Outkast

Outkast was an American hip-hop duo formed in 1992 by the rappers Big Boi and André 3000. The duo achieved both critical and commercial success from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, helping to popularize Southern hip hophttps://www.allmusic.com/artist/p111701/biography with their intricate lyricism, memorable melodies, and positive themes.https://www.britannica.com/topic/OutKast
==History==
===Foundation and Debut===
Patton and Benjamin met in 1992 at the Lenox Square shopping mall when they were both sixteen years old.http://articles.latimes.com/2000/oct/22/entertainment/ca-40125 The two lived in Atlanta and attended Tri-Cities High School.http://articles.latimes.com/2000/oct/22/entertainment/ca-40125Pauley, Jared. "Outkast". During school, Patton and Benjamin participated in rap battles in the cafeteria.http://articles.latimes.com/2000/oct/22/entertainment/ca-40125 Benjamin's parents were divorced and he was living with his father. Meanwhile, Patton had to move with his four brothers and six sisters from Savannah to Atlanta. Patton and Benjamin eventually teamed up and were pursued by Organized Noize, a group of local producers who would later make hits for the R&B girl group TLC.https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p111701/biography The duo initially wanted to be called "2 Shades Deep" or "The Misfits", but because those names were already taken they later decided to use "Outkast" based on finding "outcast" as a synonym for "misfit" in a dictionary.http://www.notablebiographies.com/news/Li-Ou/OutKast.html Outkast, Organized Noize, and schoolmates Goodie Mob formed the nucleus of the Dungeon Family organization.
Outkast signed to L.A. And Babyface imprint prior to graduation"Outkast". Encyclopedia of Popular Music. which would later become LaFace Records in 1992, becoming the label's first hip hop act and making their first appearance on the remix of labelmate TLC's "What About Your Friends".
===Hiatus and Solo Work (2007-2013)===
In 2007 after the sixth album under the Outkast name, Idlewild, Big Boi announced plans to release a full-fledged solo album. While he had released a previous solo album in Speakerboxxx, it still was technically under the Outkast name. The album was later titled Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty. The album's first promotional single, "Royal Flush", was released in 2008, and featured Raekwon and André 3000. After many delays and setbacks, the album was finally released internationally on July 5, 2010. Guest artists include singer Janelle Monáe; Big Boi's own new group Vonnegutt; plus established rappers T.I. and B.o.B.http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/559/boi_o_boi/ Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty received general acclaim from most music critics, earning praise for its inventive sound, varied musical style, and Big Boi's lyricism.https://www.metacritic.com/music/sir-lucious-left-foot-the-son-of-chico-dustyhttps://web.archive.org/web/20100731115438/http://features.metacritic.com/features/2010/july-best-new-music/ In a July 2010 interview for The Village Voice, Big Boi revealed that he was working on the follow-up album to Sir Lucious Left Foot, entitled Daddy Fat Sax: Soul Funk Crusader, stating that he was "maybe about six songs into it",http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-07-06/music/big-boi-is-not-too-artsy/2 and that he was "planning on doing a bunch of sax samples, tenor, soprano, and probably have at least a couple sax players come into the studio for the next record".http://www.tinymixtapes.com/news/big-boi-names-his-next-solo-album-daddy-fat-sax-honor-great-service-he-received-white-castle The project later evolved into the 2012 album Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors.
André 3000 returned to rapping in 2007, after a hiatus from the genre, appearing on various remixes, including: "Walk It Out", "Throw Some D's", "You", Jay-Z's "30 Something", and original songs such as UGK's "International Players Anthem", Devin the Dude's "What a Job", Fonzworth Bentley's "Everybody", and with Big Boi "Royal Flush" and the leaked single "Lookin For Ya". He also appeared on John Legend's album, Evolver, on the track "Green Light", which was released on October 28, 2008. Prior to the release, Benjamin commented: "It's going to be a surprise for a lot of John Legend fans, because it is a lot more upbeat than John is—than people think John is. I was actually happy to hear it. This is a cool John Legend song." Benjamin has stated that he is making a solo rap album, and that the response to his remixes is part of the motivation for it.https://web.archive.org/web/20090301055304/http://www.grounduphiphop.com/2007/07/11/andre-3000-reveals-a-solo-album-is-on-the-way/ In September 2011 it was announced that Outkast was moved to Epic Records following restructuring within Sony Music Entertainment. Epic Records is headed by LA Reid who has worked with Outkast in the past.http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/outkast-ciara-headed-for-l-a-reid-s-epic-1005354602.story In 2012, André 3000 was cast to play Jimi Hendrix in a biopic film titled Jimi: All Is by My Side, which was later released on September 26, 2014.
===Reunion and Second Hiatus (2014-Present)===
In late 2013, it was reported that Outkast would reunite at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2014. This was later confirmed on January 8, 2014, when it was officially announced that the duo would headline the festival on April 11 and 18.http://www.vibe.com/article/outkast-reunion-confirmed-rico-wade It was later announced on January 13, 2014, that Outkast would be performing at more than 40 festivals around the world throughout spring and summer 2014 to celebrate their 20th anniversary, including one of the largest festivals in the UK, Bestival. Outkast returned to Atlanta for their #ATLast homecoming shows over the weekend of September 26, 2014, selling out within minutes of tickets going on sale. The shows had a large variety of openers, including R&B singer Janelle Monáe and rappers Kid Cudi, 2 Chainz, Future, Bun B, and Childish Gambino. Outkast's Dungeon Family associates Sleepy Brown and Big Gipp also appeared onstage with the duo, rapping and singing on their respective songs.http://www.bet.com/news/music/2014/02/19/big-boi-no-new-outkast-album.htmlhttp://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/5869587/outkast-tour-40-festivals-2014
Outkast performed their final show at Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans on October 31, 2014.https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/outkast/2014/city-park-new-orleans-la-4bcc23be.html The group then resumed their hiatus.
==Parks v. LaFace Records (Lawsuit)==
In April 1999, Outkast and LaFace Records were sued by Rosa Parks over Aquemini's most successful radio single, which bears Parks' name as its title. The lawsuit alleged that the song misappropriates Parks' name, and it objected to the song's obscenities.King, Aliya (April 17, 1999). "Rosa Parks Sues OutKast". Billboard: The International Newsweekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment. 108 (4): 6.
The song's lyrics are virtually unrelated to Parks, except for a reference in the chorus: "Ah ha, hush that fuss / Everybody move to the back of the bus". The song, which Outkast maintained was intended partly as homage, refers to Parks metaphorically: the purpose of the song's chorus is to imply that Outkast is overturning hip hop's old order, and that people should make way for a new style and sound. In the initial suit, the District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan at Ann Arbor granted summary judgment for Outkast.
Later on appeal, the issue of whether Outkast violated the Lanham Act for false advertising was reversed and remanded for further proceedings. This was based on the Court's determination that the title "Rosa Parks" had little artistic relevance, whether symbolic or metaphorical, to Rosa Parks the person. Parks' representation hired lawyer Johnnie Cochran to appeal the decision in 2001, but the appeal was denied. The judge ruled that while there was linkage between the song and Rosa Parks, the song was an "expressive work" and was therefore protected by the First Amendment. In 2003, the Supreme Court turned down an appeal to overrule the lower court's decision.
In December 2003, André told UK journalist Angus Batey that, following a Detroit concert in the midst of the legal battle, relatives of Parks had approached him and implied that the case had less to do with Parks than with the lawyers.The Sunday Times. Timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved on May 12, 2013. In April 2005, the judge in the case appointed an impartial representative for Parks after her family expressed concerns that her caretakers and her lawyers were pursuing the case based on their own financial interest. The case was settled on 14 April 2005, with Outkast and the co-defendants, Sony BMG and its subsidiaries Arista Records and LaFace Records, admitting no wrongdoing but agreeing to develop and fund educational programs concerning Rosa Parks.https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/15/business/media/rap-group-settles-rosa-parks-lawsuit.htmlhttps://www.biography.com/people/rosa-parks-9433715
==Discography==
===Studio Albums===
*Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994)
*ATLiens (1996)
*Aquemini (1998)
*Stankonia (2000)
*Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003)
*Idlewild (2006)
===Compilation Albums===
*Big Boi and Dre Presents... Outkast (2001)
===Singles===
*Player's Ball (1993)
*Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994)
*Git Up, Git Out (Ft. Goodie Mob) (1994)
*Elevators (Me & You) (1996)
*ATLiens/Wheelz of Steel (Ft. Raekwon) (1996)
*Jazzy Belle (1996)
*Skew It on the Bar-B (1998)
*Rosa Parks (1999)
*Da Art of Storytellin' (Pt. 1) (Ft. Slick Rick) (1999)
*B.O.B (2000)
*Ms. Jackson (2000)
*So Fresh, So Clean (2001)
*The Whole World (Ft. Killer Mike) (2001)
*Land of a Million Drums (Ft. Killer Mike & Sleepy Brown) (2002)
*Hey Ya! (2003)
*The Way You Move (Ft. Sleepy Brown) (2003
*Ghetto Musick (2003)
*Roses (2004)
*Prototype (2004)
*Mighty O (2006)
*Morris Brown (Ft. Sleepy Brown & Scar) (2006)
*Idlewild Blue (Don'tchu Worry 'Bout Me) (2006)
*Hollywood Divorce (Ft. Lil Wayne & Snoop Dogg) (2006)
*The Train (Ft Sleepy Brown & Scar) (2006)
===Promotional Singles===
*In Due Time (Ft. Cee Lo Green) (1997)
*SpottieOttieDopaliscious (1998)
==Filmography==
*Outkast: The Videos (2003)
*Idlewild (2006)
*ATL (2006)
*The Art of Organized Noize (2016)
==References==
Category:Music YouTubers
Category:American YouTubers
Category:Users who joined in 2006
Category:One million subscribers
Category:One billion views