September 23, 2003 · OutKast released a double album that let each member lead a disc.
2003 – OutKast releases Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Big Boi’s Speakerboxxx keeps a tight grip on the pocket, particularly on “The Way You Move.” André 3000’s The Love Below ranges across pop, funk and jazz, with “Hey Ya!” putting a troubled relationship inside an exuberant singalong.
The split makes the duo’s individual tastes unusually easy to hear. Listening across both discs also reveals how often they arrive at the same destination: a strong hook, an unexpected rhythmic decision and enough personality to carry both.
Big Boi’s “GhettoMusick” is a useful corrective to any tidy division between the discs. Its stop-start speed and abrupt change of feel are as adventurous as many of André’s choices on the other half.
Release date and album details · Hear a track on Apple Music.
1972 – Jermaine Dupri is born
Dupri was born in Asheville, North Carolina, and grew up in the Atlanta area. After producing Kris Kross, he established So So Def and built another route for Atlanta artists to reach national audiences. His birthday gives the date a second connection to the city beyond OutKast’s 2003 double album.
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Natalia is a Rap and Hip Hop enthusiast. After graduating from The New School of New York’s Public Relations Program and taking a course in Journalism at Michigan State University, she decided to dedicate her life to the music publishing business and to the discovery of new talent. She helps new artists gain exposure to the masses via online marketing and publications.
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