Outkast’s absolutely flawless album
On October 31, 2000 the Outkastthe Atlanta hip hop duo formed by Big Boi And André 3000they published “Stankonia”their fourth album. A record that received, upon its release, critical acclaim and excellent feedback from the public which decreed its success. This is how he wrote about it for us at the time Alessandra Zacchino.
Some groups build credibility over the years and in the case of hip hop, Outkast (Dre Benjamin and Big Boi) have already demonstrated from their first album that they have messages and sounds that distance themselves from the stereotypes of rap. Precisely for this reason, each of their new albums brings with it the responsibility of continuing stylistic research that confirms them as pleasing to both the public and critics. “Stankonia” did not disappoint expectations in the slightest, but if possible it confirmed what was achieved in their previous three albums and improved their sales. A few weeks after its release, “Stankonia” sold over two million copies, thanks also to the great success of the first single “Ms. Jackson.”
From their debut to today (going from their first album in ’93 “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik” to that in ’98 “Aquemini”) Outkast have elevated southern rap (the duo is in fact from Atlanta, Georgia) to a higher creative level, managing therefore to bring hip hop well beyond the usual two coasts, west and east, putting the south right on the map. “Stankonia” continues the path of previous albums and adds new explorations between political rap, funk, rock and pop sounds. Already the song “Gasoline dreams” perfectly introduces the discussion with echoes of influences that come from Jimi Hendrix (the album was also released with an alternative cover, clearly inspired by Hendrix) and with the participation of Khujo from Goodie Mob.
The following “So fresh, so clean” is of a completely different tone, decidedly more pop with its falsetto chorus that precedes the hit “Ms. Jackson” and his story of ‘fatherhood’, told at an absolutely irresistible pace. “Stankonia” then continues with “Snappin’ & trappin’”, “Spaghetti junction” and “I’ll come before I come” before entering the overwhelming “BOB” (Bomb over Baghdad), the best episode of the album.
Other surprises from “Stankonia” are represented by “Xplosion” (with B-Real), “Humble Mumble” (with Erykah Badu, the mother of little Seven, son of Dre Benjamin), “Slum beautiful” (with the excellent Cee- Lo of Goodie Mob) the ‘Princiana’ “Toilet tisha” and “Stankonia (Stanklove)”, (with Big Rube and Sleepy Brown). Electric hip hop and experimentation; in “Stankonia” George Clinton seems to meet Jimi Hendrix and Outkast take their teachings and insert them into their very personal hip hop style, to give us an album absolutely flawless.
