OutKast’s debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik was released on April 26, 1994. In 1995 while the Suge Knight and Puffy rival of West and East coast rap was going on, OutKast snuck in for a win of Best New Artist at the Source Awards (1). The award show was a boiling point for the coast battle, that could have ended in a gunbattle due to the high stakes the two sides had raised between their music. OutKast’s win put the South, specifically Atalanta on the map for music! I think if they were to not win during this beef-battle ridden time they would not have gotten as much notoriety. The big names in music during the mid-’90s were mostly coming from larger cities like New York and Los Angeles.
The distinctive style and musical talents of André 3000 and his rapper counterpart Big Boi put them ahead of the game because their catchy tunes could be enjoyed by hip hop fans and those who loved pop. Their music style alone is innovative. They combine a wide range of musical influences in their music; including jazz, funk, electronica, soul, rock, and hip hop (2). But the duo’s diverse fashion caught the eye of many. André 3000 wearing a wide variety of non-conforming gender diverse outfits in comparison to Big Boi’s very distinct hip hop/pimp style was such a large contrast that it worked well together. It separated their talents to show each was just as great on their own, as well as together. I think the duo could make a comeback and release new music to fit today’s style’s and they could do well though. A lot of the new music being released often are crossover genres. Examples are country-rap, pop-rock, rock-EDM (electronic dance music). OutKast’s oddball style would fit in well I think. Their diverse sound even landed them a spot the cover of an Alt Press magazine (3), that is generally directed towards the alternative music genre scene.
I remember being a young tweenage girl when OutKast’s Speakerboxx/Love Below split album was released in 2003. I was so ecstatic that I had my own money and was able to purchase it. I was shopping with my grandmother, who after one look at the parental advisory label said “We have to call your mother and ask if you can buy this!”. To which of course I rolled my eyes and said okay because I knew my mother would be fine with the purchase. This album was released during a time when the two-man crew was having difficulty agreeing on their music style, hence the release of a split album that came with two full soundtracks sold as one bundle. It was so exciting to see their differences in style, but yet have the same great OutKast feel we all grew to love with the classic Ms. Jackson.
Today many artists honor the high standards set by OutKast (2). They use the duo’s emphasis on individuality to lead their own careers by focusing on being different. In a world full of digital photography, pull an OutKast, and “Shake it like a Polaroid picture!”
(1) Finn Houlihan, Acclaim Magazine : https://acclaimmag.com/music/outkast-changed-rap-game/
(2) KC Orcutt, Revolt TV : https://www.revolt.tv/2019/4/2/20822939/a-look-into-how-outkast-influenced-the-ever-evolving-soundscape-of-atlanta-sponsored-by-at-amp-t
(3) Alternative Press Magazine : https://www.altpress.com/galleries/surprising-ap-artist-cover/