Stankonia

Outkast’s masterpiece and still the best rap album of this century. Broad and deep in scope, dense but accessible across its almost 75-minute running time (which for once isn't a second too long for an LP). Musically drawing on rock, jazz, blues and soul, Sly Stone, George Clinton, Hendrix, Electric Miles; it's all in there and you can hear these influences coalesce into something unique, urgent, exciting, transcendental and totally stoned but in the best way.

Zwalony

Intro—by no means the most memorable skit on an album laden with great ones (Kim and Cookie just jumped straight to the top of my favourites list)—sums up a couple of Stankonia’s virtues. To start, “bounce”—from the depths of the earth’s core, to the farthest reaches of space, to the Cadillac rolling down the street blasting the hottest new sound. This is a fizzy, bubbly, gloopy, rubbery, soft-play Adventureland of bounce. Next, that’s a harmonium and backwards tabla you can hear. In other words, this is insanely ambitious. Like, 1999 ambitious, There's A Riot Going On ambitious, Blonde on Blonde ambitious. Whether or not Big Boi and Andre intended to change the face/interface of rap and pop, they did. For me, at least. After this, nothing was the same. Correction: after Ms Jackson, nothing was the same. That beat—featuring, ahoy! backwards congas—blew my natural mind. I can still feel my 12-year-old brain struggling to contain the rush of endorphins when that wrong-way-round k - k - ku - k, k - k - ku - k loop starts. (Can you believe this is the first time I’ve realised how perfect it is that a song about bittersweet regret uses a backwards beat. It's literally the sound of turning back time.) So how did pop and rap become inseparable after Ms. Jackson? The best way I can explain it isn't great, but it goes something like this: Outkast set themselves the Prince-ly goal of recording literally every idea they’d ever had, carved out a galactic-sized sonic space for their exploration, then covered so much ground in the process that once they were done no one could claim a new sound without it feeling like Outkast got there first. The breadth of their exploration also goes some way to explaining Stankonia’s curious amorality, which swings from the criminally retrograde (Snappin’ & Trappin’) to politically fired-up (B.O.B.) to socially conscious (Toilet Tisha, Humble Mumble) to sexually chivalrous (I’ll Call B4 I Cum) to borderline misogynistic (We Luve Deez Hoez) without reconciling the differences. Forget the big picture, that'll take care of itself. But back to that intro. What it doesn’t tell us is anything about Big Boi and Dre as rappers. Now, as much as I like Big Boi (and I think Speakerboxxx is to The Love Below what Plastic Ono Band is to McCartney), I become deaf to everything around me when I know a 3000 verse is coming. That only happens with three or four rappers. I don’t know what gives someone that power, but he has it. “You can plan a pretty picnic but you can’t predict the weather.” What other rapper could come up with that? What folksinger? Then there’s the “knee / pad […] be / sad […]" rhyme scheme, his verses on Xplosion and Gangster Shit that make the guests preceding him vanish into obsolescence, and “Speeches only reaches those who already know about it / This is how we go about it.” Perhaps I'm too influenced by Stakonia's turn-of-the-century release when I say I hear it as the final proof of hip hop as the most progressive and inventive music of the last 30+ years. But just consider the differences between this and Mama Said Knock You Out or Fear of a Black Planet. Ten years in real time, light years musically. Finally, having said too much about Ms Jackson, a word on B.O.B. First, it’s actually the better song. Second, most MCs would die trying to rap over that beat. And third, it could end at 2:35 and still be one of the greatest rap songs ever. But then the guitar solo starts, followed by the scratches and cuts. Then the beat changes. The guitar becomes a riff. Andre counts in the gospel choir—1, 2, 3—who regale us with a chorus—“Power music electric revival”—to usher in this (alleged) new age of music. And, just to underscore what talented motherfuckers they are, they finish it off with a squiggly P-Funk synth they absolutely didn’t need to include. Then again, they didn't need to include three-quarters of what's here. That's masterpieces for you. They succeed in spite of their irregularities. Maybe because of them.

Im back. The website has given me some eh albums so i took a break. So now we have a timeless classic to look back on. Stankonia, in my opinion, is Outkast's most 'Outkast' album. Combining their southern rap expertise with the electronic, then-modern 2000s feel. It's probably because of the production handed onto Earthtones III. But along with this feel comes with the vibes this album brings. There are like 8 skits on here, making the album feel bloated but in reality it goes by prefty fast. The features feel so natural too, rappers likr Mike or Gangsta Boo just spit their verses like they were born to. And in my opinion, while Aquemini is 100% a better album, songs like B.O.B., Ms. Jackson, & So Fresh So Clean are some of the best songs they have made due to the energy André & Big Boi bring to the table. Both GOATS. 9/10 As of July 18th, 2021 Best Tracks: Gasoline Dreams, So Fresh So Clean, Ms. Jackson, Spaghetti Junction, I'll Call B4 U Cum, B.O.B., Xplosion, We Luv Deez Hoes, Humble Mumble, Red Velvet, Gangsta Shit, Toilet Tisha, Stankonia (Stanklove). The skits are alr too. Worst Track: Snappin' n Trappin'. Very Clunky imo. Still good but I can't listen to it without getting a headache.

I was expecting big things based on Ms. Jackson alone (Ms. Jackson is a 5). Maybe it was the unnecessary interludes. Maybe overall it was just too obnoxious. Or maybe it's because the God awful updated Rolling Stone 500 Greatest albums list has this baby at number sixty freaking four. Seems high. Which is something you might want to be while listening to this.

Certified. Legendary. Status. It really doesn't get much better than this. It's innovative and creative and manages to alternate between fun and meaningful without giving the listener whiplash. "Stankonia" Is a masterwork of the genre and deserves its place on Mt. Olympus in the pantheon of the greatest albums ever made.

Power Music Electric Revival

Not as bad as some rap I've heard from around the time, kinda catchy in places, cool mix of pop and rap, and fuck the chorus in ms jackson is gonna stay in my head for weeks now, but fuck.... no one needs an album that's 1hr 17min. lots of filler, interludes that add nothing, a couple of long plodding songs... would make an absolutely stellar 45min album though.

Wild, sprawling and exuberant, this is relentlessly original music, that fuses funk, rock and hip-hop, with a smattering of soul. So many engaging and satisfying beats and tempos and textures. The extracrurricular snippets don't add much necessarily, but they fade out to longer/stronger songs and vibes later on in the record. The artier and genre-mixing it gets, the better it is, which is how music transcends its time – see "So Fresh, So Clean," "Mrs. Jackson" and the amazing closer, "Stanklove." Hip-hop's Radiohead seems about right to this indie rock fan.

The best southern hip hop album of all time. Every track crushes the beats, the rhymes, and the production. Andre 3000 and Big Boi are on fire creatively and they know it. B.O.B. is the kind of song rappers dream of writing. As close to hip hop perfection as it gets.

Misogyny and the music isn't great.

Stone cold hip-hop classic

Outkast showing how to be funny, serious, straightforward and weird as hell all in the space of one album. Love it.

ANOTHER FUCKIGN 90S/2000S ALBUM ARE YPU KIDDING ME. OH MY GODDD this albums a 10 im just putting that on the table asap. its not because its consistent, cuz it aint. its probly my most inconsistent 10, but like..the sheer amount of ideas here overflowing thru every track is just overwhelming. i can never rly hate it. except 4 we luv deez hoes the chorus on that song is grating. also that guest verse on xplosion is fucking botdf-quality but with none of the charm. how!!!!! other th an that this is amazing. ms jackson has a rly interesting beat with choruses where everything just CLICKS. the verses feel chaotic and weird but then the chorus hits and it all just makes sense!!! b.o.b. is really cool too. but its a top 100 singvle on this site so who cares about it. the real shit: ill call before i come. very pretty song :) gangsta shit goes way harder than i expected btw. its one of the less original creative songs on this album but it doesnt matter cuz it fuckin goes/ the interludes are lame though

👍

Long and a little bloated. When this album hits, it really hits though. Favorite tracks: "Bombs Over Baghdad", "We Luv Deez Hoez", "Snappin' and Trappin'"

Full of bonks, i personally not to fond of the song about a pregnant minor end thier own life but that might just be me. I am a fan of the 30 seconds of "cum" noises at the start its an interesting listen espically with the big hot men repeating the word bounce. But whole thing skeng

Yeah, already understand 3 tracks in why it's on the 1001 - awesome hiphop flows with all kinds of other genres plugged in for visits. Just has that "seminal" feel to it. No doubt Gorillaz was hip to this duo as Dan started building his albums.

Haiku Tuesday: Outkast and Big Boi A duo for the ages play this one more time!

Too many skits. But it’s still amazing.

Maybe my favorite hip hop album of all time. So innovative and ahead of its time. Bangers on bangers. Best track: B.O.B

Truly a classic of the genre. Andre 3000 has probably been of the most influential artists to move rap music forward since Dre. There are a bunch of heavy hitters on this album and a lot of really good features. It's weird, it's innovative, it doesn't rest on its laurels and it really tries to make each track its own piece of art. I would say they hit on that promise 80% of the time. There is definitely a 5 buried in here somewhere but there are just a few too many misses to give it a 5. Very strong 4 though.

While I was shoving sunflower seeds up my nose at nursery, Outkast were seeing in the 21st century with a winningly eclectic, expansive set of songs. This is the second album of theirs I’ve listened to in full: a couple of years ago, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” blew me away when I heard it. While heavy and bloated, the volume of innovation and ideas being launched at the wall was overwhelming, and it’s fast become one of my favourite hip-hop albums on the list. "Stankonia" was its immediate precursor, and showcases more than I’d expected of Outkast's genre diversity, experimentation and restless energy.  In making this record, the duo turned away from hip-hop as inspiration, feeling it was beginning to stagnate. Instead, the aim of "Stankonia" was to balance retro influences - Prince, Hendrix, Little Richard, Parliament-Funkadelic - with progressive sound. You could argue this is hardly unusual for hip-hop (Dr. Dre, NWA,  Beastie Boys and more had pulled from the same sources). But as far as I’ve heard, Outkast stand alone in combining wild experimentation with the ability to craft crossover-pop smash hits. There’s an urgency and a vitality to the best songs here: “Gasoline Dreams”, “Xplosion”, the pleading throughout the iconic “Ms. Jackson”. All of them are bombastic and explosive, with a genre-spanning set of samples and sounds, from harpsichord to guitar, bells, organ and an ultra phat bass. Hear it and weep. Features abound from names including Killer Mike, Gangsta Boo, Cee-Lo Green, and Cypress Hill's nasal king B-Real. All of have distinct voices and personas to help strengthen the variation even more, but the guest who steals the show the most is Erykah Badu in the stand-out track “Humble Mumble”. What a voice. Elsewhere, I really enjoyed the lighter fare like “So Fresh, So Clean”, “I’ll Call B4 I Cum”, “We Luv Deez Hoez”. Once the kind of thing I would have squirmed at and found grating, it’s clear the duo are playing roles and loving it: it’s pantomime hip-hop. As if to prove the gimmicks haven’t become too much, we go harder, no-frills, trap-based with “Spaghetti Junction”, “Snappin & Trappin”, “Gangsta Shit”. And in the final stretch, the songs space out into haze and would-be psychedelia, with mixed results: "Toilet Tisha" is undeniably moving, while “Slum Beautiful” and “Stankonia” verge on outstaying their welcome. Without a doubt, though, the centrepiece of “Stankonia” is the truly incendiary “B.O.B (Bombs Over Baghdad)”. Written to emulate emergent rave music after Andre attended one, it marries a drum-n-bass style breakbeat with a hazy organ, scratchy funk guitar, machine-gun vocals and a singalong backing. It’s a move unlike any other I’ve heard in hip-hop before, and something I can only imagine Outkast pulling off. It was also voted Pitchfork’s song of the decade: however much stock you may put in such lists or the site itself, it remains an incredible testament to the duo’s mass appeal. All that remains from me is to share this verse of Andre 3000’s from “Humble Mumble”, which has given me much thought on my previous feelings around hip-hop and those who still shut it out on impulse… “I met a critic, I made her shit her drawers She said she thought hip-hop was only guns and alcohol I said, "Oh hell, nah", but yet it's that too You can't discrimi-hate 'cause you done read a book or two” Touche, Andre, touche.

pretty good, I enjoyed this more than speakerboxx, also I didnt realize how many hits came off this album. its way more raw than later entries which muddies things up I feel. great listen!

Banger after banger. OutKast has consistently put out innovative albums trying new things every album, hitting the mark every time. Our first three tracks make up the strongest opening in their catalog. Tight production, clear, fast, and clever raps, and strong influences from funk, jazz, and rock, though still having the structure of pop hip hop of the late 90s, making it accessible to both mainstream audiences and fans of other genres. "Gasoline Dreams" starts us off strong with some p-funk licks (reminds me of Maggot Brain) and impressive raps with a corresponding fun chorus. The next two are super hits. "So Fresh So Clean" shows like four distinct styles of singing and rapping, super funky. "Ms. Jackson" is reminiscent of other pop songs of the time, but has super memorable hooks, a catchy chorus, and a funk style like no other. "Snappin & Trappin" moves us into hardcore territory, but is characterized by surreal "alien futuristic" samples. Strange how this is so early in the album as it might turn off some listeners, but the raps are nevertheless insane as always. I'll stop talking about each track since that'll take forever, but it's more or less the same strengths, but yet ton of diversity to keep me interested in what they'll do next. The interludes are weird and hilarious. They're inclusions are welcome all throughout the album to keep it fresh and interesting, giving me small breaks to contemplate on what the next track is like. BREAK The only major weakness is the length. I know it's Aquemini and The Love Below are just as long, but starting with "Humble Bumble" I lose focus. They're great tracks for sure, and it doesn't take much to appreciate them, but there's a lack of standout tracks to attract your attention. However, I do speculate it'd be easier with more listens with how much character they all have.

Excellent rap album by the best rap duo of all time. This album varies stylistically in many ways and it’s good from front to back. This album has several interludes that break up the flow and in my opinion don’t add much. This album is good but I’d OutKast’s 3rd or 4th best.(Idlewild is obviously last) Which shows how good they are. 8.2/10

I LOVE THIS ALBUM. I can honestly say that I listen to a few songs from this album every week. Similar to “The Low End Theory” this album changed hip hop as it expanded peoples’ perceptions of what hip hop could be.

I am for real!

A super important record to me. This was the first hip hop album I ever purchased. I had always been into other genres and never really understood rap so this album has a big nostalgia hit for me as a big door opener. That said, the album is still really good all these years later. Almost every song is solid. I actually forgot how good Humble Mumble and Red Velvet are to my ears. The 3 big singles from this album are still amazing. Snappin' and Trappin', We Love Deez Hoez, and Stankonia (Stanklove) are the only songs that I could take or leave. The skits are also something I could do without. Thankfully they are all pretty short. Part of me wants to give this 5 stars because of my personal attachment and the soaring high points of the album, but I think it's a 4 at this point for me. Still great and highly recommended but not perfect.

OutKast’s sound is distinct and instantly recognizable. Their flow and lyrical constructions are refreshing. I could do without the misogyny and gangster-ish stuff (I didn’t keep track of the tracks), and I certainly would prefer not to hear CeeLo’s voice. But overall these feel like minor speed bumps. I want to listen to more OutKast. I have Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, but I never really got into it. I guess I need to go back earlier in their catalogue.

Bombs over baghdad greatest song of the 2000s

I didn't give this a proper listen but with Ms. Jackson and So Fresh, So Clean alone this album gets a 4.

Count me Inkast

As Marge Simpson’s psychologist would say: it’s a rich tapestry. Great tracks mixed with some not so. ‘Snapping & Trappin’ painful drum track- skipped. Outkast always a mix of serious and taking the piss. I like the interludes in albums, but there could’ve been some tracks dropped from this lengthy album that goes for ever. Forever ever?

No. 79/1001 Intro NR Gasoline Dreams 3/5 I'm Cool NR So Fresh, So Clean 4/5 Ms. Jackson 5/5 Snappin' & Trappin' 2/5 DF NR Spaghetti Junction 3/5 Kim & Cookie NR I'll Call B4 I Cum 2/5 B.O.B 3/5 Xplosion 2/5 Good Hair NR We Luv Deez Hoez 3/5 Humble Mumble 3/5 Drinkin' Again NR ? NR Red Velvet 3/5 Cruisin' in the ATL NR Gangsta Sh*t 2/5 Toilet Tisha 3/5 Slum Beautiful 3/5 Pre-Nump NR Stankonia 3/5 Average: 2,93 I know this is beloved by fans and critics alike. Heavily influential. Still OutKast just doesn't click with me.

Zwalony. Bob i Ms Jackson

I am four eels

4

On s'ennuie entre les tubes c'est tout ce que j'ai à dire.

The first half was not for me, second half was easier for me to listen to. Not an enjoyable listen for me

Definitely a top 3 Outkast album. Has so many great songs on it.

9/10. Yes, I can see that you're so sexy. Gosh, this album is so stunning!!! Albums like these really make me question if I'm truly not a rap fan. There is so much shite cloud rap music that is being released nowadays, so it's wonderful knowing that Outkast has existed (thank goodness they did). Brilliant album!!! :)

Don't everybody like the smell of apple pie?

I'm writing this as I watch the 2004 Red Sox documentary and it occurs to me that Outkast has a perfect pitching line up: Andre 3000 (Tim Wakefield) throwing knuckleballs and Big Boi (Pedro) closing with heat. Undeniably the best rap duo of all time. A surface level observation is that this is clearly meant to be an ALBUM--which is awesome for this exercise and for 2000 relatively uncommon. So many weird (and maybe too horny) interludes. So Fresh and So Clean, B.O.B, Ms. Jackson are incredible. The variety of beats, instrumentation and melodies makes this stand out from anything else in hip hop. It’s truly a shame Andre hasn’t been recording more music. This isn’t the perfect album for leather arm chairs or roadtrip…but give me a weed filled basement and some pong and there’s nothing I’d rather listen to.

I don't know much about rap, but I do remember hearing 'ms jackson' for the first time in like 5th-6th grade and it being one of the first rap songs I ever liked, while also feeling SCANDALIZED that it was about having a baby out of wedlock (I'm from Massachusetts). Fast forward a few years to high school, I have a distinct memory of this song coming on my iPod shuffle in my Honda Element during a week or so period when my girlfriend was 'late' and I thought I might become a teen dad - even in the moment it made me laugh. Anyway, these days, I usually only listen to rap either in a party setting or if I wanna feel menacing/dangerous rolling around the suburbs after dropping the kids off at daycare - rarely to feel 'moved' or more connected w the human experience. But Ms. Jackson tells a whole, relatable story, with these fully drawn out characters going through such a common thing. A whole album of that would be tiring, so luckily we don't get that. The rest of the album is a blast, with so much creativity not only in the songs and lyrics, but the delivery too, the pronunciations, the little odd flourishes that fit perfectly w the emotion theyre expressing and make this feel so full of life (e.g forever, forever ever? forEVER EVER?) Rapheads will disagree I'm sure - but I think IN GENERAL rap is one of the less creative kinds of music, relying so much on sampling, established hooks from better songs, and a million rappers riffing on like three basic themes over and over and over. But this album is not like that at all. Songs like Bombs over Baghdad and I'll Call before I Come are bursting with playfulness and creativity. They arent limited by trying to be cool or macho. They remind me a little bit of Funkadelic, with the overflowing creativity, which is ironic since they don't sample them incessantly like so many mediocre 90s-2000s rappers did.

so fresh

sometimes the best outkast album

almost a quarter of a century after it's release, this has easily earned "classic" status in hip hop circles. the story behind it is well-known: after three albums which helped open the door for Atlanta and the wider hip hop scene in the South, OutKast bought their own studio and, with their newfound recording freedom, sought to make something much more eclectic and experimental than anything they had done before. there's a case to be made that this is the duo's finest work, especially since nearly all of their tinkering and flirtations with a wide variety of styles comes together really well. highlights for me include "B.O.B.", which features the duo rapping at lightspeed over chaotic drum 'n' bass chops, with some incredible gospel vocals towards the back end; "Snappin' & Trappin'", which has the album's strangest drum pocket and very little in the way of harmonic or melodic information, but all the verses are hard as nails, especially from Killer Mike, who makes his recording debut here; "Humble Mumble", which evolves from an infectious salsa-tinged number to a driving club banger; and the first proper track on the album, "Gasoline Dreams", which borders on a rap-rock sound and immediately fires me up for the rest of the songs that follow. plus, "Ms. Jackson" and "So Fresh, So Clean" are, of course, generational bops. there's a couple weaker links here, mainly the skits and interludes. I also don't rock with "Toilet Tisha" that hard. but even with that being said, this is very often my favorite OutKast album. it's very hard to choose between this and ATLiens! lots of artists have had their shot at a more "eclectic" album, but few nailed it the way Big Boi and André 3000 did here. decent 9/10.

Classsicccc hip hop man. Real early 2000’s southern rap at its peak. Outlast just knew how to put together complete projects. It was good to hear a young Killer Mike and Gangsta Boo (RIP 🕊️). Stacks and Big Boi will always deserve the praise they get because it’s been 24 years and this album doesn’t sound dated, I could see it being released with in the last decade honestly. You can hear where some current artists were inspired by it, like a Tyler or a Smino. Brilliant project all around!

Maybe the best to ever do it. A

24 years later it still sounds inventive.

Fantastic album. If you were old enough to remember the 90's and were into urban music then you would probably remember this was ground-breaking. Outkast has a very unique sound.

Outkast is really amazing and creates something that is so different yet pulls on themes from rap, R&B, jazz, blues that traditionally work well together and mesh with deep electronic/techno techniques. Is it a little vulgar, sure but its also building on musical themes and so different and unique, yet so consumable. They also look at some deep political and social themes in a really intelligent and well done manner. This album is really a story and builds upon itself, bringing a cohesion but also allowing for songs like Ms. Jackson and B.O.B. to stand on their own. I also think its amazing how two individuals with such different approaches to music styling mesh so well together. I would love to be a fly on the wall of their creative sessions to see how they create their music.

Love this album so much! I was familiar with a lot of it, but if I've heard the whole thing at some point, it's been a very long time. Anyway, Andre and Big Boi are both awesome, and they jive so well together. This album is creative and catchy and diverse in sound and topics and feels like such a complete piece of art. Bombs Over Baghdad has been one of fave songs for years. Special shout-out to the Kim & Cookie Interlude, cracks me up. So much talent in these guys!! There should be a special category for albums that are 6/5.

yes

Not what i'd usually listen to but i like it.

Fantastic. Better than their 90s output imo but before their egos took over st the end of the band’s life. I like this more than most rap I hear because it is more interesting to me musically. Not as formulaic. I also think this still sounds fresh nearly 25 years later. A great listen.

Sagde godt nok i går at MMLP havde nogen fede beats, men de her er virkelig i en anden liga. Huskede den her plade som om den var lidt overlang, men alle beatsene er jo helt skøre og de er så gode rappere. To rap klassikere fra 2000 i træk og den her holder SÅ meget bedre.

Favorite songs: Gasoline Dreams, B.O.B.

In the running for my favorite hip hop album of all time. And yet I'm not even sure it's my favorite outkast album. Just an incredible record by a legendary group.

Legend of an album

One of the first albums I ever bought. I must have listened to it a thousand times. An all time favourite.

Great album, a little harder edged than the rest of their catalog. The singles are all jams though.

Instant 5. Maybe my favorite album from Outkast, though that really is a tough question. This one's got so many classic hits that I've been in love with for as long as I can remember: "Ms. Jackson," "B.O.B.," and "So Fresh So Clean" are the titans, but seriously the depth beyond that is excellent too. Was struck this time around by "?" because Andre's flows are just dizzying. These guys aren't just two of the best rappers from the South, they're two of the best rappers ever. The only critique I can give this is a generic "cut the skits" request, but that's the nature of this era of hip hop, and frankly these skits are a LOT better than some other albums (looking at you, Ready to Die). Anyway, I'm gushing, I'm a bigtime Outkast fan, and this is one of my favorites from them for sure. To be honest, after hearing Speakerboxxx/Love Below again on this list too, I'm learning it's harder and harder to say what's their best. Favorite tracks: Ms. Jackson, B.O.B., Gasoline Dreams, Xplosion, ?, We Luv Deez Hoes, So Fresh So Clean, Snappin & Trappin, Spaghetti Junction, I'll Call Before I Come, Humble Mumble, Gangsta Shit, Toilet Tisha. Album art: Iconic, undeniably so. Andre and Big Boi standing in front of a black and white American flag. Immediately memorable, recognizable. One of the great album covers ever, I dare say. No idea where it would rank, but it's on the list. 5/5

9/10

👨🏻‍🍳😚

Fire

A lot of peoples favorite choice for most underrated rapper is Andre 3000 to the point where he isn’t really underrated anymore. I’d argue his counterpart Big Boi is way more underrated at this point. This album has everything. One of the best rap albums of all time. God I love OutKast. So nostalgic. Still amazing today

I mean so fresh and so clean; and all the interludes. Took me black. Classic hip hop

unbelievable album that still holds up as incredibly creative and thoughtful - you can see the precursor to miami bass, the triplet flow, phonk music, and so many other influences in here. The creativity and thoughtful is clear throughout.

Outkast är tveklöst topp 10 bästa hip-hop-akterna (kanske t om topp 5) och även om jag nog håller ATLiens och Aquemini något högre än denna, som är mer experimentell och nyskapande än föregångarna, så är det en solklar femma.

Easy 5 star album! The first few songs alone make it an all timer, but every beat works by itself, the Killer Mike feature, the amount of funk… just phenomenal all round

Forgot how good this whole album here. Less of a fan of the interludes between songs, but I know those are classics of the genre. Still will mostly skip those

Well, it isn't my favorite Outkast album but it is the best one of the 2000's! Plenty of good tracks, a couple of hits, and a few misses. Love Outkast and would almost forgive them any missteps as they have tried, consistently, to reinvent what they are and can bring to the people. Really great album that I wish I could put at a 4.4.

Man, the last 3 songs could’ve been left off this album and it would be even better. Still enough for a 5. Even the skits are good.

OutKast once again proves they are on the Mt. Rushmore of hip hop. Unique sounds that push the genre.

So peak, Cheeky 5 stars there.

A great sound at its peak. Love the talent here. OutKast are effortlessly cool, nice change of pace from some others I’ve gotten recently. Doesn’t overstay it’s welcome even after an hour.

This album is fantastic from one of the best discographies in music. Every Outkast album is a 5 to me, but I think Stankonia or ATLiens are my favourites. The eclectic beat choices, the lyrical themes ranging from commentary on racial and social issues, to war, to stank hoes, this album doesn't miss. Spaghetti Junction, Humble Mumble, So Fresh, So Clean, We Luv Deez Hoez, and Red Velvet (GOAT Outkast song imo) are the best on this album, but every track is exceptional. Great feature list too, including Killer Mike, Erykah Badu, and Cee-Lo. The only gripe I have with the album are the interludes. There are too many, and though there are some okay ones, they generally add nothing. At the very least, they are separate tracks that aren't tacked on to the end or start of any of the actual songs, so you can just skip them. I really love this album, and I doubt that there has been a day that I haven't listened to at least a few tracks from this album since I first heard it when I was like 6. Shout out the Dungeon Family.

It's genuinely impressive how this album stays so varied given how long it is. 1 Hour and 13 minutes including the interludes and yet I don't think I ever thought to myself that the album was feeling samey at any point. The quality of the beats are pretty top notch throughout. And Andre/Big Boi are incredible throughout. I've already spoken about the variety in this album but it's cool how for how different the style and delivery of the vocals is between songs it's still unmistakably them. Where I have some issues with the album are with some of the feature tracks. There are a lot of them and they range from being pretty good such as the opening Gasoline Dreams or Humble Mumble, to several that started to feel closer to being filler. Which does not feel necessary given the runtime of the album already. The interludes also bite into this a little bit but none ever go on past a minute and they are not baked into the songs so they can be easily skipped. I feel a little more inclined to give this a generous 9/10 or light 5 than push this to a 4 though. Highlights Red Velvet, B.O.B, Ms. Jackson, Gasoline Dreams, Humble Mumble, So Fresh So Clean, Stanklove

Seven light years below sea level we go. Welcome to Stankonia. its fucking outkast. he opens the album with a comedy bit where that got some chick moaning in the studio like she's recording ASMR Dommy Goth Girlfriend Loves Tells You How To Please Her [8 HOURS] [BINAURAL BEATS TO MAKE YOU BUST]. is there really any hip hop artist with as much character and energy as outkast? others might have done trve hvp hvp better but outkast does outkast the best, and noone else does outkast. this is an artist i struggle to describe because none of the airy fairy adjectives i use to pad out the other reviews really apply here. each song has it's own profile, from an almost dmx-like aggressiveness on gasoline dreams with a fucking wwe ass guitar riff banging throughout, to the rnb smoothness of so fresh so clean that somehow keeps its own style with some of the best rapping rhythm and flow on the album. straight into ms jackson. how do you even make such a good, heartfelt track about fuckin ya baby mama and leavin her a single mom with a paycheck. dude was fr an absent father and turned it into one of seminal tracks of the era. snapp and trappin has the title of a memphis rap diss track but it has the beat of a captain murphy track. good ass beats to glorp and gleep to. i was going to go through every track but theres so many and i got bored of typing. instead i'll just talk about BOB which is kind of funny because you might think 'oh shit was outkast aware of how fucked up iraq was??' no he just heard that shit on the news and threw it into the chorus of a song about how fucked up the hood and it's culture was at the time. truly inspired. also theres a song called We Luv Deez Hoes and another just called ? and i feel like that needed a mention. also the interludes are legitimately funny, and this isn't even a comedy album. goddamn. edit: relistening ? is like a clppng song. wth. outkast so clean so swag.

Love this album.

Much more even than Speakerboxxx. Also love how all the skits end in a clap and "BREAK"

Creative and super catchy. Didn't know what to expect with each song which is cool.

Goated.

Love this album! This really is/was the peak of hip hop. Of course there is Ms Jackson on this record but also many other great songs that might not be well known.

They just don't do interludes like this anymore. Smash

The variety on this album makes it's long runtime worth it. The songs flow seamlessly into each other. Massively talented people at the top of their game.

4.5★. It took 88 albums (including non-new albums) but I finally got to a new-listen 5-star. I had previously heard and loved several songs from OutKast, both on their own and partly sampling some of their albums, including Ms. Jackson and So Fresh, So Clean. Still, I wasn't expecting a 73-minutes of practically wall-to-wall bangers album, with no skips to speak of (not counting interludes obviously, which are short enough to never be a bother anyway).

Creative, bombastic and definitely a must listen hip hop record. B.O.B., Gasoline Dreams, So Fresh, So Clean, Ms. Jackson and those are just the stand out solo tracks. Spaghetti Junction, Red Velvet, I'll Call B4 I Cum, Toilet Tisha and ? are also all interesting. Still has their weird personalities but definitely ups their rapping, production value and general songwriting from other records which were already good like ATLiens or Aquemini.

i love this album and i enjoyed getting to listen to it again

I mean come on

OutKast’s “Stankonia” is a groundbreaking album that not only redefined hip hop but also became a personal touchstone for me. Having had the incredible opportunity to work at Stankonia Studios alongside many of the creators of this album, I can say that its significance transcends mere musical achievement; it’s a deeply personal experience. When “Stankonia” was released, its innovative approach to hip hop was immediately apparent. While “Aquemini” had already pushed boundaries, “Stankonia” took this experimental spirit to new heights, fueled by the freedom and creativity afforded by the newly purchased studio. The album's embrace of emerging technology, particularly the shift from tape to ProTools, was emblematic of the era's evolving soundscape. This technological evolution is captured in Warren Bletcher aka Dub’s interlude, where he says “They say a computer can do my job better than I can damn do it.” There was a harsh truth in this comedic skit. For me, this album was a revelation. It was the first time I heard elements similar to those I was experimenting with at home incorporated into a major studio release. This connection between my own budding production work and the cutting-edge sounds of “Stankonia” provided a sense of hope and possibility. Little did I know that this hope would materialize into reality, as I eventually found myself working with artists I once admired from afar. The stories and experiences shared by those who worked on “Stankonia” have deepened my appreciation for the album. Each listen now brings back vivid memories of walking the halls of Stankonia Studios, with the scent of purple and the taste of yak almost palpable in the music. OutKast’s “Stankonia” is not just a reflection of Atlanta’s vibrant culture but also a cherished part of my own journey in music.

We're bouncing... We're bouncing! This was the perfect album for me to revisit today as I was cruisin' in the ATL. When this came out, it was clear Andre 3000 and Big Boi were indeed some of the coolest muthafunkers on the planet. They brought a creativity and southern flair that really stood out against the rest. If they say that a compruter can do your job better than you can damn do, or if he got hiiiis but you ain't get yourrrrs....Whatever you're going through, even today, almost 25 years later, this will help you take your mind off things and entertain ya. Humble Mumble slaps even more than I remembered, and Tisha's mama made me get all emotional in the YDFM parking lot. Lots of classic gems here from ATL's hometown heroes.

I was a late comer to the OutKast party. I remember hearing about them around 1997. It was my Danish friend who got me to appreciate them a lot more. This is a landmark type album. You really hear the jump in creativity and skill from Atliens and Southernplaylistic which were already great albums. I feel like Stankonia really set the bar high for hip hop when it came out and there was just nothing that sounded like it. Stankonia sounds like they took a lot of time to sit down and think out each song. Music, lyrics, all the sounds are really well done. A lot of great songs on this but my favorite is Spaghetti Junction. On a side note, I met Andre 3000 somewhere around 2002 or so. He walked into the studio that my band at the time was recording in. I remember he was wearing a marching band jacket and a Jimi Hendrix shirt. He looked like he'd landed from another planet.

Masterpiece. Absolutely Beautiful Album; Perfect.

Literally every OutKast album should be on this list man. I don't think there's been a group so consistent, so forward-thinking, so integral to a single genre. You can't talk about southern hip hop, or even hip hop in general, without talking about OutKast. Stankonia should be in museums or something. Not only are Big Boi and Andre 3000 on their A-game, but they got an all-star lineup of features: Killer Mike, Gangsta Boo (RIP), Erykah Badu, and Cee-Lo Green, to name a few. You need only listen to B.O.B. to understand how truly great OutKast is. I will not be allowing any disrespect.

Ah, what a blast. Great album. Never gets old, such a classic. So diverse, yet it still gels. Highlights for me are Andre and Big Boi’s lyrical flow, they compliment each other and both keep up with the bombastic hooks and rhythms, the second highlight. There’s just so much going on with the production, it keeps you engaged. Solid end to end. I’d say this may be my favorite of their run of classic albums before they broke up. I’ll never forget the 1995 The Source Awards where the East Coast vs West Coast hip-hop battles were all in the culture, but as OutKast won their award, Andre stepped to the mic and feeling like other regional areas were being disregarded in the hip-hop world, alerted everyone that “the South got something to say.” Famous words that hip-hop heads never forgot because OutKast went on to create several masterpieces including Stankonia that delivered. Everyone noticed, as Atlanta became famous for its importance in developing the next era of iconic rappers, all pretty much giving props to OutKast, deservedly so.

What a fun record! It's full of life and joy, it's ambitious and original, and pays homage to Black greatness in a way that makes it live and never mummified. Amazing talent.

Excellent