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Volume CXXXIII, Number 5 |
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OutKast splits in half, gets weirder
SONAAR LUTHRA
STAFF WRITER
For OutKast, Atlanta's premier hip-hop duo, following up an album like 2000's Stankonia has its obvious challenges. Some might have assumed the group could only do one of two things to maintain their credibility: show up the earlier album by beating it at its own game, or develop a new sound that co-exists as the earlier album's peer.
Although we should all know better than to split the issue into two camps, few expected to see OutKast do just that by issuing two solo discs in one album with Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It comes as no shock that André 3000 and Big Boi want to have their cake and eat it too, but when an album takes on such a unique format and is able to produce some of the best hip-hop and pop this decade has seen, it's perfectly normal for some jaws to drop.
I'm not suggesting that Speakerboxxx/The Love Below accomplishes everything it hoped to. Stankonia demanded time for anyone to sift through because of its dense lyrics and beats. However, it took some intuitive cues from nearly every genre and kept everyone entertained. OutKast's mission hasn't changed, but all fun aside, the new album is spread a bit too thin to overshadow their last effort.
On Big Boi's Speakerboxxx disc, he takes both his lyrics and his cadence to a new level while falling back on the foundation of southern hip-hop by centering all his tracks around the speaker-blowing Roland 808 bass. Dré's The Love Below is a bit more eccentric, not completely abandoning hip-hop, yet focusing primarily on blending an eclectic musical texture that aptly pays homage to Prince's better days. Both discs show some of the strongest work either has put out, but together as one work the nuances on each respective disc serve more to scatter the underlying project than diversify it.
Speakerboxxx explodes with "GhettoMusick," a track that blends a hard electronic dance beat, an offbeat electronic clap, and a chorus that would make George Clinton proud. It's a killer opener not simply because Big Boi can handle coming out on top of the production, but also because he's just warming up. The disc is well-paced, jumping right into the soulfully pensive "Unhappy" only to bring back the party with funky horns in "Bowtie" and explore uncharted territory for the remaining hour.
The Love Below seems more experimental, but Dré's lyrical fusion of romance and easy women-its entertainment value noted-isn't carried by his innovative instrumentals. There are incredible standout tracks like "Dracula's Wedding," and the single "Hey Ya," where there's a balance between the two. Even though the entire disc makes for a fun listen, Dré's sense of humor takes away from the sincerity that gave earlier releases a substantial foundation.
The album may be hurt by its length and might have produced a much stronger single disc album, but the fact remains that Speakerboxxx/The Love Below contains incredibly daring music that is destined to satisfy even the most discerning listener. Although Dré and Big Boi helped bring Dirty South to the mainstream, it's clear that their music has outgrown the term, and is better known simply as OutKast.
3 1/2 Polars Bears of 4
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