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. Singles. Intended as a throwback to the Southernplayalisticadillakmusic days, the album will feature ten songs, all strictly hip hop, and all produced by Organized Noise. Albums. The sixth OutKast album, 10 the Hard Way, is due for release in 2005. The group quietly disbanded shortly after. Its first signees were Sleepy Brown and Bubba Sparxxx. The group was staggered, but decided to press on, and toured with bassist Manny Yanes instead, to moderate success.

OutKast's Earthtone III recently founded Purple Label, an new imprint to be distributed by Virgin Records. Bernard Edwards (former Chic bassist) stepped in and completed the album Living In Fear (1997) in his stead, and was prepared to tour with the group, but then died suddenly of pneumonia during a trip to Japan. CBS later apologized. However, divorce and drug rehabilitation forced John Taylor to withdraw from the project before the album was complete. The Native American Cultural Center called for a boycott of OutKast and of CBS, the broadcaster of the awards show. The band reunited ten years later with its original members, including Palmer. 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. Palmer went on to record a string of chart-topping hits, including "Addicted To Love", "Simply Irresistible", and "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On".

Speakerboxx/The Love Below won the Grammy Award for the 2004 'Album of the Year. The band folded late in 1985, as its members turned to other projects: John Taylor returned to Duran Duran, Andy Taylor left Duran Duran and started a solo career, Tony Thompson was to take the place of John Bonham in a re-formed Led Zeppelin, but he was nearly killed in a 1986 car accident before that reunion could get off the ground. 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. Similarly, his friendship with producer Joel Silver led to Power Station writing a song called "We Fight For Love" for the Arnold Schwarzenegger action film Commando. "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. Des Barres' friendship with actor Don Johnson led to the band's guest appearance on an episode of the TV drama Miami Vice. Concerned with over-saturation, OutKast's next official single was not released until the summer of 2004. Des Barres also performed with them at the enormous Live Aid charity concert in Philadelphia that summer.

Together, both singles spent over ten weeks at number one on the Hot 100 singles chart. This inevitably led to Palmer's departure from the band. Power Station went on to tour with singer Michael Des Barres (formerly of Silverhead and Checquered Past). 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. The group's unexpected success led to two results: the band decided to do a summer tour in America, and Robert Palmer decided to record a new album to take advantage of his sudden name recognition. 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. (Incidentally, the album's cover graphics and color scheme, which were also used in the videos, were based on sketches by John Taylor.) The band also released a collection of the band's three music videos called "The Power Station Video EP". "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. The album itself reached number 12 in the UK and number 6 on the US album chart.

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. A third single, "Communication", was not as successful; it barely reached the Top 40 in the US, and disappeared after hitting a dismal number 75 in the UK. 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!". (The music video featured the transsexual model Caroline Cossey, credited as "Tula".) The second single was "Bang A Gong (Get It On)", which went to number 22 in the UK and number 9 in the US, while competing against the Duran Duran single "A View to a Kill". 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, "Some Like It Hot", reached number 14 on the UK singles charts and number 6 in the USA. 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 band had two hit singles.

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 was produced by Bernard Edwards, with some informal assistance from Nile Rodgers. 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. In March of 1985, the band issued the album Power Station (originally released on vinyl and subtitled 33⅓ for the turntable speed). Big Boi's Speakerboxxx is, for the most part, a joyous party record, tempered by more politically-minded tracks like "War". On February 16, 1985, the band performed "Some Like It Hot" and "Bang A Gong" on the Saturday Night Live TV show; this was Palmer's only live performance with the band. It is essentially two solo double-albums, one by each member, packaged as a single release under the OutKast banner. Before long, they had decided to record the entire album with Palmer.

In September 2003 OutKast released a double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. When he heard that they had recorded demos for "Bang A Gong", he asked to try out vocals on that one as well, and by the end of the day, the group knew that they had found that elusive chemistry which distinguishes successful bands. The following year, the group and Killer Mike contributed the lead single "Land of a Million Drums" to the Scooby-Doo soundtrack.. The group then invited eclectic soul singer Robert Palmer to record vocals for the track "Communication". 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. Those who were approached included Mick Jagger, Billy Idol, Mars Williams and Richard Butler (of The Psychedelic Furs), and Mick Ronson. In December 2001, OutKast released a greatest hits album, Big Boi And Dre Present...OutKast, which also contained three new tracks. The original plan for the one-album project was for the three musicians (Taylor, Taylor and Thompson) to provide musical continuity to an album full of material, with a different singer performing on each track.

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". When Buell and Taylor broke up, the project evolved into the idea of a revolving supergroup; a tentative name for the band was Big Brother. During the recording of Stankonia, OutKast joined with partner Mr. Both Taylors were eager to branch out from the synthesizer-heavy pop of Duran Duran and play some Led Zeppelin-flavored rock'n'roll; the participation of their idols from Chic lent the project a horn-inflected funk that meshed surprisingly well with the crunching guitars and booming drums. Jackson", and another for Stankonia as Best Rap Album. Rex song "Bang A Gong (Get It On)". 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. The group began as something of a whim -- it was a one-time gathering of friends to provide backing to model and would-be singer Bebe Buell (John Taylor's girlfriend at the time) who wanted to record a cover of the T.

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. The band was formed in New York City late in 1984 during a break in Duran Duran's schedule, and were named after the Power Station recording studio where their album was conceived and recorded. 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. Power Station was a pop group made up of singer Robert Palmer, bassist John Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor of Duran Duran, and former Chic drummer Tony Thompson; two other Chic members, Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers were also involved on the studio side. Jackson" is Badu's mother. "She Can Rock It". Jackson", was about divorce and relationship breakups, particularly André's breakup with Erykah Badu; the titular "Ms. "Communication".

The second single, "Ms. "Some Like It Hot". (Bombs Over Bagdad)", a high-tempo jungle-influenced record. "Bang A Gong (Get It On)". It debuted at #2 on the album charts and would eventually go double-platinum. Stankonia's first single was "B.O.B. Power Station: 20th Anniversary Edition (2005). The pair's fourth album, Stankonia was released to excellent reviews in October 2000. Best Of (2003).

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. Living In Fear (1997). Parks hired lawyer Johnny Cochran to appeal the decision in 2001, but this too was denied, on First Amendment grounds. Power Station (1985). The initial lawsuit was dismissed. Among the bonus tracks on the album will be Michael Des Barres track "We Fight For Love" -- now retitled "Someday, Somehow, Someone's Gotta Pay" (from the Commando OST). 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 package will include the original 8 track album, 7 bonus tracks and a 40-minute 8-chapter DVD.

She felt the song misappropriated her name, and also objected to some of the song's obscene language. EMI are scheduled to release a new version of Power Station on February 21, 2005, to commemorate the album's 20th anniversary. In 1999, OutKast and LaFace Records was sued by Rosa Parks over the album's most successful radio single, "Rosa Parks". They released the album Astronaut in October 2004. The album featured collaborations with, in addition to Organized Noise and the Goodie Mob; their infant son Seven is heard on the song "Slump". John Taylor and Andy Taylor reunited with the original members of Duran Duran in 2001. 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. Robert Palmer died of a heart attack in September 2003, and Tony Thompson died two months later of kidney cancer.

The album was widely praised as an innovative, unique and refreshing album full of hip hop with a progressive vision, both artistic and musically. 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). "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. "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.

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.