clarity and understanding.
(Y'all heard me, yeah)
This is a moment of assertiveness and confidence.
(B-I-G B-O-I)
This is a reference to one of the artists' stage names.
Bob your head, rag top
This is a command to the audience to nod their heads and enjoy the music.
Bob your head, rag top (one, two, three, let's go)
This is an additional call to action to get the audience moving to the music.
Power music, electric revival
This is a statement about the energy and power of the music, and how it is having a positive impact on listeners.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Sheats, Andre Benjamin, Antwan Patton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@esmereldavillalobos7814
This song has everything: a beat that will kill your grandmother, Insane flows, outstanding guitar shredding, Gospel Choir, a kid named Bamboo.
@brooklynyvette6400
A kid named Bamboo π
@gero3015
don't bring my grandma into this
@mybrunetteheart
π
@orangefoster2210
She was on her way out anyway, might as well go out with a bang ;)
@kerrymihalik3795
Cure for cancer, cure for AIDS
@nicholasschwear789
This is the song that made me realize why Andre is regarded as one of the best rappers of all time - opened my eyes
@Rattlesnake9585
So true but it's funny you say that on this track specifically cuz imo this is one of Big Boi's best verses
@edgarrivera968
π
@terrianwilliams2624
@@Rattlesnake9585 everybody sleeps on Big Boi. I just don't get it