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.
Sky High
OutKast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When it get cold that is that s*** you can't see?
See that s*** happens sometimes.
Yep, black ice.
Now you know and I know I done bumped every hole in the wall
Did catch that phone call most of why'all did admit
Thought it was tall, Gipp flipped like a dip
Did you think twice, homeslice come in he went
Satisfied got bars can't s***
Meetin' coast to coast yeah ( ? ) man do-si-dos
Too many coming close coz
[Chorus]
Touched what I never touched before, seen what I never seen before
Woke up and seen the sun sky high, sky high
Circulate like a Sunday paper
Capers caught tony tone with cheap flicks
Good pick pay hard watch the hard turn sideways
Pick the tale for real sale for the who lose cash
Flesh keep your life for now
Feeling good and warm with the rug tight
Thirty five degrees nippy tonight, don't forget the chapstick
Lips dry quick when the jack out make you want to cut out
Take the slack out some people black out
Hibernating to a cave blackout
[Chorus: x2]
I been in it for the past few days
Tighter than fades I know my plays now can I rap? can I adapt?
Now really sure yeah who's that looking over the shoulders
Of those writing dreams
Feening for the taste of menthol missed class stayed in the hall
Looking for a squeeze play better yet a holiday
Stayed away from the pyramid board game
Broke it down to a neighborhood slang, cash before fame
Sky high [Repeat: x10]
Now who done stepped in? the n**** the be -I-g the secret weapon boy
Slicker that black ice throwing them flows like rice at weddings
So quick flexing, you speaking sum' that's refreshing to the earlobes
Pay for the room and still be in pimp mode
Like icebergs, chryslers and buicks
Some n****s ain't on their jobs so them suckers tend to lose it
Abuse their privileges now their whole village is shot to pieces
'Cause n****s be biting that same stupid s*** I mean that feces
Boy don't beat me if you ain't got no work
I'm strictly about these verses like the ones you hear at church boy
Search boy, talking about your dough and punk like lurch boy
Every time I heard your rhyming like a f***ing jerk boy, simp, yeah!
Friends, Romans, countrymen lend me you eardrum
It was a beautiful day off in the neighborhood
Yellows and greens and blues and browns
And greys and hues that ooze beneath dilapidated wood
Ain't a thing could explain but what pertains
To cocaine it a thing that rain
See summer roll around n****s all about change
Then they steady move them keys like Bob James
'Cause old man winter's arrived
The temperature dives
November just died
December's alive
Thus it ain't no typical ride
Just individual way to bring home the bacon when bacon was all gone
Making it our own taking me all wrong
We've all indulged in the bulge of these no-nos
No you ain't solo, its cause lower levels you can go
Take sun people put them in the snow
[Chorus]
The song "Black Ice" by Outkast and Goodie Mob talks about the dangers of black ice and uses it as a metaphor for the challenges and struggles in life. The song also touches on various issues such as drug addiction, class struggle, and racism. The lyrics start off with a reference to black ice, which is a thin layer of ice on the road that is difficult to see, and how it can cause accidents. The metaphor is extended to describe the challenges that the artists have faced in their lives. They talk about how they have all faced obstacles and made mistakes, but have learned to keep moving forward.
The lyrics then shift to talking about various issues affecting the African American community. They mention drug addiction and how it can lead to people making bad choices. They also talk about the struggle to make ends meet and how people will do whatever it takes to make money. They criticize the system that keeps people in poverty and how it leads to a cycle of hopelessness. Despite all of these struggles, the artists remain optimistic about the future and believe that they can overcome any obstacle.
Overall, the lyrics of "Black Ice" are a reflection on the struggles and challenges faced by the African American community. They use the metaphor of black ice to describe the difficulties of life and the need to stay vigilant and keep moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you ever see that stuff that be
When it get cold that is that s*** you can't see?
See that s*** happens sometimes.
Yep, black ice.
Have you ever witnessed the phenomenon of black ice? It's when the temperature drops and the ice becomes invisible, leading to accidents. It's an unfortunate occurrence that happens from time to time.
Now you know and I know I done bumped every hole in the wall
Did catch that phone call most of why'all did admit
Thought it was tall, Gipp flipped like a dip
Slipped fell on some black ice
Did you think twice, homeslice come in he went
Satisfied got bars can't s***
Meetin' coast to coast yeah ( ? ) man do-si-dos
Too many coming close coz
I've been around the block and have encountered many obstacles. One time, my friend Gipp was surprised by a phone call and accidentally fell on black ice. We all have to be careful when we're out and about, especially since we travel a lot for our coast-to-coast work.
[Chorus]
Touched what I never touched before, seen what I never seen before
Woke up and seen the sun sky high, sky high
I've experienced things that I never thought I would before, and it's been eye-opening. Even waking up and seeing the beautiful sky can be a new experience in itself.
Circulate like a Sunday paper
Capers caught tony tone with cheap flicks
Good pick pay hard watch the hard turn sideways
Pick the tale for real sale for the who lose cash
Flesh keep your life for now
Feeling good and warm with the rug tight
Thirty five degrees nippy tonight, don't forget the chapstick
Lips dry quick when the jack out make you want to cut out
Take the slack out some people black out
Hibernating to a cave blackout
Life is like a never-ending cycle similar to a Sunday paper. Sometimes people get caught up in scandals or make poor financial decisions. We have to be careful, but also keep our priorities straight and focus on our well-being, especially in the cold weather when our lips and bodies can dry out quickly.
I been in it for the past few days
Tighter than fades I know my plays now can I rap? can I adapt?
Now really sure yeah who's that looking over the shoulders
Of those writing dreams
Feening for the taste of menthol missed class stayed in the hall
Looking for a squeeze play better yet a holiday
Stayed away from the pyramid board game
Broke it down to a neighborhood slang, cash before fame
I've been working hard and perfecting my craft, but I still have moments of doubt and insecurity. Sometimes I feel like someone is watching over my shoulder or criticizing my work. I strive for success and the luxuries that come with it, but always prioritize my personal growth and stay away from risky situations.
[Chorus: x2]
I've had transformative experiences that have changed my perspective on life, and I'm grateful for them.
Now who done stepped in? the n**** the be-I-g the secret weapon boy
Slicker that black ice throwing them flows like rice at weddings
So quick flexing, you speaking sum' that's refreshing to the earlobes
Pay for the room and still be in pimp mode
Like icebergs, chryslers and buicks
Some n****s ain't on their jobs so them suckers tend to lose it
Abuse their privileges now their whole village is shot to pieces
'Cause n****s be biting that same stupid s*** I mean that feces
Boy don't beat me if you ain't got no work
I'm strictly about these verses like the ones you hear at church boy
Search boy, talking about your dough and punk like lurch boy
Every time I heard your rhyming like a f***ing jerk boy, simp, yeah!
I'm the secret weapon and my rhymes are unstoppable, even slicker than black ice. Some people try to copy my style and act like they're big shots, but they end up ruining their reputations with their bad behavior. I stay true to my roots and values and keep my focus on the craft of rhyming.
Friends, Romans, countrymen lend me you eardrum
It was a beautiful day off in the neighborhood
Yellows and greens and blues and browns
And greys and hues that ooze beneath dilapidated wood
Ain't a thing could explain but what pertains
To cocaine it a thing that rain
See summer roll around n****s all about change
Then they steady move them keys like Bob James
'Cause old man winter's arrived
The temperature dives
November just died
December's alive
Thus it ain't no typical ride
Just individual way to bring home the bacon when bacon was all gone
Making it our own taking me all wrong
We've all indulged in the bulge of these no-nos
No you ain't solo, its cause lower levels you can go
Take sun people put them in the snow
As Shakespeare said, lend me your ears. It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood, where there's a variety of colors that blend together. Cocaine is a drug that can bring temporary happiness, and people tend to make changes in the summer but still engage in risky behavior. However, we all have to find ways to make ends meet and adapt when resources are scarce, even if it means making unpopular choices. We're not alone in our struggles, and sometimes we have to take a step back and reevaluate our priorities.
[Chorus]
I've experienced a lot of new things and my perspective has changed, but I'm still grateful for each day and what it brings.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAMERON F. GIPP, DAVID A. SHEATS, ANDRE BENJAMIN, ANTWAN PATTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@janepatton8100
The South got sumthin to say...
Break beats with these rhyme stones droppin on the song real heavy like a ton
But not to be mistaken with precious stones or DJ'ing we relating to jewels that leave the beat crushed.
This heat'll blow their wigs so keep'em laced up, no front
Our goal is to stay calm, nonchalant
If they want it, they can get it, it's a privilege the South said it
The old adage we multiply like Rabbits, I gotta hunch, uh
It's been a bunch of y'all neglecting the art
We caring about every word like we're raising the bar
The black ice types, on mics be like, when like minds see right thru the holes of space and beyond
Unpredictable like the seriousness of a bomb threat
Or flying over the Atlantic in, an unknown jet
This beat be the catalyst that ignites the apparatus, the pens savage raising havoc on enemies of intellect, uh
They want beef, we can have lunch many of us have wants
But it's only one of us who has funds
I'm not bragging, Im'a dragon
Repping dungeon fam son
Moving to the beat of one drum
Different strokes move the world, so my will is (Willis) to stay dungeon
They vets, wise as heck but aren't-old (Arnold) like Phil drumming
Sit calm (sitcom) or rerun (re-run) if this went over your onion
This verse is black ice so you didn't see it coming
@jenlefever5
'Circulate like a sunday paper...'
Timeless word flow... Neva to be forgotten! I tell my seven year old son, "boy, few more years and you've got some serious historical lyrical knowledge coming at ya... Knowledge from momma straight to you, from all the BuBoes who gave the knowledge to me when i was just a girl... Getting to know myself and hip hop, in the world, when i needed to escape from the world, and call else in between, moments when I was an Outkast, to other moments when society decided I wasn't, temporarily, cause nothing lasts, forever and always, everything is temporary, except for one thing, family, lets marinate on that for a minute..." And my son knows what that means, indeed, he does.
My son listens, to me, when I speak, every time... As if my words were strong enough, to pull us both out of present time and place, fluid is my delivery and he understand my flow... Amazed, I find him and his life force/energy to be... Yet, even more so, incredible, I find him and his mind space/ awareness to be..
Indeed, he is, all of these things I lay down in free-form, lyrics of my life_I give to him as he is the life-force, walking on, as he has already had to suffer the tragic death of his father, taken from us to soon, details of that to be continued another day...
It is now my job, to raise a man, without my man, with his father standing over us in his heavenly-angelic form, to know if Im giving him, all and everything he needs, every bit of wisdom that a young man needs, being not a man but a woman myself... Who is to know... Who is really to know...
But, as his mother and with all of my intuitive energy working full force, i can confidently say, my young man understand... He is incredible, and he completely knows my references, both to and of my path in life... Speaking of those moments of, 'back in the day'...
Extraordinary, he is, as he listens as I speak, and says to me, 'Momma, I pick up what you throw down...'
....
And the historical lyrical lessons are, indeed, to be continued....
@PinGMaj
Big Gipp deserves his flowers for this song. One of Goodie’s best tracks.
@sagganuts18
one of Andre's best verse in my opinion. Amazing rhyme scheme, paints such a vivid image.
@TheBeLuvdTRex
The nigga is gifted. Its sad he don't like to rap.
@Lord_Don
Average as usual
No gassin lil homie
@Lord_Don
Andre borrowed his flow from
Mr Ku - Born threat
You’re welcome
@Lord_Don
@Democrats Suck that's atl knowledge
You're a apple music boy... you're not here yet
@eliyyahsilva1282
Absolute top 3.
@floydwebb2377
What a time to be alive. Kids today will never understand how pivotal 90s hip hop was/is
@youreacrackhead8887
Nope they won't. I feel bad for them for all this garbage music they grew up on since the beginning of 2010s decade. 2000s had it's garbage music too
@silverjoystix4696
@@youreacrackhead8887 I agree to a certain extent. While today's music pales in comparison to what we grew up listening to, I don't want to completely say that new music is without merit.