Outkast

Starkonia

Heard Here Rating:
"Confucius say: Thus the ancient kings made music In order to honor merit."

Wzup 'Kast fans! The time has rolled around once again for you to dig into your wallets and shell out the cash for another of the Dungeon Family duo's new albums.

This time Big Boi and the ever-changing Andre Benjamin (now known as Andre 3000), welcome us to Stankonia, "the place where all funky things come." Stankonia, the group's fourth album, demonstrates Outkast's musical development along with their ever-present ability to successfully integrate experimental sounds.

Outkast is one rap group that has never been afraid to push the sounds of hip-hop. Since their Southerplayalisticadillacmuzi days 'Kast has been holding it down with innovative beats and mixes. Stankonia continues the duo's creative tradition, sampling such sounds as the favorite George Clinton Parliament P-funk, in tracks like "Toilet Tisha" and "Slum Beautiful." Outkast even includes heavy, Hendrix-style guitar leads in "B.O.B." (Bombs over Baghdad) and "Gasoline Dreams," despite the claims from record executives that Black radio would not air hip-hop songs with such rock-influenced flavor. By contrast, "Humble-Mumble" and "Snappin' & Trappin'" feature beats which do not employ sampling at all, but instead stem directly from the minds of the Atlanta duo.

Stankonia upholds their reputation for spitting conscientious lyrics. This is especially relevant, since 'Kast hails from the South, a region currently know for producing some shall we say rather ummŠinteresting lyrics. (i.e. "God damn mothefucker/She's a good dick sucker" - Cash Money Millionaire's Big Tymer's "Get Your Roll On").

Still, some tracks ponder less mind-splitting topics. The hook "From the weaves/to the fake eyes/ to the fake nails/down to the toes/ha ha ha ha" on "We Luv Deez Hoez" pokes fun at groupies. And 'Kast still doesn't forget to lay down a regular ol' down-south bounce joint on the album. "Gangsta Shit" fulfills this role while still producing the slightly different flavor characteristic of Outkast's music.

Stankonia also features guest apperances by members of Goodie Mob, Andre 3000's baby's mama, Erykah Badu, and Brian "Slimm Calhoun" Loving and Michael "Killer Mike" Render, up-and-coming artists signed to Outkast's new label Aquemini Records.

Outkast fans will not be disappointed, as their fouth album proves to be another solid effort, making the duo into a model for hip-hop consistency. Mark one again in the "W" column for ATL's finest.