Though it may be overshadowed by the anniversary of Nas' Illmatic a week prior, OutKast's debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, turned 20 today. The landmark LP is said to be one of the main blueprints of Southern hip-hop, and to celebrate, Myspace gathered eight rappers who have been influenced by the album to share their memories of each track. Read excerpts from Big K.R.I.T., B.o.B, Bubba Sparxxx, David Banner, Freddie Gibbs, Gangsta Boo, Rittz and Trae Tha Truth's responses below.
Big K.R.I.T. on "Crumblin' Erb":
"When I first started producing, I tried to recreate a lot of OutKast beats. 'Crumblin' Erb' was one of those ones I always tried to recreate. How did it come out? Not so well, you know! Back then, I was making beats on a PlayStation when I was trying to recreate those records, trying to recreate those snares. After a while I learned that the music wasn't digital but analog—it had a lot of warmth to it—and it took me further on in my career to really dive into how they got the music to sound that way. They weren't so confined to what a computer would give you."
B.o.B on "Funky Ride":
"Organized Noize architected the eclectic style of music in Atlanta. They gave all artists the confidence to make whatever they want to make and be different and not worry about it. They gave us that freedom. I mean, I always knew that Andre was a dope lyricist but he inspired me a lot more in his later projects when he started singing a lot, like around the same time that CeeLo was doing Gnarls Barkley. Songs like this let you know OutKast always had that experimental side to their music."
Bubba Sparxxx on "Hootie Hoo":
"'Hootie Hoo' is my favorite song off the first OutKast album. I think a lot of people will probably agree. Again, it's just that bassline. And then there's the raps: 'Follow the funk from the skunk and the dank that is crunk in the Dungeon...' That shit was crazy and it was following the bassline and then when 'Dre came in with 'Now playing these bitches is my favorite sport...' Man, it was elite emcees and it was elite production and that was an absolute moment in hip-hop."
David Banner on "Git Up, Git Out":
In 1994, I was going through a real bad time and specifically in Jackson, Mississippi, we were the number one murder capital of the United States around that time. To see a group of guys that came from a similar situation, that was hope for me. When I hear it now, this song reminds me of hope."
Freddie Gibbs on "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik":
"I was inspired to call my mixtape Midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik by this title. I just wanted to pay homage and show that I could do it as well. The title track is my favorite song on the album. [Sings] 'We're gonna get you high...' I like that shit with the singing and the whole melodic vibe of OutKast. It wasn't just a rap album—it was something that brought you into this world and this vibe."
Gangsta Boo on "Myintrotoletuknow":
"The first time I heard André I thought he was a really dope lyricist. Still 'til this day, he's before his time. Big Boi is the same, they're very equally talented, but they're so different they're crazy. I got to work with them both later on Stankonia. Big Boi used to have one of my songs on my voicemail—it was Three 6 Mafia's 'We Ain't Playing With You' but it was my verse—and I thought that was really cool. I knew [Big] Gipp's ex-wife, I was best friends with them when I was about 17 because I was in Atlanta a lot. They were pretty big fans and it was an opportunity where they felt like they wanted a female like me on Stankonia. They hit me up for it and it was right in the peak of my career when I was with Hypnotize Minds. In the studio, Big Boi bought me weed—it was purple, and I'll never forget it."
Rittz on "Ain't No Thang":
"The whole album was so thoughtfully put together and I try and do the same with my music now. Like even between songs there would be these cuts and atmospheric parts, so after 'Myintrotoletuknow' and before 'Ain't No Thang' comes on there is these DJ cuts and brass hits. The album was put together so nicely and all the songs and the interludes just flowed through each other."
Trae Tha Truth on "D.E.E.P.":
"Back in '94, I was listening to a bit of everything. I was only 14 years old. I was just running the streets, man. My father, he used to wait until the weekend and then I'd get in his car with him and we'd have all the gangsta music playing and run through the streets with the homies. I was a Rap-A-Lot fan, I was a 2Pac fan, I was most definitely a Bone Thugs-n-Harmony fan—just really street music in general as a whole. OutKast became part of that 'cause you feel their situation and it makes you want to go and add your situation to it. They were opening their minds on 'D.E.E.P.' and just rapping that realness they were seeing around them, and doing it from a street music perspective but still talking knowledge."
Read the full article on Myspace.