Album: Stankonia
Artist: OutKast
Born: East Point, Atlanta, Georgia
Released: October 2000
Genre: Hip Hop
Though I was listening to less hip hop around the time of this album's release, the single Ms Jackson definitely caught my attention, especially when it became a No.2 hit in the UK. Apparently, André 3000 wrote the song about the mother of Erykah Badu, and the tension that arose following his split with the singer, especially on the question of the custody of their boy, Seven. There's clearly a desire in the song to build bridges ("Ms Jackson my intentions were good / I wish I could / become a magician to abracadabra / off the sadder / thoughts of me"). The lyrical inventiveness is brilliant, in the same vein as De La Soul, but what makes OutKast so unique is the unorthodox flows of Big Boi and André 3000. There's an in-depth analysis on the Genius website of Big Boi's "southern-feeling flow", which has a rhythm all of its own inspired by jazz. He also raps at an incredibly fast speed, with a fluidity reminiscent of Eminem. OutKast were clearly very different personalities to most rappers, one "a teetotal vegetarian who read Pushkin, while the other bred pitbulls in his spare time", according to Bob Stanley. As well as Ms Jackson, OutKast released another, more ambitious single, B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad), that careers along at a frantic drum & bass speed of over 150bpm, challenging both rappers to keep pace. The fact the song was so experimental, blending Hendrix-style guitars with gospel choirs, meant it didn't replicate the chart success of Ms Jackson.
B.O.B. is a musical masterclass, containing heavy funk (inspired by Parliament and Afrika Bambaata), genre-mashing (dance / hip hop / rock / gospel / metal), furious scatterbrain rapping and prescient political commentary (about a warmongering government). Unsurprisingly, for an album clocking in at over 73mins, there are some weaker moments (including many of the skits), but Stankonia is more consistently brilliant than the group's previous release, Aquemini (1998, 75mins), and their 2003 LP, Speakerboxxx/Love Below (135mins). The latter is OutKast's most successful album, mainly on the strength of international hit single Hey Ya, but not their best. Other highlights on Stankonia include Toilet Tisha, which is heavily influenced by Prince, the third single So Fresh, So Clean (which involves TLC singer Chilli) and the psychedelic scratching and rapping of Humble Mumble (featuring Erykah Badu). I also really like Red Velvet and the corrupted funk and dub of album closer, Stankonia (Stanklove). OutKast brought an originality and southern sensibility to a hip hop scene that had become stale with its east coast / west coast rivalry, but the group's greatest achievement was encouraging hip hop to let its freak flag fly, with this record inspiring legions of talented oddballs, from Janelle Monáe to Lil Wayne and Frank Ocean.
Though I was listening to less hip hop around the time of this album's release, the single Ms Jackson definitely caught my attention, especially when it became a No.2 hit in the UK. Apparently, André 3000 wrote the song about the mother of Erykah Badu, and the tension that arose following his split with the singer, especially on the question of the custody of their boy, Seven. There's clearly a desire in the song to build bridges ("Ms Jackson my intentions were good / I wish I could / become a magician to abracadabra / off the sadder / thoughts of me"). The lyrical inventiveness is brilliant, in the same vein as De La Soul, but what makes OutKast so unique is the unorthodox flows of Big Boi and André 3000. There's an in-depth analysis on the Genius website of Big Boi's "southern-feeling flow", which has a rhythm all of its own inspired by jazz. He also raps at an incredibly fast speed, with a fluidity reminiscent of Eminem. OutKast were clearly very different personalities to most rappers, one "a teetotal vegetarian who read Pushkin, while the other bred pitbulls in his spare time", according to Bob Stanley. As well as Ms Jackson, OutKast released another, more ambitious single, B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad), that careers along at a frantic drum & bass speed of over 150bpm, challenging both rappers to keep pace. The fact the song was so experimental, blending Hendrix-style guitars with gospel choirs, meant it didn't replicate the chart success of Ms Jackson.
B.O.B. is a musical masterclass, containing heavy funk (inspired by Parliament and Afrika Bambaata), genre-mashing (dance / hip hop / rock / gospel / metal), furious scatterbrain rapping and prescient political commentary (about a warmongering government). Unsurprisingly, for an album clocking in at over 73mins, there are some weaker moments (including many of the skits), but Stankonia is more consistently brilliant than the group's previous release, Aquemini (1998, 75mins), and their 2003 LP, Speakerboxxx/Love Below (135mins). The latter is OutKast's most successful album, mainly on the strength of international hit single Hey Ya, but not their best. Other highlights on Stankonia include Toilet Tisha, which is heavily influenced by Prince, the third single So Fresh, So Clean (which involves TLC singer Chilli) and the psychedelic scratching and rapping of Humble Mumble (featuring Erykah Badu). I also really like Red Velvet and the corrupted funk and dub of album closer, Stankonia (Stanklove). OutKast brought an originality and southern sensibility to a hip hop scene that had become stale with its east coast / west coast rivalry, but the group's greatest achievement was encouraging hip hop to let its freak flag fly, with this record inspiring legions of talented oddballs, from Janelle Monáe to Lil Wayne and Frank Ocean.
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