Hip Hop thrived as the millennium turned. Atlanta's beloved sons, Outkast, stood a class apart within this cultural kettle. Their tracks weren’t just auditory treats but cerebral journeys, weaving Funk, Blues, Jazz, Soul, and Rap into a sound previously uncharted. Each album, a genre-defying opus, teased the listener's intellect while tantalizing their soul.
By the time 2003 rolled around, Big Boi and André 3000 were cemented legends. Fans were ready for another sonic masterpiece, and the air was thick with anticipation. Then, through the vast spectrum of artists pushing their CDs, Outkast prepared to drop a double-disc album that shook Hip Hop's foundations: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. The September 23 arrival was more than a musical compilation of longtime friends, groupmates, and collaborators. It was a fitting addition to their discography's evolution. Three Stacks and Big Boi, while intrinsically tied to the core of Outkast, highlighted their individual talents, paying homage to the multifaceted ancestral musical legacy that often motivated their dreams. We're revisiting the Speakerboxxx/The Love Below during its monumental anniversary—especially as the project has been RIAA, Diamond-certified 13x Platinum.
Big Boi's Speakerboxxx pulses with unmistakable Southern Rap energy on one side of this double disc. Funk's rhythmic essence enriches it, with songs such as "The Way You Move" and "Bowtie" ensnaring the listener to groove. Every track feels like an exploration with Big at the helm, narrating stories and evoking emotions. Yet, venturing into Andre 3000's domain, The Love Below offers a different allure. While "Hey Ya!" might have the globe in a dance frenzy, introspective numbers like "Prototype" showcase a deeper, Jazz-tinged resonance.
Additionally, the double album's production team—including Stacks, Big, Carl Mo, Cutmaster Swiff, Mr. J, and Dojo5—brought their A-game, ensuring the right notes were hit. Moreover, while the brilliance of Speakerboxxx/The Love Below undeniably stems from the genius of Big Boi and Andre 3000, it’s equally a culmination of collective artistry. The diverse sounds and the complementary verses weren’t just a duo's vision but an amalgamation of remarkable talents.
The allure of Speakerboxxx and The Love Below isn’t confined to the duality of Outkast—their chosen collaborators magnify it. From Ludacris to Kelis, these collaborations were no mere additions. They were carefully selected components that gave depth and perspective to each track.
Take, for example, Speakerboxx adding Sleepy Brown and Jazze Pha to the aforementioned "Bowtie," the hypnotic horn-infused body-mover. Just a few songs later, Killer Mike and Jay-Z join Speakerboxx's "Flip Flop Rock," a fast-moving track that pushes the listener from one verse to the next. On The Love Below, Kelis infuses R&B into the experimental "Dracula's Wedding," while Rosario Dawson helps make "She Lives in My Lap" a sonic film.
In an industry where collaborations often gravitate towards big names for commercial appeal, Outkast’s approach was refreshingly different. Their choice of collaborators was rooted in artistic compatibility rather than mere star power. It was about finding voices and talents that resonated with the core essence of their project, ensuring Speakerboxxx/The Love Below was a cohesive masterpiece rather than a disjointed collection. Every guest artist and instrumentalist was a piece of the puzzle, vital in crafting an album that stands, even today, as an epitome of excellence in Hip Hop.
NEWS
Brad Paisley has called Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding “one of the least pretentious weddings he’s ever seen”.
The country star attended the ceremony alongside his actress wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley. They joined around 1,000 guests at New York City’s Madison Square Garden earlier this month as the global pop icon married the American football star.
Although the celebration attracted enormous attention and involved tight security and a stunning makeover of the famous arena, Paisley said the occasion never came across as excessive.
“Ironically, (it) was one of the least pretentious weddings that I've ever seen or ever will see,” Paisley told The Associated Press during an interview. “It meant a lot to be (invited). It was, kind of, a big thank you from her to invite us.”
Paisley, who chose Swift as an opening performer for his tour when she was a teenager in 2007, said he was delighted to be included in what many considered the biggest celebrity wedding of the year.
“They were very clear with the invite, and I took this personally when I got the invite, because in the invite, it said, ‘If you're getting this, you mean a lot to us,’” he revealed.
The musician also explained that guests were not told the wedding’s exact location until the date drew nearer.
“It was really fun to watch the cat and mouse game of, like, ‘We can tell you roughly where it's going to be, we're not gonna say what building... and here's the date. If you're in, we'll tell you more,’” he continued. “I went to my wife, I said, ‘Want to go?’ and she said, ‘Absolutely, we gotta be there!’ So, we did it, it was RSVP yes.”
Other famous attendees included Brad Pitt, Gigi Hadid, Bradley Cooper, Ed Sheeran, Sabrina Carpenter, Hugh Grant, Haim and Tom Hanks.
