Outkast, the duo of Big Boi and Andre 3000 (aka Dre), emerged in the 1990's as one of the most consistently challenging and inventive of all hip hop recording acts. While rooted in classic r&b, their music ranges across in incredibly wide array of influences. This is a listing of their album releases.
- Southernplayalistcadillacmuzik (La Face) (1994)
Outkast were fast out of the blocks with their very first album. It was not only Outkast's first album, but also the first put together by the Atlanta-based production team Organized Noize. It is filled with memorable songs and, on the heels of the top 40 hit "Player's Ball," the album reached #20 on the pop albums chart and eventually sold over a million copies.
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ATLiens (La Face) (1996)
The duo's second album continued their momentum and reached #2 on the album chart. It included 2 more top 40 hit singles - the title song and "Elevators (Me and You)." The album's sound is based in 70's soul, but it incorporates influencing ranging from gospel to dub reggae.
- Aquemini (La Face) (1998)
This album is a sprawling, magnificent achievement. It was the duo's second #2 hit album. Although none of the album's singles reached the pop top 40, it is still a revered collection. In a nod to their influences, Big Boi and Andre 3000 welcomed funk legend George Clinton as a guest musician. Their song "Rosa Parks" became the subject of an unfortunate defamation lawsuit in 1999.
- Stankonia (La Face) (2000)
Outkast entered the new millenium in fine fashion on this album. It became the duo's 3rd straight #2 hit album and also featured Outkast's first #1 hit pop single "Ms. Jackson." "So Fresh, So Clean" was a second top 40 hit single from the album. The record's music is filled with hooks and spacy, futuristic sound effects. Stankonia was hailed by critics as one of the best albums of the year and took home the duo's first 2 Grammy Awards.
- Big Boi and Dre Present...Outkast (La Face) (2001)
Following Stankonia's impressive commercial success, Outkast caught new fans up with a greatest hits package. The collection reached the top 20 of the album chart and included a new top 40 hit single "The Whole World."
- Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (La Face) (2003)
This is a sprawling 2 disc masterpiece. It is basically 2 solo albums released together as one. Big Boi's disc is rooted in party-style rap while Andre 3000's disc is funk and soul based with relatively little hip hop. The collective album became the duo's first to debut at #1 on the pop albums chart. The singles "Hey Ya!" and "The Way You Move" were released nearly simultaneously and both hit #1. The bulk of radio airplay for "The Way You Move" followed slightly behind "Hey Ya!" "Roses" was a 3rd top 10 hit single from the album. Critical response was rapturous, and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below won the Grammy Award for album of the year.
