This page will contain videos about OutKast, as they become available.OutKastBig Boi (left) and André 3000 (right) possess musical styles that are often as different as their fashion senses.OutKast is a popular and successful American hip hop duo based out of Atlanta, Georgia. Their original musical style was a mixture of Dirty South and G-Funk; since then, funk, soul, electronica, and rock elements have been added to the mix. The duo is André "André 3000" Benjamin (formerly known as "Dre") and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, both from the Atlanta area. OutKast is currently the most successful hip-hop group of all time, having sold 14 million copies of their six releases: four studio albums, a greatest hits release, and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, a double album contaning a solo album from each member of the group. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is one of only three hip hop albums to go diamond, the other two being MC Hammer's Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em and The Notorious B.I.G.'s Life After Death. HistoryOrigins and SouthernplayalisticadillakmusicBig Boi and André went to Tri-Cities High School together in East Point, Georgia, and battled each other lyrically on a regular basis. They eventually teamed up, and were pursued by Organized Noize, a group of local producers who would later make hits for TLC and Xscape. OutKast, Organized Noise, 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 labelmates TLC's "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg". 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, and "Player's Ball" hit #1 on the Billboard Rap Chart. Their full length debut, Southernplayalisticadillakmusik, was issued the next year); 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 southern US. OutKast won Best New Rap Group at the Source Awards in 1995. ATLiensATLiens was OutKast's second album, released in 1996. The album hit #2 on the US album charts, and helped the group earn more recognition among East Coast hip hop fans in the northern US, many of whom usually panned southern hip hop artists. "AtLiens" was the group's first Top 40 single, and reflected the beginning of André's increasing self-consciousness: "No drugs or alcohol/so I can get the signal clear", he rhymes about himself. "Elevators (Me and You)", the first single to be produced by OutKast themselves instead of Organized Noise, became the group's first Top 20 hit the same year. Aquemini and "Rosa Parks"OutKast's third album Aquemini (1998) also reached the #2 position on the charts; its title was a combination of the zodiac signs for Big Boi (an Aquarius) and André (a Gemini). The album was widely praised as an innovative, unique and refreshing album full of hip hop with a progressive vision, both artistic and musically. Both Big Boi and André explored more eclectic subject matter, and, producing even more of the album themselves, delved into more innovate sounds inspired by soul, trip hop, and electro music. The album featured collaborations with, in addition to Organized Noise and the Goodie Mob; their infant son Seven is heard on the song "Slump". In 1999, OutKast and LaFace Records was sued by Rosa Parks over the album's most successful radio single, "Rosa Parks". She felt the song misappropriated her 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 initial lawsuit was dismissed. Parks hired lawyer Johnny Cochran to appeal the decision in 2001, but this too was denied, on First Amendment grounds. In 2003, the Supreme Court allowed Rosa Parks to proceed with her lawsuit; the members of OutKast were dropped as co-defendants, and Parks continued to seek action against LaFace and parent company BMG. StankoniaThe pair's fourth album, Stankonia was released to excellent reviews in October 2000. It debuted at #2 on the album charts and would eventually go double-platinum. Stankonia's first single was "B.O.B. (Bombs Over Bagdad)", a high-tempo jungle-influenced record. The second single, "Ms. Jackson", was about divorce and relationship breakups, particularly André's breakup with Erykah Badu; the titular "Ms. Jackson" is Badu's mother. The single became their first pop crossover hit, landing the #1 position on the US pop singles chart, and the #2 position on the UK pop chart. The album's final single was the Organize Noise-produced "So Fresh, So Clean", featuring a credited guest appearance from regular guest vocalist Sleepy Brown. 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 joined with partner Mr. DJ to form the Earthtone III production company, and began producing tracks for the artists on their Aquemeni Records imprint through Columbia, including Slimm Cutta Calhoun and Killer Mike, who made his debut appearance on Stankonia's "Snappin' & Trappin". Greatest HitsIn 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 popular single "The Whole World", which won a 2002 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. The following year, the group and Killer Mike contributed the lead single "Land of a Million Drums" to the Scooby-Doo soundtrack. Speakerboxxx/The Love BelowIn September 2003 OutKast released a double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It is essentially two solo double-albums, one by each member, packaged as a single release under the OutKast banner. Big Boi's Speakerboxxx is, for the most part, a joyous party record, tempered by more politically-minded tracks like "War". André 3000's The Love Below is a sprawling and ambitious work that featured only brief instances of hip hop, presenting instead funk and pop music inspired by Prince, Rick James, Sly Stone, and Frank Zappa. Speakerboxx/The Love Below has received what is perhaps the duo's most rapturous critical reception to date; both discs were considered highly innovative and accomplished. The album is also OutKast's biggest commercial success yet, having debuted on the Billboard Albums Chart at #1 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 (10 million units sold) in December 2004. The first two singles from the album(s), which were released nearly simultaneously, were Big Boi's "The Way You Move" and André's "Hey Ya!". Both immediately exploded at radio: "Move" initially becoming enormous on urban radio, then later pop and rhythmic, and "Hey Ya" becoming a smash crossover hit on pop, rhythmic, hot AC, and alternative rock radio then later on urban stations. "Hey Ya!" was also one of the first songs to become a hit on the Apple iTunes Music Store, replacing "Stacy's Mom" at #1 and staying there for months. Despite a fall release, the songs' music videos (which were often aired segued together) became two of 2003's most played on MTV, VH1, MTV2, and BET, both having entered heavy rotation on all four channels at one point or another. The digital video channels, MTV Jams and VH1 Soul also gave both videos the heaviest of play, MTV Jams having played each almost once an hour at their peaks. Together, both singles spent over ten weeks at number one on the Hot 100 singles chart. Concerned with over-saturation, 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 met 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 final singles were André's "Protoype", which was paired with an unusual science fiction-themed video about alien visitors, and Speakerboxxx's' "Ghetto Musick", which featured both members of OutKast and a sample from a Patti LaBelle song. Speakerboxx/The Love Below won the Grammy Award for the 2004 'Album of the Year. 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 performed "Hey Ya" as the show closer. In February 2004, OutKast was criticized by Native American groups for André's performance, which featured dancers moving wildly around a green teepee in war paint and feathered headdresses. The Native American Cultural Center called for a boycott of OutKast and of CBS, the broadcaster of the awards show. CBS later apologized. Future ProjectsOutKast's Earthtone III recently founded Purple Label, an new imprint to be distributed by Virgin Records. Its first signees were Sleepy Brown and Bubba Sparxxx. The sixth OutKast album, 10 the Hard Way, is due for release in 2005. Intended as a throwback to the Southernplayalisticadillakmusic days, the album will feature ten songs, all strictly hip hop, and all produced by Organized Noise. In addition, Outkast will be starring in a HBO movie, My Life in Idlewild and will be doing a movie soundtrack album based on the movie. Trivia
DiscographyAlbums
Singles
This page about OutKast includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about OutKast News stories about OutKast External links for OutKast Videos for OutKast Wikis about OutKast Discussion Groups about OutKast Blogs about OutKast Images of OutKast |
|
In addition, Outkast will be starring in a HBO movie, My Life in Idlewild and will be doing a movie soundtrack album based on the movie. In 2004, Flavor Flav appeared on the VH1 reality show The Surreal Life, and can now be seen on the VH1 program Strange Love. Intended as a throwback to the Southernplayalisticadillakmusic days, the album will feature ten songs, all strictly hip hop, and all produced by Organized Noise. Chuck D also heads a band named Confrontation Camp, a confrontational funk/rock band. The sixth OutKast album, 10 the Hard Way, is due for release in 2005. Terminator X took early retirement and was replaced by Atlanta native DJ Lord as the group's main DJ. Its first signees were Sleepy Brown and Bubba Sparxxx. They still continue to perform and write, though with some attrition. OutKast's Earthtone III recently founded Purple Label, an new imprint to be distributed by Virgin Records. Also, Professor Griff, a member of the group, made many anti-semitic remarks and as a result was ejected from the band, and the group was listed in an FBI report to Congress entitled "Rap Music and Its Effects on National Security". CBS later apologized. PE were also infamous for their alignment with S1W (Security Of the First World), a militant black power movement. The Native American Cultural Center called for a boycott of OutKast and of CBS, the broadcaster of the awards show. The single was created by Chuck D with a contribution by Flavor Flav though this was before the group Public Enemy was assembled. 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 performed "Hey Ya" as the show closer. In February 2004, OutKast was criticized by Native American groups for André's performance, which featured dancers moving wildly around a green teepee in war paint and feathered headdresses. This was the first reference to the notion of a "Public Enemy" in any of Chuck D's songs. Speakerboxx/The Love Below won the Grammy Award for the 2004 'Album of the Year. He called the tape Public Enemy #1 because he felt like he was being persecuted by people in locale scene. The final singles were André's "Protoype", which was paired with an unusual science fiction-themed video about alien visitors, and Speakerboxxx's' "Ghetto Musick", which featured both members of OutKast and a sample from a Patti LaBelle song. Chuck D had put out a tape to promote WBAU (the radio station he was working at the time) and to fend off a local rapper who wanted to battle him. "Roses", a track featuring both members from The Love Below half of the album, did not met 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. They also changed the Internet's music distribution capability by being the first group to release MP3 albums, a format virtually unknown at the time. Concerned with over-saturation, OutKast's next official single was not released until the summer of 2004. Some of his most innovative scratching tricks can be heard on the song "Rebel Without A Pause". PE revolutionized the rap world with their political, social and cultural consciousness, which infused itself into skilled and poetic rhymes with jazzy backbeats. Together, both singles spent over ten weeks at number one on the Hot 100 singles chart. For instance, Terminator X elevated DJing to a more refined art. The digital video channels, MTV Jams and VH1 Soul also gave both videos the heaviest of play, MTV Jams having played each almost once an hour at their peaks. Public Enemy were pioneers in many ways. Despite a fall release, the songs' music videos (which were often aired segued together) became two of 2003's most played on MTV, VH1, MTV2, and BET, both having entered heavy rotation on all four channels at one point or another. They also went on to release Fear of a Black Planet which was slightly less militant than their first two releases. "Hey Ya!" was also one of the first songs to become a hit on the Apple iTunes Music Store, replacing "Stacy's Mom" at #1 and staying there for months. They went to release the revolutionary It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back in 1988, which performed better in the charts than their previous release. Both immediately exploded at radio: "Move" initially becoming enormous on urban radio, then later pop and rhythmic, and "Hey Ya" becoming a smash crossover hit on pop, rhythmic, hot AC, and alternative rock radio then later on urban stations. It then took roughly five years before their debut, Yo! Bum Rush The Show, was released in 1987 to critical acclaim. The first two singles from the album(s), which were released nearly simultaneously, were Big Boi's "The Way You Move" and André's "Hey Ya!". They were signed on to the still developing Def Jam record label after Rick Rubin heard Chuck D freestyling on a demo. 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 (10 million units sold) in December 2004. PE formed in Long Island, New York in 1982. The album is also OutKast's biggest commercial success yet, having debuted on the Billboard Albums Chart at #1 and stayed there for several weeks. Public Enemy, also known as PE, are a seminal hip hop group known for their politically charged lyrics and their interest in the concerns of the African American community. Speakerboxx/The Love Below has received what is perhaps the duo's most rapturous critical reception to date; both discs were considered highly innovative and accomplished. There's A Poison Goin On (worldwide re-release via Slamjamz.com) (2004). André 3000's The Love Below is a sprawling and ambitious work that featured only brief instances of hip hop, presenting instead funk and pop music inspired by Prince, Rick James, Sly Stone, and Frank Zappa. Revolverlution (2002). Big Boi's Speakerboxxx is, for the most part, a joyous party record, tempered by more politically-minded tracks like "War". There's A Poison Goin On (1999). It is essentially two solo double-albums, one by each member, packaged as a single release under the OutKast banner. BTN 2000 (online released mega-mix which initialized PE's leaving Def Jam records) (1999). In September 2003 OutKast released a double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. He Got Game (1998). The following year, the group and Killer Mike contributed the lead single "Land of a Million Drums" to the Scooby-Doo soundtrack.. Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age (1994). One of these new tracks was the popular single "The Whole World", which won a 2002 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Greatest Misses 1986-1992 (1992). In December 2001, OutKast released a greatest hits album, Big Boi And Dre Present...OutKast, which also contained three new tracks. Apocalypse '91...The Enemy Strikes Black (1991). DJ to form the Earthtone III production company, and began producing tracks for the artists on their Aquemeni Records imprint through Columbia, including Slimm Cutta Calhoun and Killer Mike, who made his debut appearance on Stankonia's "Snappin' & Trappin". Fear of a Black Planet (1990). During the recording of Stankonia, OutKast joined with partner Mr. Fight the Power...Live! (1989). Jackson", and another for Stankonia as Best Rap Album. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988). 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. Yo! Bum Rush The Show (1987). The album's final single was the Organize Noise-produced "So Fresh, So Clean", featuring a credited guest appearance from regular guest vocalist Sleepy Brown. Download sample of "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. The single became their first pop crossover hit, landing the #1 position on the US pop singles chart, and the #2 position on the UK pop chart. Chuck D with Yusuf Jah, Fight the Power, Delacorte Press, 1997 ISBN 0385318685. Jackson" is Badu's mother. Bill Stephany. Jackson", was about divorce and relationship breakups, particularly André's breakup with Erykah Badu; the titular "Ms. Hank Shocklee. The second single, "Ms. Role: DJ. (Bombs Over Bagdad)", a high-tempo jungle-influenced record. Real name: Norman Rogers. It debuted at #2 on the album charts and would eventually go double-platinum. Stankonia's first single was "B.O.B. Terminator X
In 2003, the Supreme Court allowed Rosa Parks to proceed with her lawsuit; the members of OutKast were dropped as co-defendants, and Parks continued to seek action against LaFace and parent company BMG. Role: Head of SW1, liaison between PE and SW1, road manager. Parks hired lawyer Johnny Cochran to appeal the decision in 2001, but this too was denied, on First Amendment grounds. Real name: Richard Griffin. The initial lawsuit was dismissed. Professor Griff
She felt the song misappropriated her name, and also objected to some of the song's obscene language. Real name: William Drayton. In 1999, OutKast and LaFace Records was sued by Rosa Parks over the album's most successful radio single, "Rosa Parks". Flavor Flav
The album was widely praised as an innovative, unique and refreshing album full of hip hop with a progressive vision, both artistic and musically. Chuck D
The album hit #2 on the US album charts, and helped the group earn more recognition among East Coast hip hop fans in the northern US, many of whom usually panned southern hip hop artists. ATLiens was OutKast's second album, released in 1996. OutKast won Best New Rap Group at the Source Awards in 1995. 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 southern US. Their full length debut, Southernplayalisticadillakmusik, was issued the next year); 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". The song's funky style, much of it accomplished with live instrumentation, was a hit with audiences, and "Player's Ball" hit #1 on the Billboard Rap Chart. In 1993, they released their first single, "Player's Ball". OutKast signed to LaFace Records in 1992, becoming the label's first hip hop act and making their first appearance on the remix of labelmates TLC's "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg". OutKast, Organized Noise, and schoolmates Goodie Mob formed the nucleus of the Dungeon Family organization. They eventually teamed up, and were pursued by Organized Noize, a group of local producers who would later make hits for TLC and Xscape. Big Boi and André went to Tri-Cities High School together in East Point, Georgia, and battled each other lyrically on a regular basis. OutKast is currently the most successful hip-hop group of all time, having sold 14 million copies of their six releases: four studio albums, a greatest hits release, and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, a double album contaning a solo album from each member of the group. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is one of only three hip hop albums to go diamond, the other two being MC Hammer's Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em and The Notorious B.I.G.'s Life After Death. The duo is André "André 3000" Benjamin (formerly known as "Dre") and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, both from the Atlanta area. Their original musical style was a mixture of Dirty South and G-Funk; since then, funk, soul, electronica, and rock elements have been added to the mix. OutKast is a popular and successful American hip hop duo based out of Atlanta, Georgia. 2004: "Prototype" (André 3000). 2004: "Roses" (#9 US; #4 UK). 2003: "The Way You Move" (Big Boi featuring Sleepy Brown) (#1 US; #7 UK). 2003: "Hey Ya!" (André 3000) (#1 US; #3 UK). 2001: "The Whole World" (featuring Killer Mike) (#19 US; #19 UK). 2000: "So Fresh So Clean" (#30 US; #16 UK). Jackson" (#1 US; #2 UK). 2000: "Ms. (Bombs Over Bagdad)". 2000: "B.O.B. 1)". 1998: "Da Art of Storytellin' (Pt. 1998: "Rosa Parks" (#57 US). 1997: "Jazzy Belle" (#52 US). 1996: "Elevators (Me and You)" (#12 US). 1996: "ATLiens" (#35 US). 1994: "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" (#74 US). 1994: "Git Up, Git Out". 1994: "Player's Ball" (#37 US). 2005: 10 the Hard Way. 2003: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. 2001: Big Boi And Dre Present...OutKast (greatest hits LP). 2000: Stankonia. 1998: Aquemini. 1996: ATLiens. 1994: Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. André 3000 and Big Boi just cut solo records, that's all." The last comment prompts one of the young adults, a blonde-bearded Caucasian, to say approvingly "alright" and to tap fists with Clark. "Well, to answer your questions, no, I would not have voted for the Iraq war… I am pro-choice and I am a strong believer in Affirmative Action… and I don't care what the other candidates say, I don't think OutKast is really breaking up. The young adults do not speak, but sit and listen as Clark appears to be answering their questions. In the ad, Clark is sitting in a coffee shop with a dozen middle-class young adults of various American ethnicities. The reference was an attempt to get the attention of a much younger generation of potential voters. In a campaign commercial released October 30, 2003, the Wesley Clark presidential campaign made reference to OutKast. 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. The video for "Roses" is loosely based on the musical Grease. The video's storyline has "The Love Below" (a fictional band, with all members played by Andre with the use of special effects) performing in London. The video for "Hey Ya" is based on The Beatles' landmark appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. |