OutKast, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994)

In the wake of Speakerboxx/The Love Below and the mainstream rock press declaring OutKast the "saviors of pop music" and other such deserved hyperbole (though this writer would personally argue that OutKast has produced much better work than the above album), some of us have lost track of where the funky ATLiens began. The answer is, a Christmas compilation album. Dre claimed that he feared Organized Noize were "trying to wreck our careers", but by "doing it Dungeon style" to quote Big Boi the boys were able to spawn a new regional anthem and perhaps the best holiday-themed rap record. The record in question "Player's Ball" in turned spawned the classic Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, the album which put the South on the map in terms of quality and not notoriety (no diss to the Geto Boys,just keepin' it real). The seemingly juvenile topics of "pimpin' hoes and slammin cadillac do's" were given a surprising depth under a Rakim-like backdrop of unapologetic social consciousness. Let's take a look at this revolutionary piece of music and how it both kick-started the Dirty South movement and changed the way hip hop music was looked at and produced.
The album opens with a spoken word intro by a woman named "Peaches" over a lush background of jazz/soul. Overall it's nothing special but does serve it's purpose to introduce us to the basic theme of the album before the music begins. The first real track is "Myintrotoletyouknow", with the duo introducing themselves over a thunderous rap/Southern rock fusion which is typical of the experimentation and live instrumentation found throughout this album. The next track, "Ain't No Thang" is more heat,with an ominous yet funky keyboard track with Dre and Big Boi becoming more menacing in their lyrics,promising a "3-5-7 to yo fo'head" and such. After a short skit involving an airline pilot's description of ATL,the album's title track begins. Both of the songs so far have been impeccable,and this track is indeed no exception to the rule. Booming 808 drums,wah wah guitar, and soulful choir-esque singing on the hook guarantee for another banger. However,the next track "Call Of Da Wild" is probably the album's lowest point. While the flows of Big Boi,Dre,and guests T-Mo and Khujo Goodie are nothing to sneeze at,the hook sounds uncomfortable and the beat is somewhat lacking. Directly afterwards is the spectacular "Player's Ball",arguably the best produced track on the album, a ghetto Christmas carol seamlessly combining both traditional Christmas themes with the street poetry of the rest of the album. The album's first truly introspective track is the following "Claimin' True" a "Memory Lane"-esque look back on childhood and adolescence over old school Southern organs. After another short skit we are treated to an R&B track of all things, "Funky Ride" is a somewhat overdrawn but soulful offering which does serve its purpose as an intermission of sorts. After yet ANOTHER skit (they start to get monotonous after the second listen) the next offering is "Git Up,Get Out",my personal favorite on the album with Cee-Lo and Big Gipp of Goodie Mob dropping pearls of wisdom with Big Boi and Dre about the importance of going for yours and the difficulties faced by an underpriveledged young man in the South. The only "skit" with any real artistic value is "True Dat",a call to action by Big Rube for the people of America's ghettos to "wake up and see what's goin' on all around you". He comes with some serious knowledge,which makes a Yin-Yang balance to the next track "Crumblin' Erb", a soulful tribute to living life to the fullest and not worrying about all of the negativity in one's life. Finishing up the album we have the minimalist and experimental "Hootie Hoo",followed by the futurism of "D.E.E.P.". Both tracks are indeed impeccable,and lead into "Player's Ball Redux", a sort of soul remix of the original track with no rapping and a piano-driven beat that begs to be rapped over.
All around, this is a near perfect album that not only introduced us to Dirty South rap,gave us OutKast, and made R&B cross-pollination and live experimentation possible without loss of credibility,it also gave us a wonderful album that I think will withstand the test of time as one of the best Southern albums ever,but the only album I can think of that you can jam in your ride (or your man's ride if like me,you're too young to drive), AND muse on the lyrics at the same time.


Overall Rating: 9 out of 10 Snickers Bars

Worth The Cheddar: No I just spent a half hour talking about how much I love it to say you shouldn't buy it. Naw on the real dog,pick this up.