#64 OutKast, 'Stankonia' (2000)

Previously #361

“Live, from the center of the Earth/Seven light-years below sea level we go/Welcome to Stankonia, the place from which all funky things come/Would you like to come?” questions Andre Benjamin an intro channeling Prince. Translated, ‘Stankonia’ means Land Of Funky. “Stankonia is this place I imagined where you can open yourself up and be free to express anything,” explains Benjamin, while Big Boi said “Stankonia is this place I imagined where you can open yourself up and be free to express anything.” Following the success of their third release, ‘Aquemini,’ Outkast bought their own studio which allowed them to work on its follow up in their own time. Benjamin decided to experiment writing on an acoustic guitar. Also, Benjamin had grown tired of rapping opting to throw some soul-inspired crooning into the mix. The result was a completely new sound for OutKast.

One of the songs that came out of Benjamin’s acoustic guitar jams was second single, ‘Ms. Jackson.’ The song addresses Ms. Jackson, aka Erykah Badu’s mother. Badu and Benjamin had broken up the previous year. “Yeah this one right here goes out to all the baby's mamas, mamas,” in reference to the fact that the two had a young son, Seven. According to Badu, her mother loved the song and even went as far as getting a “Ms. Jackson” licence plate. First single from the record was ‘B.O.B. – Bombs Over Baghdad,’ which was the first marriage between Big Boi and Andre 3000’s two styles. Third single, ‘So Fresh, So Clean’ is one of my favourite OutKast songs and is just so smooth and funky. Also of note, ‘Snappin’ & Trappin’’ features a very young Killer Mike.Themes on the album covered sex, politics, African-American culture, misogyny and parenthood and draws on influences from the likes of Hendrix, Chuck Berry and Prince. It debuted at #2 on the charts, selling over half a million copies in its first week. It went on to win Best Rap Album and Performance at the Grammys.

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