Outkast

This article is about the hip hop group. For the film, see Outkast (film). For other uses, see Outcast (disambiguation).

Outkast
Outkast performing in 2001
Outkast performing in 2001
Background information
Also known asTwo Shades Deep
OriginAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Discography
Years active
  • 1992–2007
  • 2014
Labels
Spinoffs
Spinoff of
Past members
Websiteoutkast.com

Outkast (sometimes written as OutKast) was an American hip hop duo formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1992, consisting of rappers Big Boi (Antwan Patton) and André 3000 (André Benjamin, formerly known as Dré).[1] Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential hip hop acts of all time,[4][5] the duo achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, helping to popularize Southern hip hop[1] with their intricate lyricism, memorable melodies, and positive themes,[6] while experimenting with a diverse range of genres such as funk, psychedelia, jazz, and techno.

Patton and Benjamin formed Outkast as high school students. They released their debut studio album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik in 1994, which gained popularity after its single "Player's Ball" peaked atop the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart. The duo further experimented and honed their sound with their second and third albums ATLiens (1996) and Aquemini (1998), both of which were met with critical acclaim. They then achieved mainstream recognition and continued acclaim with their fourth album Stankonia (2000), which was supported by the singles "B.O.B." and "Ms. Jackson", the latter of which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 and won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards.

The duo then released the double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003), their only album to debut atop the Billboard 200. It received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), was supported by their second and third number one singles: "The Way You Move" (performed by Big Boi) and "Hey Ya!" (performed by André 3000), respectively, and won Album of the Year at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards. Outkast starred in the 2006 musical film Idlewild and recorded the film's accompanying soundtrack, which was released as their final album three days before the film's release. The duo split the following year, and both members have pursued solo careers. Outkast temporarily reunited in 2014 to celebrate their debut album's 20th anniversary with performances at more than 40 festivals worldwide, beginning at the Coachella Festival in April 2014.[7]

Along with being one of hip hop’s most influential acts, Outkast is also one of the most successful, having certified sales of 20 million records between six studio albums and a compilation album, as well as having earned six Grammy Awards.[8][9][10][11] In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked them No. 7 on its list of the “20 Greatest Duos of All Time”,[12] while publications such as Pitchfork and the aforementioned Rolling Stone have listed their albums among the best in all of hip hop and of all time.

  1. ^ a b c "OutKast Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  2. ^ Lewis, Miles Marshall (August 9, 2007). "Common". Dallas Observer. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  3. ^ NME Staff (August 18, 2006). "OutKast: Idlewild". NME. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  4. ^ Ellis, Iain (October 2008). Rebels Wit Attitude: Subversive Rock Humorists. Soft Skull Press. p. 252. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  5. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2003). "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below". Allmusic. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  6. ^ "OutKast". Britannica. May 9, 2023. 1016736.
  7. ^ Coachella 2014 Lineup. Stereogum (January 8, 2014). Retrieved on 2014-05-28.
  8. ^ "The 10 Greatest Hip-Hop Duos of All time". Medium. SNOBHOP. November 5, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  9. ^ "Outkast's Impact on the Hip Hop Landscape". The Next Wave Chicago. January 2, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  10. ^ "The 10 Best Rappers of All Time". Billboard. November 12, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  11. ^ Houlihan, Finn (May 27, 2015). "How André 3000 changed the rap game". Acclaim Magazine. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  12. ^ "20 Greatest Duos of All Time". Rolling Stone. December 17, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2020.