 |
| |
|
| |
Album Review
by SashaS
4-1-2002
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Outkast present... |
|
Outkast: 'Big Boi and Dre Presents… Outkast'
(LaFace/BMG)
Outkast’s compilation offers fans an excellent progress report on a dynamic eight-year career
In the volatile world of mass-entertainment, where fans are as fickle as a two-sided coin, it is extremely hard to stay in the game, let alone stay on top of it. Hip-hop is not different but Outkast have remained on top by consistently delivering a string of hit albums that have displayed the highest levels of musical creativity while remaining true to the spirit of hip-hop. From their platinum debut ‘Southernplayalisticadallacmuzik’, via ‘ATLiens’ and ‘Aquemini’ to the multi-platinum critically acclaimed ‘Stankonia’ LP, Outkast is one of the few contemporary recording acts that manage to enlarge their fan-base by at least half a million with each record.
Dre (Andre Benjamin) and Big Boi (Antwan Patton) dropped their fourth instalment, ‘Stankonia’, onto four million players with its catchy funky beats. “That was the real reason why we decided to do a greatest hits album,” says Andre. “We’ve picked up so many new fans who don’t know about our other records. There are actually some new fans that think that ‘Stankonia’ is our first record. So we wanted to catch our new fans up on our old stuff just to let them know that we have more than one album under our belt. Hopefully, this will inspire them to go out and buy our old stuff.”
‘Bill Boi & Dre Present… Outkast’ combines a wad of their greatest hits along with a few key album tracks and several new tracks that are sure to keep their loyal fans happy until the new album drops later in the year. Included among the many hits are classics like ‘Player’s Ball’ (the song was included on the 1994 ‘La Face’s Christmas album’ that led to their contract with the R&B label!?), ‘Elevators (Me & You)’, ‘Rosa Parks’, ‘B.O.B.’, and ‘So Fresh, So Clean (remix)’. Also included are album cuts like the jazzy smooth ‘Crumblin’ Erb’, and the original version of ‘SpottieOttieDopaliscious’.
The three new tracks were especially recorded for this album and the first one is the cool and smooth ‘Funkin’ Around’, a deep bass-driven track with a tight percussive horn part that wouldn’t out of place on the ‘70s funk groups like Cameo and the Commodores. Likewise the bluesy cut, ‘The Whole World’, evokes the spirit of great pop/rock groups like The Beatles and Chicago. ‘Movin’ Cool’, featuring Joi Gilliam-Gipp on vocals, is a jazzy song that ends the album on a high note.
With an impressive line-up of solid hits, classic album cuts and the three new songs showcasing the duo’s musical diversity, it announces to the world that there’s much more music to come.
8/10
SashaS
4-1-2002
Outkast’s ‘Bill Boi and Dre Presents… Outkast’ is released 7 January 2002 on LaFace/BMG
|
|
|
