  Hey Ya! goes Oukcast!
OutKast is an American hip hop
duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André
“André 3000” Benjamin (formerly known as Dré) and Savannah, Georgia-born
Antwan “Big Boi” Patton. They were originally known as The OKB (The
OutKast Brothers) but later changed the group’s name to OutKast. The
group’s original musical style was a mixture of Dirty South and G-Funk.
Since then, however, funk, soul, electronic music, spoken word poetry,
jazz, and blues elements have been added to the group’s musical palette.
The duo is one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time,
having received six Grammy Awards. Over 25 million copies have been sold
of OutKast’s eight releases: six studio albums, a greatest hits release,
and the Grammy Award-winning (for Best Album) Speakerboxxx/The Love
Below, a double album containing a solo album from each member. Along
with their commercial success, OutKast has maintained an experimental
approach in their music and are widely praised for their originality and
artistic content.
Benjamin and Patton met while attending Tri-Cities High School, a
Visual and Performing Arts School. Benjamin’s parents were divorced and
he was living with his father.
Meanwhile, Patton had to move with his four brothers and six sisters
from Savannah to Atlanta. Benjamin and Patton eventually teamed up and
were pursued by Organized Noize, a group of local producers who would
later make hits for TLC. The duo initially wanted to be called “2 Shades
Deep” or “The Misfits”, but because those names were already taken they
later decided to use “OutKast” based on finding “outcast” as synonym for
“misfit” in a dictionary.
 OutKast, Organized Noize, and schoolmates Goodie Mob formed the
nucleus of the Dungeon Family organization. OutKast signed to LaFace
Records in 1992, becoming the label’s first hip hop act and making their
first appearance on the remix of labelmate TLC’s ‘What About Your
Friends’. During the holiday season of 1993, they released their first
single, ‘Player’s Ball’. The song’s funky style, much of it accomplished
with live instrumentation, was a hit with audiences. ‘Player’s Ball’ hit
number-one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.
Their albums include Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994), ATLiens
(1996), Aquemini (1998), Stankonia (2000), Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
(2003), Idlewild (2006) and they’re working on a new album which is to
be released this year. |
