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OutKast: Speakerboxx / The Love Below Album

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Hey Ya and other hits from OutKast's Speakerboxx / The Love Below

The widespread popularity of the OutKast album Speakerboxx / The Love Below is a testament to the originality and talent of Andre 3000 and Big Boi, the Southern rappers behind this experimental hip-hop group. The two formed OutKast in 1991 in Atlanta and have since proven themselves worthy of a rare mix of both commercial success and critical acclaim. Speakerboxx/The Love Below is their fifth album.

Speakerboxx / The Love Below

Get the OutKast album on CD.

Speakerboxx / The Love Below is on two discs, each featuring one of the group's experimental rap artists. It has been said that the songs have no cohesive link, but that hasn't gotten in the way of the album's impressive critical and commercial success. It won three Grammy Awards in 2003: Album of the Year, Best Rap Album, and Best Urban / Alternative Performance for "Hey Ya." This is only the second hip-hop album ever to win Album of the Year (the first winner in hip-hop was another brilliant achievement in music, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, in 1993).
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About OutKast

Experimental hip-hop goes mainstream.

OutKast: Speakerboxx / The Love BelowIn his excellent biography of OutKast in All Music Guide, John Bush notes that Andre 3000 and Big Boi "took Southern hip-hop in bold, innovative new directions: less reliance on aggression, more positivity and melody, thicker arrangements, and intricate lyrics." Complex arrangements and sophisticated rhythms are signature elements of progressive and experimental hip-hop, along with a departure from the typically violent subject matter of gangsta rap.

Photo credits: MoonSoleil (Andre 3000), Wikimedia (BigBoi).

Best OutKast Song

Vote for your favorite OutKast track.

OutKast had two #1 hit singles from Speakerboxx / The Love Below: "Hey Ya" and "The Way You Move." Three other songs off the album were also released as singles: "Ghettomusick," "Prototype" and "Roses." Earlier hits include "Ms. Jackson" and the track that first brought OutKast widespread recognition, "Players Ball."

I personally hate the song "Roses" and have no idea why it was so popular. If you vote for it, please tell me in the guestbook so I can smack you.

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Hey Ya, The Charlie Brown Video

The Peanuts gang dance to OutKast.

One of the songs on Speakerboxx / The Love Below is "Hey Ya," which is the soundtrack for this brilliant video of characters from the Peanuts comic dancing. I love how well this fits, and how unexpected it was to see these two art forms brought together. It shows how the rousing rhythm and universal appeal of a lively song like "Hey Ya" can inspire creativity and unite two very different icons of popular culture: OutKast and Charlie Brown.
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Shake it, shake it, shake it like a Polaroid picture.


- Andre 3000 of OutKast, "Hey Ya"

History of Rap Music

This page by MysticMama inspired a post about race and the roots of hip-hop in my weekly Friday Dance Party series on the Squidoo Music blog.
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Your Speakerboxx

Speak!

Share your comments on OutKast albums and singles, the experimental rap music genre, and anything else... except Kanye West.

  • hsjessie Mar 19, 2012 @ 11:39 pm | delete
    Gotta say I LOVE Outkast! Just found their compilation CD in my car the other day and have been listening to that everywhere I go!
  • mahimattphoto Mar 27, 2011 @ 8:49 pm | delete
    Great lens! This album was historic for hip hop music.
  • cjsysreform Mar 29, 2011 @ 4:15 am | delete
    Thanks! Is the Hey Ya video showing up ok? When I'm not logged in I can't see it. :(
  • 24websurf Feb 15, 2010 @ 8:29 pm | delete
    Oh man! I loved the charlie Brown video and the song is awesome!
  • Waxing-Lyrical Feb 15, 2010 @ 5:01 pm | delete
    Gotta say I'm not that familiar with OutKast, but the Peanuts video was just too cool :)
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Recommended Tracks

My favorite songs from Outkast's Speakerboxx/The Love Below

This is one revolutionary album. "Hey Ya" is one of the few club mix tracks included, along with the raucous "GhettoMusick" and the infectious hit "The Way You Move." These songs, along with "Tomb of the Boom" (featuring Ludacris) and "Last Call," are the most upbeat and accessible tracks in the collection-- great introductions for anyone just getting into the music of Outkast.

Track Artist Album  
Hey Ya! (Radio Mix/Club Mix) OutKast Speakerboxxx / The Love Below
The Way You Move (Club Mix) OutKast Speakerboxxx / The Love Below
GhettoMusick (Club Mix) OutKast Speakerboxxx / The Love Below
Last Call OutKast Speakerboxxx / The Love Below
Tomb of the Boom OutKast Speakerboxxx / The Love Below

More on OutKast and Speakerboxx/The Love Below

Visit these links for more information about OutKast's fifth album.
Speakerboxx/The Love Below on Wikipedia
Summary, critical reception and commercial success.
Album Reviews
Aggregated reviews of Speakerboxx / The Love Below on Metacritic.
SpeakerBoxxx Blog
A music blog featuring rap artists.

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cjsysreform

Hi, I'm Amanda Sage (aka cjsysreform). Please feel free to follow me on Twitter or visit Pop! Goes the Culture, my arts and entertainment blog. more »

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