Outkast (Big Boi & Dre Present) [PA] - Outkast

...this.

OutKast tell us that they arn't just about being funky as they are oftenly perceived, but this is what it is manly about for them as generally they are always "Funkin' Around"

3. Ain't No Thang

**Four Stars**

This comes from the album "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" back in 1994, when the members of this group were making names for themselves. There styles back ...
...of the world to see OutKast for the first time and is commonly incorrectly called their debut single. In fact they had already achieved a double platinum album before this but it was relatively unheard of in this country. The sample is "Strawberry Letter #23" by The Brothers Johnson and it is a very sombre and apologetic track.

This was the next step for OutKast in getting inot the mainstream as this had a lot more appeal ... more

This album comes from the early days of the Dirty South with a couple of the pioneers, OutKast. These duo were amongst the first to emerge from this region of America and the fact that all of the music on here came from as early as 1992 and spans as far as 2000. In this we have all of the singles from their career until then, as well as their best B-Sides and a new one.

1. Camp Fire Intro

2. Funkin' Around

**Four Stars**

After the intro which got us in the mood for music from these artist, th sound which they produce, continues here. This is because there isn't much difference between this and what was heard prior to this.

OutKast tell us that they arn't just about being funky as they are oftenly perceived, but this is what it is manly about for them as generally they are always "Funkin' Around"

3. Ain't No Thang

**Four Stars**

This comes from the album "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" back in 1994, when the members of this group were making names for themselves. There styles back then was original and it is evident by the way their music came out, it was all ver similar. I wouldn't say tha this is a bad thing though as it was experimental, as they tried to find the right sound for the Dirty South.

This track is very laid -back with a hard beat to it. I liked this a lot because it has a strong retro feel to it, taking you back to the early-mid ninties.

4. So Fresh So Clean (Remix)

**Five Stars**

This is the perfect track. It has the most amazing beat, which was sampled by Joe Simon's "Before the Night is Over" and a the smooth melodies of Sleepy Bronw, obviously along with the flawless raps of Dre 3K and Hot Tub Tony.

This one has Organized Noize on the production, of whom Sleepy Brown is a part of the trio. As he played such an important part in this, it shows that he enjoyed this one a lot and his effort was definatley worth-while, judging by the end result.

5. Rosa Parks

**Four Stars**

This track is dedicated to the civil rights activist who famously refused to give up her bus seat for a white passager in 1955. Unfortunately it was not received well by the family of her who thought her name was benig put in a bad light despite no offensive lyrics towards her. "Ah ha, hush that fuss / Everybody move to the back of the bus" were the only words of this single which were actually connected to her and so I feel it was unfair to dispute over it.

The track is very catchy and definately had to be included. It came off the groups third album, "Aquemini" and it samples Curtis Mayfield's "Superfly". It is funky and I would expect that most who enjoy OtKast's music would love this one.

6. The Whole World (feat. Killer Mike)

**Five Stars**

This was a brand new track at the time, and it was the third track I had ever heard from them as I hadn't heard their music prior to "Ms. Jackson". I had by this time realised that I was a fan of their music as out of this, the one previously mentioned and "So Fresh, So Clean" there wasn't a single weakness.

The inspration for this seems to be very random as many differnt things come up in this track such as Scooby Doo, Randy Moss and getting your hair cut.

7. Aquemini

**Two Stars**

This was the title track from the third album which this Big Boi and Andre 3000 did together as OutKast. This is definately alternate Hip Hop as it sounds nothing like anbody else prior to release of this album in 1998.

The tune is quite odd as Dre's voice is modified so tht it sounds as if it is like a sci-fi film character. The track is very eery but it seems as though everytime Big Boi steps up to the mic, he ignores it and just Gs the track up.

I can't say that I enjoyed the track too much because of the way that the sound of the hook was, I didn't really like the fact that the they went to make the theme overly-prominant, therefore it sounded too much like a horror movie.

8. B.O.B.

**Five Stars**

"B.O.B" (Bombs Over Bagdad) is one of my favourite tracks on this album. The title was inspired by Andre 300 hearing reports in 2000 about dropping this when he was in a London hotel. I don't understand how this all relates to the lyrics as they have nothing to do with it.

The way Dre comes in the opening verse is great, the action is frantic here and you feel as if you are already half way through the action. It is extrmely high-paced and is aid to be influenced by the drum and bass spin-off, jungle, in which the music feels as though you are in such a place running to a fast beat.

9. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

**Five Stars**

Yeah, I thought it said Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious the first time I saw it too. This is a reference to how the original word was make for the "Mary Poppins" book. However, as you can imagine, tha tis where the similarity between this Hip Hop track and the P. L. Travers book ends.

This doesn't have any particular theme, and so you cannot identify this with anything specific subject. This can however be said to be
"...that southerplayalisticcaddilac funky music." because this is the only explaination for it.

10. Crumblin' Erb

**Four Stars**

This track has a lot of meaning to it, something which may be ignored by people who pretty much only listen to the beats. The message is that the levels of "Blac-on-black" crime, especially violence, is too far and there is no point in doing this.

There aren't many rap artist who will go out and say that there is a problem so I applaud this group in what they do here. Most say that you should roll with a gun, and randomly shoot someone you don't like the look of, this is something which they should have continued because with their huge success now, many would hear their message.

11. Ms. Jackson

**Five Stars**

This is the track which allowed most of the world to see OutKast for the first time and is commonly incorrectly called their debut single. In fact they had already achieved a double platinum album before this but it was relatively unheard of in this country. The sample is "Strawberry Letter #23" by The Brothers Johnson and it is a very sombre and apologetic track.

This was the next step for OutKast in getting inot the mainstream as this had a lot more appeal than many of their preious track because it wasn't hardcore like the others and it would be possible for the vast majority of the world to understand this.

12. Player's Ball

**Five Stars**

To the untrained ear, this sound identical to "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" from the opening, which is extremely similar to it. However once you get into it you can hear that is definately an original track. This featured on exactly the same album as that one therfore it was obvius by that fact that it wasn't going to be the same track.

This was the debut single for this goup and so it had to make a big impact of getting the Atlanta on the map of Hip Hop, which at that time only included New York, Compton, Long Beach and Philly.

This "Player's Ball", which they refer to is an annual gathering of the pimps throughout America to Illinois' largest city, Chicago. This is a risky topic to rap about in a debut howeer to did allow them to get a decent amount of publicity from it.

13. Elevators

**Four Stars**

The alternate name for this is "Me & You" if that name sounds more familar to you. The beat is very strong and was extremely simple, which makes it one that I like so much. Also the artist get you into a serious mood with their raps which sound to be very anger-motivated.

The track forces you to sway from side to side and it is an example of the group experimenting with their style at the time. This is something they seem to have given up on doing unfortunately and I wish it did get continued.

14. Spottieottiedopaliscious

**Four Stars**

This is a track which was first found on OutKast's third LP, "Aquemini". It starts with a dramatic drum-roll before slowing right down to be relaxed and laid-back tune. This souds like an Atlanta variation of the Hip Hop syle prominant in Houston, Texas, which is Screwed and Chopped. It is less chopped and more screwed as the words are stretched out and over-exaggerated in the chorus.

As we get into it, it appears to be an R&B track as we hear Sleepy brwon provide us with some perfect vocals as he always does. His sstyle is smooth and works well with the rap approache of Big Boi and unorthadox ways of Andre.

15. Git Up Git Out

**Four Stars**

This is a classic from this group as it it feels so relaxed. The tune just comes naturally to Dre and Big Boi, as they give us typical lyrics about life in the ATL, GA. Their style was a variation of the style prominant in the West Coast of America, California in particular.

This one hasn't got the same feel as Dre's G-Funk because it is slower than it. However this has got a definate influence from this as the tempo is much like what is found there.

16. Movin' Cool

**Four Stars**

This doesn't feature one half of OutKast's group as Big Boi isn't in it. The artist doesn't suit thi anyway because it is a soulful duet between Dre and Atlana R&B singer, Joi, who is closely associated with The Dungeon Family.

I think that this was the correct way to end this compilation album as it gets you into a happy mood, therefore the overall impression which you gain from this LP is a positive one. This has a very good retro blues feel to it however it is more up-beat that typical music in that genre.

"Big Boi and Dre Present...OutKast" is a great compilation album as it includes all of the hits from the early career of the group, before many of you will know. It also has some of the lesser know tracks which didn't fit in well at th time but as Hip Hop has changed, it has a plac now amongst this new age of the genre.

I'd say if you would like to go and see the roots of the OutKast you see today, then buy this. Also anyone who thoughroughly enjoys the music from the West Coast, G-Funk in particular, then you will like this. 

...less