Outkast’s ‘Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik’: All 17 Tracks Ranked

Atlanta strip membership tradition is the stuff of legend. However again in 1994 few outdoors of the A knew about it. This transient skit gave listeners a peek into what it was wish to frequent considered one of Atlanta’s many well-known nightclubs.

All of the skits on this album ostensibly happen in Atlanta, however it is a scene that occurs each ‘hood throughout America. And that’s the genius of Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik: Two children telling tales that join with you no matter the place you name house.

This interlude tries to actually drive house the concept the Atlanta in Outkast’s music is totally different than that of their mother and father. To take action, an airplane pilot highlights some factors and folks of curiosity to the passengers earlier than they land, operating off some names outsiders might not have heard earlier than — like “Robbing Crew” and the infamous R.E.D. D.O.G. (Run Each Drug Supplier Out of Georgia), in addition to extra family names like LaFace Information and Organized Noize Productions.

Earlier than they took the identify Outkast, Dre and Large glided by 2 Shades Deep, after which The Misfits. After they discovered that Misfits was taken they settled on the identify they’ve at this time. However what does it imply? In accordance with Dungeon Member of the family Large Rube, Outkast stands for Working Below The Krooked American System Too Lengthy. And in the event you thought Outkast stood for one thing else, nicely, Rube had some alternative phrases for you.

You’d assume the primary voice an artist would need the viewers to listen to on their debut album can be their very own, however not in 1994. Each Nas and Biggie had intros on their debuts that didn’t contain them, meant to assist arrange the self-esteem of not solely the undertaking, however the artist as an entire. Outkast determined to go that route, too, with an intro that includes the voice of Dee Dee Hibbler — the spouse of Organized Noize co-founder Ray Murrary — inviting listeners to an album that’s “phat like herringbone, tight like gnat booty.”

In-house vocalist Sleepy Brown remixed the group’s lead single to create one thing much more clean and playa. It’s admittedly a wierd technique to finish the album — “D.E.E.P.” would have been a extra becoming closing — however we’ll by no means flip down a chance to listen to Brown over some smoothed out funk.

Basically an album skit, this monitor helped introduce Organized Noize member Sleepy Brown to the lots, and confirmed simply how versatile the manufacturing collective may very well be when left to their very own units.

Constructed round a easy bass line and head nod-inducing drums, the duo use all of the open house to ship considered one of their greatest lyrical performances on the album. There’s not a lot of a “track” right here, however on some hip-hop head s–t, this has grow to be a cult traditional.

A very good look into how the duo would later go on to craft extraordinarily catchy hooks that get caught in your head, “Ain’t No Thang” differs from plenty of the album on account of Large Boi and Andre 3000 spending the entire monitor detailing all of the methods they may rob and kill their enemies.

Over what at all times gave the impression of a Dr. Dre-inspired beat, half of Goodie Mob (T-Mo and Khujo) assists Outkast in operating down all of the methods the streets compel the youth to surrender their futures to run the streets and commit crimes. “However the query, ‘Ought to we take that bulls–t from them folks?’/ I’m makin’ 300 on my SAT, but I’m equal/ Ain’t no sequel, no saga, no method out, I’m nervous/ I’ve had it as much as brow of suckers tryna serve us/ To graduate is admittedly becomin’ a really hectic journey,” rhymes Andre 3000.

Outkast may by no means be described as gangsta rappers, however on this monitor, the duo come shut — with them telling tales about varied dope homes and carrying knives of their socks to highschool. Outkast’s model of actuality rap nonetheless comprises multitudes, although, as they warn listeners in regards to the inherent risks that include dwelling the lives described within the track.

The true intro to the album kicks off with Large Boi warning outsides to remain strapped, whereas Organized Noize lives up their identify with a beat that could be a lovely cacophony of sounds. No bass and booty shaking music right here. Simply sensible actuality raps. Andre spits one of the vital well-known bars of his profession when he says, “See that rap s–t is admittedly identical to sellin’ smoke/ If you happen to bought some fly shit, yo’ n—as gonna at all times toke/ Dope just isn’t what I be slangin’ on this monitor.” Jaz-O would pattern that bit for Jay-Z’s “Rap Sport/Crack Sport,” from 1997’s In My Lifetime, Vol. 1. The affect of this album ran deep.

Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik’s secret ingredient is Outkast’s honesty. Alongside the bragadocious bars and recycled 5 Percenter ideology, they slip in a bunch of truths that make the entire train much more relatable and plausible. Strains by Andre 3000 like “If a pair of Jordan’s got here out, y’all determine that I bought ’em/ However no I don’t as a result of I don’t be havin’ funds/ The gold that I’m wearin’ is admittedly made out of bronze” present simply how deep and uncooked they have been prepared to get.

Organized Noize provides Outkast probably the smoothest beat they’d ever made up till that time. With Sleepy doing his greatest Curtis Mayfield impression, Outkast takes the chance to gradual the move down a slight bit, giving listeners a panoramic view of their world whereas they blow some herb.

If “Participant’s Ball” didn’t get pressured as a primary single, this may have been it. The title monitor acts as a mission assertion of types for the group, explaining and displaying every little thing they’re about: witty bars and nimble flows, funky manufacturing, and avenue sensible tales about two children who aren’t killers, however don’t push ’em.

A Dungeon Household traditional, this monitor options the opposite half of Goodie Mobb (CeeLo Inexperienced and Large Gipp) and Outkast buying and selling bars in regards to the battle to make it in life as a young person with little to no prospects in addition to unlawful narcotics. One of many album’s masterstrokes was ‘Kast’s potential to make it look like they’d this life factor found out, whereas admitting that every little thing round them is totally f–ked up.

First launched as a Christmas track for a LaFace Information vacation compilation album, Large Boi and three Stacks nix typical yuletide celebrations and as an alternative spotlight how playas in ATL have a good time Jesus’s birthday. Sleepy Brown glides over Organized Noize’s funky fried manufacturing, serving to the monitor peak at No. 37 on the Billboard Scorching 100. Because the album’s lead single, that is the track that despatched Outkast on their technique to stardom.