Three decades ago, to the day, OutKast's debut LP was released. With the lengthy one-word title, "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik," it became available on vinyl, cassette, and those newfangled CDs on April 26th, 1994. It is a great OutKast album even if it isn't my favorite--but it shows glimpses of the amazing group Big Boi and Andre 3000 (then just going by Andre or Dre) would grow into. I've written at length about all of OutKast's LPs and would encourage you to read my thoughts on their premiere album. All these years later it holds up as a great listen.
When OutKast was awarded Best New Rap Group at the 1995 Source Awards following the release of, "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik," it was at a time when the East Coast versus West Coast feud was at a fever pitch. Here came these two young guys from Atlanta and Andre made it clear they were just getting started with the statement, "The South got something to say!" which he declared even as the crowd booed. As the decades since have shown with OutKast's amazing work along with tons of other Southern artists, the South had a lot to say--and made a big impression saying it.
Amen.
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