O - Outkast
U - Undeniably
T - Takes the
K - Kake
A - Again with
S - Stankonia
T - This time
Outkast has done it again with their newest release, Stankonia.
The group entered the southern hip-hop scene in 1993 with Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, then followed up with ATLiens in 1996 and Aquemini in 1998.
The Atlanta-based group featuring Big Boi and Andre 3000 has put together another album with enough flash and funk to draw a vast audience, pulling in sounds from here, there and everywhere including P-Funk and Prince. In addition, they include a little bit of their own social commentary in the process.
With 24 tracks on this album, there's no way listeners shouldn't be able to pick out a sound, a message or a lyric that grabs their attention and keeps a definite focus.
"Gasoline Dreams," is a taste of Hendrix psych-rock, while "So Fresh, So Clean" eases the listener into a casual mode that will have you singing it for days. "Ms. Jackson" speaks of familial, confusion where fathers'are prevented from looking after their children.
"Red Velvet," features Dre's views on compeition with lines like: "Bill Gates don't dangle diamonds in the face / Of peasants when he Microsoftin' in the place / You getting on my nerves. Well, I'm getting on your case."
But the highlight of this album is "B.O.B. (Bombs Over Bahgdad)," the hit single, with an equally popular and well-known video featuring psychedelic colors, over dramatized graphics and a sound that was made for moving.
This album is a hit, and will continue to draw in more and more listeners as time passes.
The only problem with this album, and Outkast, is that we may have to wait another two years before we hear something else.
Grade: A
