OutKast is an American hip-hop duo from Atlanta, Georgia, United States. T… Read Full Bio ↴OutKast is an American hip-hop duo from Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The duo is one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time, having received six Grammy Awards. Over 25 million copies have been sold of Outkast's seven releases: six studio albums—including one double album—and a greatest hits release.

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 André "Andre 3000" Benjamin (formerly known as Dré) 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 André 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 André'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 André (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 André 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 André 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 André's breakup with singer Erykah Badu; the titular "Ms. Jackson" character being a doppelgänger for Badu's mother. It was at this time that André changed his stage name to the current "André 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; André 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 André 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"—a fictional band with all members, through the use of special effects, played by André—performing 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 André 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 André 3000 performed "Hey Ya!" as the show closed. In February 2004, André 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 André 3000 ventured into film projects. André 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 André's interest in separate projects such as movies, TV (André's Class of 3000) and solo albums, rumors of a split have turned up frequently in the media. André 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.

I Can't Wait
OutKast Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Sleepy Brown]
This is dedicated to the lover (to the lover)
In you... In you... In you
I can't wait, I can't wait
I can't wait, no can't wait

[Verse 1: Andre 3000]
Leather in the summer, silk in the winter

This is such an art, where do I begin uh..
Used to sing tenor, in the church choir
Really I was flexin', but the girls they were fine
I'm the type of guy that notice subtle signs
When I cuddle mine, she ain't even tryin
To look sexy, but even if she was so what
Mother fucker grow up, don't mean to be so abrupt
But that lets me, know that she's a human being
And being human's hard, on the boulevard
Girl you got it bad, glad I'm not one
But yet you got it good, you are the hot one
But I'm Andre, Benjamin Andre to be exact
You hoped to meet a gentleman one day, well this is that
In fact, Dookie introduced at a show
About a year or so ago, I don't know, mind slips me
I'm in the southern states, you know where all the pimps be
Dressin all boogey and carryin' ugly cups
And yes you're getting booed if your shit does not get down
And yes you're getting sued by women who didn't get up
Out their seat on the bus, and feet shouldn't rust
And beat is a must, and we shouldn't lust
But we do, I'm laughin' at the calendars and clocks
Ask Scott to match the socks, what's in your +Speakerboxxx+
+Pink and Blue+, you're lolly gaggin, you're slow pokin
You got me open, you're playin wit me, darlin I'm not a toy
As if I need a baker bring's the joy, you're a kiner, the Tyner meanin the real McCoy
I can't wait..

[Sleepy Brown]
I can't wait, I can't wait
I can't wait, no can't wait

Ooo baby, come on
Got plans tonight (plans tonight 4x)
Anticipated, the love and I'm gone get it
Till the mornin light (mornin light 4x)
Come on baby

I can't wait (the way you love me)
I can't wait (the way you touch me)
I can't wait (I can feel it)
I can't wait (all over me)
I can't wait (come on baby)
I can't wait (please come home)
I can't wait (tonight)
I can't wait (whoo)

For your time, you're so fine
You're always on my mind
'cause baby I can't wait, I can't wait
I can't wait, no can't wait
I'm so glad I found you
I just want to be around you
I can't wait, I can't wait
I can't wait, no can't wait

Ooo its been too long now baby
Lets seize the night (seize the night 4x)
'cause I'm gonna take you on a journey
Enjoy the ride (enjoy the ride 4x) enjoy the ride
Up and down (ooo baby!)
Up and down (whoo lady!)
Round and round (take it..)
Round and round (whoo)

For your time, you're so fine
You're always on my mind
'cause baby I can't wait, I can't wait
I can't wait, no can't wait
I'm so glad I found you
I just want to be around you
I can't wait, I can't wait
I can't wait, no can't wait

This is dedicated to the lover (to the lover)
In you... In you... In you

This is dedicated to the lover (to the lover)
In you... In you... In you

[Verse 2: Big Boi]
So luscious she's the real deal, but even he gets ancy
Some honeys try to +Kill Bill+ beneath the underpants see
But patients is the virtual to being anxious, just might hurt you
Like Mike Vick returning to the line of scrimmage too soon
A line of nigga's tryin' get in vengeance on a full moon
Should I play it cool, or be the one to make the first move?
Anticipatin, and contemplatin, she got you sprong dude
Shit, I'm fin to get her might emit her, what you gone do? (wha?)
I tell you what, we won't be fallin for that one, two
Just kinky sex up off in the boom boom if she want to
And if she don't, then I'll dial another date
That means find another face to replace, 'cause I can't wait

[Sleepy Brown]
This is dedicated to the lover (to the lover)
In you... In you... In you
I can't wait, I can't wait
I can't wait, no can't wait

This is dedicated to the lover (to the lover)
In you... In you... In you

I can't wait, I can't wait
I can't wait, no can't wait

Overall Meaning

The song "I Can't Wait" by OutKast is a soulful ode to love and anticipation. The opening verse, sung by Sleepy Brown, sets the tone for the whole song by dedicating it to the lover within the listener. The first rap verse, by Andre 3000, describes the intricacies of attraction in all seasons of the year. He explains how he notices subtle signs from his partner and appreciates her natural beauty. He refers back to his beginnings as a tenor in the church choir, which is an interesting contrast to the more provocative lyrics of the song. The second rap verse, by Big Boi, explores the tension of waiting for love to arrive. He contemplates the balance of being patient and making the first move.

Line by Line Meaning

This is dedicated to the lover (to the lover)
This song is dedicated to my lover

In you... In you... In you
I love you so much and cherish everything about you

I can't wait, I can't wait
I'm so excited about our relationship and can't wait for what's to come

I can't wait, no can't wait
I'm impatiently waiting for us to be together

Leather in the summer, silk in the winter
I have a great sense of fashion and know how to dress for every occasion

This is such an art, where do I begin uh..
I'm proud of my fashion sense and see it as an art form

Used to sing tenor, in the church choir
I used to sing in the church choir as a tenor

Really I was flexin', but the girls they were fine
I only sang in the choir to impress the girls because they were so attractive

I'm the type of guy that notice subtle signs
I'm very observant and pay attention to small details

When I cuddle mine, she ain't even tryin
Even when my partner isn't trying to be sexy, I'm still attracted to them

To look sexy, but even if she was so what
Even if my partner tried to look sexy, it wouldn't make much of a difference because I love them for who they are

Mother fucker grow up, don't mean to be so abrupt
I'm telling myself to act more mature and not be so immature

But that lets me, know that she's a human being
My partner is more than just an object of desire, they're a person with their own thoughts and feelings

And being human's hard, on the boulevard
Life is difficult, even for the most attractive people

Girl you got it bad, glad I'm not one
Being so attractive comes with its own set of challenges and I'm glad I don't have to deal with them

But yet you got it good, you are the hot one
Despite the challenges, my partner is still desirable and beautiful

But I'm Andre, Benjamin Andre to be exact
I'm introducing myself and my full name

You hoped to meet a gentleman one day, well this is that
My partner wanted to meet a nice guy and I'm proud to be that for them

In fact, Dookie introduced at a show
I was introduced to my partner by my friend Dookie at a concert

About a year or so ago, I don't know, mind slips me
I can't remember exactly when I met my partner, but it was about a year ago

I'm in the southern states, you know where all the pimps be
I'm in a part of the United States known for its history of pimp culture

Dressin all boogey and carryin' ugly cups
I'm describing the fashion and behavior of people in this region

And yes you're getting booed if your shit does not get down
People are harsh and critical in this part of the country

And yes you're getting sued by women who didn't get up
Women are empowered and unafraid to take legal action in this part of the country

Out their seat on the bus, and feet shouldn't rust
I'm referencing the Civil Rights Movement and how people shouldn't be forced to give up their seats on a bus

And beat is a must, and we shouldn't lust
We should focus on music and not be too preoccupied with sex

But we do, I'm laughin' at the calendars and clocks
Even though we shouldn't, we do tend to focus a lot on sex

Ask Scott to match the socks, what's in your +Speakerboxxx+
I'm referencing an album I made with Big Boi called Speakerboxxx/The Love Below and drawing attention to fashion

+Pink and Blue+, you're lolly gaggin, you're slow pokin
I'm making fun of my partner for being slow and indecisive

You got me open, you're playin wit me, darlin I'm not a toy
My partner is playing hard to get and I don't appreciate it

As if I need a baker bring's the joy, you're a kiner, the Tyner meanin the real McCoy
I'm referencing jazz musicians McCoy Tyner and Kenny G and saying that my partner is the real deal

Ooo baby, come on
I'm encouraging my partner to come to me

Got plans tonight (plans tonight 4x)
I have plans for us tonight

Anticipated, the love and I'm gone get it
I'm looking forward to being with my partner and making love

Till the mornin light (mornin light 4x)
We'll be together all night until the morning

I can't wait (the way you love me)
I'm so excited for my partner's love and affection

I can't wait (the way you touch me)
I'm eager for the physical intimacy we'll share

I can't wait (I can feel it)
I can sense the love and attraction between us

I can't wait (all over me)
I'm imagining my partner's touch and affection all over my body

I can't wait (come on baby)
I'm urging my partner to come to me quickly

I can't wait (please come home)
I'm longing for my partner to come home to me

I can't wait (tonight)
I'm so excited for our plans tonight

I can't wait (whoo)
I'm euphoric and excited for our time together

For your time, you're so fine
I admire my partner's beauty and am grateful for their time

You're always on my mind
I can't stop thinking about my partner

'cause baby I can't wait, I can't wait
I'm so excited for us to be together and can't wait any longer

I'm so glad I found you
I feel lucky and grateful to have found my partner

I just want to be around you
I enjoy spending time with my partner and want to be close to them

Ooo its been too long now baby
I've missed my partner and it's been too long since we've been together

Lets seize the night (seize the night 4x)
Let's make the most of our time together tonight

'cause I'm gonna take you on a journey
I'm going to show my partner an amazing time

Enjoy the ride (enjoy the ride 4x) enjoy the ride
Let's enjoy the experience and have a good time

Up and down (ooo baby!)
We'll have an exciting and passionate experience together

Up and down (whoo lady!)
We'll go through many emotions and experiences tonight

Round and round (take it..)
We'll have a fulfilling and exciting time together

Round and round (whoo)
We'll experience many different things together and have a great time

So luscious she's the real deal, but even he gets ancy
My partner is amazing, but I get impatient sometimes

Some honeys try to +Kill Bill+ beneath the underpants see
Some women try to use their sex appeal to take advantage of men

But patients is the virtual to being anxious, just might hurt you
Being patient is important to avoid bad experiences and mistakes

Like Mike Vick returning to the line of scrimmage too soon
Making a decision too soon can result in failure and negative consequences

A line of nigga's tryin' get in vengeance on a full moon
There are many men trying to compete for my partner's affection

Should I play it cool, or be the one to make the first move?
I'm trying to decide how to act around my partner and whether to initiate physical contact

Anticipatin, and contemplatin, she got you sprong dude
I'm looking forward to being with my partner and thinking about the possibilities

Shit, I'm fin to get her might emit her, what you gone do? (wha?)
I'm about to make a move on my partner and am wondering what they'll do

I tell you what, we won't be fallin for that one, two
I won't give in to any tricks or manipulations from my partner

Just kinky sex up off in the boom boom if she want to
We'll have some wild and exciting sex if my partner is into it

And if she don't, then I'll dial another date
If my partner isn't interested in having sex, I'll find someone else to be with

That means find another face to replace, 'cause I can't wait
I'm too impatient to wait for my partner and will move on to someone else if they're not interested

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JONATHAN JASON GREEN, MILES THOMAS HESELTINE, TONY HOLLAND, ANDREW MARK SERVAES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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