So I actually enjoyed “Stankonia” more that I really thought I would… I enjoyed the diversity of sound throughout the album, and the little interludes weren’t too disruptive – as I have typically found them on other albums… Clearly this was a different style of rap as compared to what came before it, and I thought it was pretty well done… The best song on the album by far is “Ms. Jackson” – which really reminded me of another song from my past… In 1977, a band called The Brothers Johnson released their version of “Strawberry Letter 23” – with which I liked – and was very familiar with… The 1977 track is the definitive version of the song as far as I am concerned, and Outkast has worked the musical hook from the song into “Ms. Johnson” – which is what gives the song it’s mojo… Sure, the other parts of the song are extremely well-done, but I doubt “Ms. Jackson” would have blown up the way that it did, without that hook… Apparently Shuggie Otis wrote “Strawberry Letter 23” in 1971, but it was the 1977 version by The Brothers Johnson which really nailed down the phrasing and musical points of emphasis in the hook… That said – I hope Shuggie & The Brothers got paid for their contribution to “Stankonia”… : ) As for the rest of “Stankonia”, the best of the rest of the tracks included – and using my 7-star scale… “Ms. Jackson” – 6-stars “B.O.B” – 6-stars “Spaghetti Junction – 5-stars “Humble Mumble” – 4-stars “So Fresh., So Clean” – 4-stars Glad I listened, and have a greater appreciation for the uniqueness of their sound… A solid 3 in my book...