Yet the two-in-one approach is exactly what Atlanta’s finest sons Outkast have gone for on their fantastical double-album, ‘Speakerboxxx/The Love Below’. Whilst most double-albums render the listener comatose halfway through the first side (see: 'Sign O’ The Times', 'Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness'), this one is more likely to have you bopping up against whatever female crosses your path (should you be a hot-blooded male that is, as rappers Big Boi and André 3000 clearly are). It’s just too damn funky for its own good, and the stupendous ‘Hey Ya!’ is just the tip of the cool-as-iceberg. Example one: Big Boi’s positively dirrty ‘Bowtie’, as crisp as the finest wine. Example two: André’s sleazy ‘Spread’ (“Don’t want to move too fast but can’t resist your sexy ass”). Example three: the ‘Stankonia’-style party anthem, and album opener, ‘Ghetto Musick’. Basically, there’s too much hot shit here for you NOT to own this.
Yes, it’s essentially two solo records, but if you can name me just one rapper that made a more complete record in 2003 than either of these two Southern boys' efforts, I’ll call you a liar. Big Boi wants to make you party and André wants to take you to bed – what better combination could there ever be? Break up in the future they may, but even individually they’ll forever be cooler than cool.
Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Okay, call me a liar (several times over): Brother Ali, Sole, Aesop Rock, Buck 65, Diverse...
Don't get me wrong, Outkast are good and the album(s) have some mindblowing moments - "Hey Ya!", "She Lives In My Lap" and "Ghettomusick" all spring to mind. But as a whole I'd say it's way overrated. There's just so much filler.
I think it's great that they're getting this critical recognition at long last - they deserve it. But there's no way this is the best hip-hop record of the year. Still give it probably 4/5 though.
Re: Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
But they weren't as funk-ay.
Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Re: Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
See that Hey Ya! has gone back up the charts again, to number 9? Weird...
Re: Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
to me, they're the only hip hop act to really push the boundries....
Re: Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
*Years* ago they were pushing the boundaries. These days they sound more like what they are - a plain, simple funk-hop group, albeit a good one.
And *everyone* mentions them...they've been the rock zines' token hip-hop act for as long as I can remember.
Re: Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
http://www.drownedinsound.com/boards/thread/24720
Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Re: Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below