OutKast: Going Solo - New CD, New Sound...

[STILLDRE IS THE GODFATHER]

OutKast: Going Solo - New CD, New Sound...
Wednesday - September 24, 2003
Albert McCluster III
Straight from the ATL, Outkast have continued to raise the creative bar in Hip Hop since the release of their first album "Southernplayalisticadillacmusik" 1994. They followed with "ATLiens", "Aquemeni" and the now modern rap classic "Stankonia". They are now promoting their new double album "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below". The two CDs are basically stand alone albums... Speakerboxxx is Big Boi's straight-forward Hip Hop contribution and The Love Below is Andre 3000's eclectic CD.

The Playa and The Poet...Big Boi aka Antwan Patton and Andre 3000 aka Andre Benjamin, respectively form OutKast. An original, streetsmart duo, who's appeal has crossed international borders and social standings, even within the beef-torn, highly competitive world of hip-hop. Dre and Big Boi's success as artists not only lies in their ability to develop new sounds with each album, but in accepting their different personalities and building on their common interests...a shared love of Parliament/Funkadelic, James Brown, and Jimi Hendrix.
I got a chance to catch up with the funky duo during a listening party in promotion for their new album.

Your friendship goes back to Atlanta in the early '90s, where you both attended Tri-Cities High School in East Point. How'd you hook up?
Dre: We were both just a tad bit different...both were into rapping...we noticed each other...we both had mad flow...so it just seemed natural to hook up.

Big Boi: We were cool like that you know. But, we didn't really hook up until about the 10th grade...

Dre: "You was in the 10th grade...(laughs as he nudges Big Boi with his elbow) I had dropped out of school by then.

Big Boi: We started a group called '2 Shades Deep'...we was working at odd jobs and partying...you know the street games that all young hustlers play...I remember running up on Dre and he was sitting in this tricked out caddy, packing a nine and smoking weed...straight southern gangsta-mack! H e made me look like an amatuer back in the day.

Dre: I was looking for niggas to run up on...I had some ladies and thangs poppin off back in the day...you know had to get that green.

Big Boi: I was considering gettin' into the street games real serious...but, we managed to get signed to LaFace and released 'Player's Ball' back in '93.

“Player's Ball” slammed the charts. You were the first from the ATL to really show love to the city and it's inhabitants...you were also the first to reveal the secrets of the southern players and basically began the rise of the South in Hip Hop...
Dre: Wasn't really no secrets....game recognizes game...a player is somebody who takes care of they business in the game, the game of life, you can be a regular, average, everyday Joe and be a player as long as you handle your business and show love to where you come from...

Big Boi:. True, true...If you're true to yourself and true to what you're doing, then can't nobody call you out. We handled business for ourselves...plus showed ATLove when we came out the gate and are still handlin' business now...even with all the media rumors of a breakup...we OutKast, baby! Representing the ATL to the fullest...we grow...we don't break!

I remember when the video for “Player's Ball” dropped. Dre, you were dressed then in jeans, an Atlanta Braves Jersey and Nikes...now you seem to have reverted to mid-sixties GQ/Hippie cool with loud colors...what's with your style?
Dre: I done changed totally...when ATLiens came out...I was beginning to dabble in new forms of music and fashion...call it a Neo-Parliament-Funkadelic-Spiritual-Inspiration. I love clothes and fashion...but, I like being an individual...in my dress and in my music. Now everybody wants to be a thug, man. But, people just scared to be original. And everybody waiting on that other nigga to do it. So, guess I'm that nigga...who ain't afraid to raise the bar and be something else other than the thug thang, you know.

Big Boi: You have to be strong to take the kind of ridicule Dre got in the beginning. I'm feelin' Dre's style. As do our fans. He just had a big fashion spread in GQ (Gentleman's Quarterly), so somebody is feeling him. Like with everything with OutKast...we innovate...not imitate. Me, on the other hand...I've had my wild style...but, now I keep it cool and kinda low key...

Low key? I'm feeling the tux and the plaid suit you sported in 'The Way She Moves' video.
Big Boi: Well...you know...I gotta keep it fresh and clean. (smiles as he pops his collar)

In '98, you released Aquemini, which went double-platinum, it received accolades from music critics and fans alike out the box. You managed to satisfy your fringe audience who bought ATLiens AND hardcore heads who first heard "Southernplayalisticadillacmusik" in '94. That's no easy accomplishment.
Big Boi: On Aquemini we combined the music of Southern and the flow of ATLiens. Thru our production company, Earthtone II, we produced the majority of .Aquemini...that was really the first time we used live musicians and instruments in the studio for an album.

Dre: "On Aquemini our goal was to show what we could do when we really put our heads together...that's why we choose that name for the album... it's a combination Big Boi, the Aquarius and me, the Gemini."

Big Boi: Even though we started out with the same type of ideas in 2 Shades Deep thru Southern till right now...we've continued to grow and change as people...I smoke. Dre don't smoke anymore. I go to strip clubs. He don't go to strip clubs... no more (laughs) he used to, you know what I'm saying? Dre abstains from alcohol and is a vegetarian. I mean, that's individualism and it's a beautiful thing. And that's what we all about. We have been consistent in our development of style and work ethic as musicians and producers of the group...while maintaining our individual growth in music and our lives.

Dre: (nods head) That's mutual respect...no matter what, we always gonna be peoples...and always gonna have each others backs...we prove that everytime we go into the studio...Hell, we've proven that in everything we do.

You just finished Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, a pair of solo CDs. What was the concept for the new album?
Dre: Hip-Hop music alone, no longer stimulates me. I won't be touring for this album. I want peole to get to know Dre the musician...I don't feel the music the same way I did when I first got into hip-hop, loving it, loving writing lyrics and studying other people's lyrics. Back then all I would think about was beats and rhymes. It's been a minute since “Player's Ball...” I've changed, Big Boi has changed...I moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles. I'm looking to expand as a performer and actor. I'm working on my talents as a musician also...I've taken up the clarinet and saxophone too. The next time I perform on stage, I see myself playing in a band, like in the video for Hey Ya, I play every band member in my group, 'The Love Below', I'm Andre (Ice Cold) 3000 - Vocals, Johnny Vulture - Guitar, Possum Jenkins - Bass, Benjamin Andre - Keyboard, Dookie - Drums, and all 3 of The Love Haters - Backup Vocals. I want it to be a total departure from OutKast. The Love Below CD is just an extension of my current mindset. It's a concept album about relationships. There's about 20 tracks which talk about love, sex and commitment. I don't have too many guests on The Love Below...Kelis is on “Dracula's Wedding” , Norah Jones on “Take Off Your Cool' and my girl, actress/singer Rosario Dawson is featured on “She Lives in My Lap”.

Big Boi: Right now...we both are doing the promotions thang. ..Dre is working on the movie thang...I have a DVD that's coming out 'Big Boi's Boom Boom Room'...it's got a lotta studio and performance footage...I been waiting a while to do something like Speakerboxxx. The first single and video is 'The Way She Moves' featuring my mans, Sleepy Brown...'Rooster' is another track that I'm happy with along with 'Bowtie' with Sleepy and Jazzy Pha on the chorus. Ludacris is on 'Tomb of the Boom', with Big Gipp and Koncrete.
Boxxx is my hip hop symphony...we got (begins counting on fingers) Jay-Z and Killer Mike ('Flip Flop'), Khujo from Goodie Mob, Cee-Lo ("Reset"), and Lil Jon and Slimm Calhoun ("Last Call"). Dre is one of the producers on Speakerboxxx, and he makes his vibe felt on 'Ghetto Musick'. The track sound has a Miami bass feel and electronic bounce. He got me going like a machine gun on that.

Dre decided not to tour and really work on his acting, it's all good, he knows I'm going to go on the road. Ain't nothing better for me than the crowd's reaction to new music...especially when it's music that I created. This album is a concentration of our individual style and goals, we are still OutKast...we just have advanced our music and ideas. So, all the rumors of a breakup are just that...RUMORS! We are the original southern ballers and playas! OutKast forever, baby!

Dre: Believe that and pick up Speakerboxxx/The Love Below...Get a new nasty-funky taste of DaddyPhatSacks and Ice Cold Andre 3000...Love and Peace!


 

[Lord Funk]

Good read - thanks man. Haven't heard a thing off the albu yet - not singles, not snippets, nada. Expect I'll cop it though - always feel the Dungeon Family vibe.