Outkast

Outkast


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, rock, 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.







OutKast



OutKast performing in 2001

History
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.

Future projects


Aquemini Records folded in 2004, and Big Boi founded a new record label, Purple Ribbon Entertainment, to be distributed by Virgin Records. Among its first signees were Sleepy Brown,Bubba Sparxxx, and Killer Mike. Big Boi has released a group album/compilation, titled Big Boi Presents... The Purple Ribbon All-Stars - Got Purp? Vol. 2.


One album remains on the band's LaFace contract. Due to both Big Boi and André's interest in separate projects such as movies, TV (André's Class of 3000) and solo albums, rumors of a split have turned up frequently in the media.André denied those rumors in a phone interview with MTV News, stating that even though they do not feel like performing on stage together, OutKast is "still tight".In an August, 2006, interview with UK journalist Craig McLean, after emphasizing that they would not split, the pair looked beyond music and film careers, Big Boi suggesting he may consider running for the job of Mayor of Atlanta in the future.


In 2007, Andre 3000 confirmed that a new OutKast album would be released, but said that he and Big Boi would release solo records first.Big Boi's 2010 solo album, titled Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, will be released first, the first promotional single "Royal Flush" first appeared in March 2008, featuring Andre 3000 and Raekwon. However, it was cut from the final track listing due to a dispute with Jive Records.


On November 14, 2008, the Guardian reaffirmed that OutKast will release their follow-up to Idlewild. On April 14, 2010, Big Boi said OutKast had something "brewing" and that it was "top secret". The new OutKast album will be released in the summer after Big Boi releases his solo album. The title of this album is to be announced.


On July 30, 2010, Big Boi revealed in an interview that the new Outkast album would be completed "as soon as Dre finishes his album". Big Boi added "Right now, we’re putting beats together for the OutKast album. … When Dre finishes, we’ll commence and record".