It’s this combo of eclecticism and accessibility that’s made OutKast one of hip-hop’s most unique forces. The Atlanta duo mixes old and new musical styles–funk, R&B, hip-hop, rock–and ties them all together with organic jams, head-bobbing rhythms and improvisational rhymes. OutKast’s cut-and-paste approach has garnered the respect of fin-icky underground musicians, while their chart-smart beats won over rap’s mainstream crowd (their third and previous album, 1998’s “Aquemini,” went multiplatinum).
“Stankonia” continues OutKast’s journey into the weird with a sound that lies somewhere between the jamming madness of Parliament-Funkadelic, the creme de menthe vocals of Al Green and the bumping beats of A Tribe Called Quest. Yet OutKast never attempts to smooth all these disparate elements into one seamless groove. Instead, they explore the gaps between styles, allowing new songs and sounds to spring up between the cracks.
“In rap, there’s nothing new under the sun,” says Dre, who plays the eccentric to Big Boi’s more street-savvy persona. “But I think it’s the way you say it and how you approach it. People are afraid to step out. There’s a formula to making the music now, and no one really has the courage to do their own thing.”
“Stankonia” is an exercise in risk taking. It was created largely from improv sessions in the group’s own Atlanta studio (also called Stankonia) and goes from the hyperkinetic rush of “B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)” to the slow-strutting “So Fresh So Clean” to the mind-bending synth-jams of “Snappin & Trappin.” There are also guest vocals here from Erykah Badu (Dre’s significant other and the mother of his child) and fellow Atlanta rappers the Goodie Mob.
“It’s an experimental thing,” says Big Boi, who looks conservative next to Dre in his football jersey, sweats and tennis shoes. The two are now seated in a limo that will take OutKast across town to the BET studios, where they’ll introduce the world premiere of their “B.O.B.” video. “I’ve met a lot of producers who know exactly what they’re looking for. It’s like etched in stone before they begin. But we start with one element and build on to it until we get to a point where we say, ‘Yeah, that’s it. That’s jammin’ ‘.”
OutKast started in Atlanta back when Dre and Big Boi met in high school and began writing rhymes in class. They hooked up with the production team Organized Noize, and found their first chance to rap on TLC’s “Every Little Thing.” Their 1994 debut, “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik,” received kudos for its creative and raw stylings, setting the stage for their next three albums. Now OutKast is spreading the weirdness by starting up their own label, Aquemini, and signing fellow oddball rappers like Slimm Calhoun.
While OutKast’s freakiness is celebrated in many circles, they always face the potential of alienating fans with a sound that’s gone too far. “I call it the fear of falling off,” says Dre. “You can be the best rapper, producer, make the greatest songs, but if people out on the street don’t connect with you, you’re gonna fall off the edge. Especially with the kind of music we do. There’s no guarantees. Some forms of hip-hop are guaranteed to hit: you put a fresh boom-boom in the back, a singing hook on there and bust a couple of bars and you’re guaranteed at least to get it on the radio. With us, there’s no guarantee.” As OutKast have proved, that’s a risk worth taking.
