Outkast arent exactly revolutionaries, they just sound that way. Not since George Clinton funked up the global landscapes has a group mixed up so much soul over a bass line.
The tag team of Andre 2000 and Big Boi seem to have fallen out of the 70s without all the crappy clothes. They dont mess around as they blast right into the gritty “Gasoline Dreams”, and then they get “So Fresh, So Clean”. One song from the streets, another from DAngelos backyard. They cant help but get live and explode on “B.O.B.” or the provoking “?” (“what can make a nigga wanna take another nigga life”). Answer? Unknown, point taken.
“Ms. Jackson” is a soulful plea for past indiscretion (“you say its puppy love/we say its full-grown/ hope that we feel this way forever”). “Spaghetti Junction” spreads vibes across the horizon like a serious trip on acid (“see blind folds cant cover three eyes/ we wise to the fact so we attract wit what we know/ heaven is the only good”).
Prince would have a rough time trying to rhyme for the brilliantly simple “Toilet Tisha” while Erykah Badu joins for the rousing “Humble Mumble”. Outkast are musical chameleons.
Musically, Stankonia is brilliant, from the live vibe to the timeless beats coming out of Organized Noises dungeon. This is the road artists like De La Soul, Arrested Development, and Pharcyde tried to pave years before. Outkast has not only paved that road, but also put up some signs and zoned the area for commerce. In a genre that is as dark as a black hole, Outkast is a shining star.
+ charlie craine
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