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.
Ms. Jackson
OutKast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mamas, mamas, baby mamas, mamas
Yeah, go like this
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (ooh), I am for real
Never meant to make your daughter cry
I apologized a trillion times
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (ooh), I am for real
Never meant to make your daughter cry
I apologized a trillion times
My baby's drama mama, don't like me
She be doing things like having them boys come from her neighborhood
To the studio trying to fight me
She need to get a, piece of the American pie and take her bite out
That's my house, I'll disconnect the cable and turn the lights out
And let her know her grandchild is a baby, and not a paycheck
Private school, daycare, shit, medical bills I pay that
I love your mom and everything, but see, I ain't the one who laid down
She wanna rib you up to start a custody war, my lawyers stay down
Shit, you never got a chance to hear my side of the story, we was divided
She had fish fries and cookouts for my child's birthday I ain't invited
Despite it, I show her the utmost respect when I fall through
All you, do is defend that lady when I call you, yeah
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (ooh), I am for real
Never meant to make your daughter cry
I apologized a trillion times
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (ooh), I am for real
Never meant to make your daughter cry
I apologized a trillion times
Me and yo' daughter, got a special thing going on
(We got a special kind of thing going on)
You say it's puppy love
We say it's full grown
Hope that we feel this, feel this way forever
You can plan a pretty picnic
But you can't predict the weather, Ms. Jackson
Ten times out of nine, now if I'm lyin' fine
The quickest muzzle throw it on my mouth and I'll decline
King meets queen, then the puppy love thing, together dream
'Bout that crib with the Goodyear swing
On the oak tree, I hope we feel like this forever
Forever, forever, ever, forever, ever?
Forever never seems that long until you're grown
And notice that the day by day ruler can't be too wrong
Ms. Jackson my intentions were good I wish I could
Become a magician to abracadabra all the sadder
Thoughts of me, thoughts of she, thoughts of he
Asking what happened to the feeling that her and me
Had, I pray so much about it need some knee pads
It happened for a reason one can't be mad
So know this, know that everything's cool
And, yes, I will be present on the first day of school, and graduation
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (ooh), I am for real
Never meant to make your daughter cry
I apologized a trillion times
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (ooh), I am for real
Never meant to make your daughter cry (uh, uh, yeah)
I apologized a trillion times
"Look at the way he treats me"
Shit, look at the way you treat me
You see your little nosy-ass home girls
Done got your ass sent up the creek, G
Without a paddle, you left to straddle
And ride this thing on out (out)
Now you and your girl ain't speaking no more
'Cause my dick all in her mouth (mouth)
Know what I'm talking about? Jealousy, infidelity, envy
Cheating to beating, envy and to the G they be the same thing
But who you placing the blame on? You keep on singing the same song
Let bygones be bygones, you can go on and get the hell on
You and your mama
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (ooh), I am for real (yo mama, bitch)
Never meant to make your daughter cry
I apologized a trillion times
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (ooh), I am for real
Never meant to make your daughter cry
I apologized a trillion times
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (ooh), I am for real
Never meant to make your daughter cry
I apologized a trillion times
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (ooh), I am for real
Never meant to make your daughter cry
I apologized a trillion times
OutKast's hit song "Ms. Jackson" is a heartfelt apology from André 3000 to the mother of his ex-girlfriend. The song begins by addressing all the baby mamas, and André 3000 repeats the phrase "mamas, mamas, baby mamas, mamas," emphasizing that the message is not just to one, but all women who have children with men. The chorus, "I'm sorry Ms. Jackson, I am for real, never meant to make your daughter cry, I apologize a trillion times," is a sincere apology that acknowledges the hurt he caused to his ex-girlfriend's mother.
The first verse speaks to the drama that ensued between him and his ex's mother, who did not approve of him. He acknowledges that she does not like him and even went as far as to have boys come from her neighborhood to fight him at the studio. In the second half of the verse, he asserts his position as the provider and caretaker of his child, and although he respects his ex-girlfriend's mother, he won't stand for being unfairly treated or used as a paycheck. Despite their differences, André 3000 still shows respect for his ex-girlfriend's mother, even when she defends her daughter's actions.
The second verse speaks to the special relationship he has with his ex-girlfriend, and while others may see it as a puppy love, they think it's much deeper. They hope to feel this way forever, but he acknowledges that forever never seems that long until you're grown. He wishes he could make all the sadder thoughts about him, her, and the past disappear, but understands that these things happened for a reason. He ends the verse on a positive note, saying that everything's cool and he'll be there for his child's first day of school and graduation.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, this one right here goes out to all the baby's mamas, mamas
Dedication to all the mothers and grandmothers involved with the singer's child.
Mamas, mamas, baby mamas, mamas
Further recognition to all mothers associated with the singer.
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (oh), I am for real
Apology to Ms. Jackson, the mother of the singer's former partner.
Never meant to make your daughter cry
Acknowledgement of causing emotional harm to Ms. Jackson's daughter.
I apologize a trillion times
Multiple expressions of regret.
My baby's drama mama, don't like me
Description of negative relationship with the mother of the singer's child.
She be doing things like having them boys come from her neighborhood
Accusation of harassment from Ms. Jackson towards the singer.
To the studio trying to fight me
Attempted physical altercation towards the singer at his place of work.
She need to get a, piece of the American pie and take her bite out
Suggestion of Ms. Jackson seeking her own success and not relying on others.
That's my house, I'll disconnect the cable and turn the lights out
Assertiveness of the singer's ownership of his own home.
And let her know her grandchild is a baby, and not a paycheck
Clarification of the importance of family relationships over financial gain.
Private school, daycare, shit, medical bills I pay that
Acknowledgement of financial responsibility for the singer's child.
I love your mom and everything, but see, I ain't the one who laid down
Separation of blame and acknowledgement of shared responsibility in the pregnancy.
She wanna rib you up to start a custody war, my lawyers stay down
Accusation of Ms. Jackson inciting legal disputes over custody of the child.
Shit, you never got a chance to hear my side of the story, we was divided
Regret over lack of communication and understanding between the two parties.
She had fish fries and cookouts for my child's birthday I ain't invited
Statement of exclusion from celebratory events for the singer's child.
Despite it, I show her the utmost respect when I fall through
Acknowledgement of maintaining respectful behavior towards Ms. Jackson.
All you, do is defend that lady when I call you, yeah
Frustration over lack of support from his own partner.
Me and yo' daughter, got a special thing going on
Admission of a romantic relationship between the singer and Ms. Jackson's daughter.
(We got a special kind of thing going on)
Reiteration of the intimacy between the two parties.
You say it's puppy love
Belittling of the seriousness of the relationship.
We say it's full grown
Counterargument of the significance of their love.
Hope that we feel this, feel this way forever
Expression of hope for a lasting and meaningful relationship.
You can plan a pretty picnic
Reference to the unpredictability of life and the futility of planning for the future.
But you can't predict the weather, Ms. Jackson
Further emphasis on the uncertainty of the future and the unpredictability of life.
Ten times out of nine, now if I'm lyin' fine
Confidence in telling the truth.
The quickest muzzle throw it on my mouth and I'll decline
Acknowledgment of the severity of lying and willingness to be truthful.
King meets queen, then the puppy love thing, together dream
Comparison of their relationship to royalty.
'Bout that crib with the Goodyear swing
Envisioning a future home and long-term commitment.
On the oak tree, I hope we feel like this forever
Reference to the permanence and strength of an oak tree.
Forever, forever, ever, forever, ever?
Repetition of 'forever' to emphasize the desire for a lasting love.
Forever never seems that long until you're grown
Acknowledgement of the subjectivity of time and how the idea of forever changes over time.
And notice that the day by day ruler can't be too wrong
Perception of time as the reliable measure of life.
Ms. Jackson my intentions were good I wish I could
Additional apology and clarification of good intentions.
Become a magician to abracadabra all the sadder
Expression of the desire to make difficult situations disappear.
Thoughts of me, thoughts of she, thoughts of he
Contemplation of the different perspectives and thoughts regarding the situation.
Asking what happened to the feeling that her and me
Questioning the loss of feelings between Ms. Jackson and the singer.
Had, I pray so much about it need some knee pads
Desperation and hopefulness for reconciliation and improvement.
It happened for a reason one can't be mad
Belief in fate and the acceptance of things out of one's control.
So know this, know that everything's cool
Assurance that there is no animosity or tension between Ms. Jackson and the singer.
And, yes, I will be present on the first day of school, and graduation
Commitment to being present in significant moments of his child's life.
Shit, look at the way you treat me
Accusation of poor behavior from Ms. Jackson towards the singer.
You see your little nosy-ass home girls
Calling out the involvement of Ms. Jackson's friends in their relationship.
Done got your ass sent up the creek, G
Claiming that Ms. Jackson's actions led to repercussions for herself.
Without a paddle, you left to straddle
Expression of being left with no guidance or support.
And ride this thing on out (out)
Determination to persevere and continue through difficult times.
Now you and your girl ain't speaking no more
Statement of the negative impact on Ms. Jackson's relationships due to her actions.
'Cause my dick all in her mouth (mouth)
Vulgar insult towards Ms. Jackson's behavior and character.
Know what I'm talking about? Jealousy, infidelity, envy
Referring to the underlying issues and emotions related to their relationship.
Cheating to beating, envy and to the G they be the same thing
Belief that cheating and violence come from a place of envy and insecurity.
But who you placing the blame on? You keep on singing the same song
Questioning who is responsible for the issues in their relationship and expressing frustration with her lack of acceptance or understanding.
Let bygones be bygones, you can go on and get the hell on
Encouragement to move on and let go of past issues.
You and your mama
Addressing Ms. Jackson and her mother, suggesting that they are both problematic in the singer's life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Andre Benjamin, Antwan Patton, David Sheats
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
la Son
on Mainstream
@23 references psalm 23
A healthy portion of this song on all verses spits on spiritual