ATLiens

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ATLiens
Studio album by OutKast
Released August 27, 1996
Recorded 1995-1996
Genre Hip hop
Length 58:31
Label LaFace/Arista
Producer Organized Noize, OutKast/Earthtone Ideas
OutKast chronology
Southernplaya- listicadillacmuzik
(1994)		 ATLiens
(1996)		 Aquemini
(1998)

ATLiens is the second studio album by American hip hop duo OutKast, released August 27, 1996 on LaFace Records in the United States. Its title is a portmanteau of "ATL" (an abbreviation of Atlanta, Georgia) and "aliens". The album was very well received by music critics upon its release, and it has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of two million copies in the United States.

Contents

[edit] Music

Unlike their debut, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, in which the two portrayed themselves as Southern pimps, many songs on ATLiens feature more unconventional subject matter for hip hop. It also has a notably more laid-back, spacey production sound, which they would continue to a certain extent on their follow-up album Aquemini. Two-thirds of the album is produced by Organized Noize, OutKast's primary production team. The rest is produced by Earthtone III, a production team that includes OutKast themselves and Mr. DJ.

[edit] Reception

[edit] Commercial performance

The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart,[1] and it sold nearly 350,000 copies in its first two weeks of release.[2] It ultimately spent 33 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart.[3] The album's lead single, "Elevators (Me & You)", reached number 12 and spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[4] The second single "ATLiens" reached number 35 and spent 17 weeks on the Hot 100.[4] "Jazzy Belle" spent 14 weeks and peaked at number 52 on the Hot 100.[4] The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 6, 1996, for shipments of one million copies in the United States.[5] By 1998, it had sold over 1.2 million copies.[6] On June 24, 2003, the RIAA certified ATLiens double platinum, after shipments of two million copies in the US.[5]

[edit] Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars[7]
Atlanta Journal-Constitution 3.5/4 stars[8]
Blender 4/5 stars[9]
The Hartford Courant (favorable)[10]
RapReviews (10/10)[11]
Rolling Stone 4/5 stars[12]
The Source 4/5 stars[13]
The Washington Post (favorable)[14]

Upon its release, ATLiens received positive reviews from music publications such as The Hartford Courant, Rolling Stone, and The Washington Post.[10][12][14] In a retrospective review of the album, RapReviews music critic Steve Juon wrote:

It's deep. So deep that listening to 'ATLiens' you might feel like drowning, but the smooth vo-cals of Big Boi and the earthy flows of Andre always push you back up to the surface. They are players in the truest sense of the word; not just playing for ends but playing to win in the ultimate battle of life over death, good over bad, and righteousness over evil. Yet, it's not that heavy either. This album is nod your head music, shake your ass music. It makes you think and groove at the same time. If you don't want to be challenged by your hip-hop, 'ATLiens' is not the album for you; matter of fact OutKast is not the group for you. They refuse to be conventional in a world of formulaic mediocrity, which may make them harder to grasp but ultimately makes them that much better to listen to.[11]
—Steve Juon

While critically acclaimed, it would not be until they released Aquemini (1998) and most notably Stankonia (2000) that OutKast would receive significant mainstream popularity. The hit single "Elevators (Me & You)" was later included on the Big Boi & Dre Present... OutKast greatest hits album in 2001. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. In a retrospective review, Allmusic editor Steve Huey viewed the album as OutKast's "most focused work" and commented that "In addition to the striking musical leap forward, Dre and Big Boi continue to grow as rappers; their flows are getting more tongue-twistingly complex, and their lyrics more free-associative".[7]

[edit] Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "You May Die (Intro)"   Joi Gilliam, Myrna Crenshaw, Organized Noize Organized Noize 1:05
2. "Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac)"   André Benjamin, Organized Noize, Antwan Patton Organized Noize 2:46
3. "ATLiens"   André Benjamin, Antwan Patton OutKast/Earthtone Ideas 3:50
4. "Wheelz of Steel"   André Benjamin, Antwan Patton OutKast/Earthtone Ideas 4:03
5. "Jazzy Belle"   André Benjamin, Organized Noize, Antwan Patton Organized Noize 4:12
6. "Elevators (Me & You)"   André Benjamin, Antwan Patton OutKast/Earthtone Ideas 4:25
7. "Ova da Wudz"   André Benjamin, Erin Johnson, Antwan Patton OutKast/Earthtone Ideas 3:48
8. "Babylon"   Andrea Martin, André Benjamin, Ivan Doroschuk, Antwan Patton Organized Noize 4:24
9. "Wailin'"   André Benjamin, Organized Noize, Antwan Patton Organized Noize 2:00
10. "Mainstream" (featuring Khujo & T-Mo) Robert Barnett, André Benjamin, Willie Knighton, Antwan Patton OutKast/Earthtone Ideas 5:18
11. "Decatur Psalm" (featuring Big Gipp & Cool Breeze) Fredrick Bell, André Benjamin, Cameron Gipp, Organized Noize, Antwan Patton Organized Noize 3:58
12. "Millennium"   André Benjamin, Organized Noize, Antwan Patton Organized Noize 3:09
13. "E.T. (Extraterrestrial)"   André Benjamin, Erin, Johnson, Antwan Patton OutKast/Earthtone Ideas 3:07
14. "13th Floor/Growing Old"   André Benjamin, Marqueze Ethridge, Organized Noize, Antwan Patton Organized Noize 6:50
15. "Elevators (Me & You) [ONP 86 Remix]"   André Benjamin, Organized Noize, Patton Organized Noize 4:36

[edit] Sample credits

  • "You May Die (Intro)" is an interpolation of "Summer in the City" by Quincy Jones.
  • "Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac)" contains a sample of "D.E.E.P." by OutKast and "Danger, She's A Stranger" by The Five Stairsteps.
  • "Wheelz of Steel" contains a sample of "Focus III" by Focus (from the 1972 album Focus III) and "Saturday Night Style" by Mikey Dread.
  • "Jazzy Belle" contains a sample of "It's Yours" by T La Rock & Jazzy Jay and an interpolation of "Prelude" by Lamont Dozier (from the 1974 album Black Bach).
  • "Elevators (Me & You) [ONP 86 Mix]" contains a sample of "Come In Out of the Rain" by Parliament (from the album First Thangs); the original contains SFX from the video game Super Mario Bros..
  • "Ova Da Wudz" contain a sample of "Judas" by Society of Soul (from the 1995 album Brainchild).
  • "Babylon" contains a sample of "12 O'Clock" by Vangelis (from the 1975 album Heaven and Hell).
  • "Wailin" contains a sample of "To The Establishment" by Lou Bond (from the 1974 album We Produce).
  • "Mainstream" contains a sample of "Sesame Street" by Goodie Mob (from the 1995 album Soul Food).

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Musicians

  • Khujo - Vocals
  • Marq Jefferson - Bass Guitar
  • Martin Terry - Guitar
  • Marvin "Chanz" Parkman - Keyboard, Organ
  • Mr. DJ - Scratches
  • Peaches - Vocals
  • Preston Crump - Bass Guitar
  • ShaJuanna Edghill - Vocals
  • Skinny Miracles - Piano
  • Sleepy Brown - Vocals
  • T-Mo - Vocals
  • Tamara - Vocals
  • Tommy Martin - Acoustic Guitar
  • Trina Broussard - Vocals
  • Whild Peach - Vocals
  • Witchdoctor - Vocals

[edit] Production

  • Alvin Speights - Mixing
  • Bernasky Wall - Engineering
  • Blake Eiseman - Engineering
  • Brian Frye - Engineering
  • Carlton Batts - Mastering
  • Derrick Williams - Engineering
  • Dexter Simmons - Engineering, Mixing
  • Jarvis Blackshear - Engineering
  • John Frye - Engineering
  • John Wydrycs - Engineering
  • Leslie Brathwaite - Mixing
  • Mike Wilson - Engineering
  • Neal Pogue - Mixing
  • Organized Noize - Drum Programming, Keyboard Programming, Mixing & Production
  • Outkast - Drum Programming, Keyboard Programming, Mixing & Production

[edit] Charts

Chart (1996) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200[3] 2
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums[15] 1

[edit] Album singles

Single information
"Elevators (Me & You)"
  • Released: July 8, 1996
  • B-side:
"ATLiens"
  • Released: November 11, 1996
  • B-side: "Wheelz Of Steel"
"Jazzy Belle"
  • Released: 1997
  • B-side:

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Staff (September 7, 1996). "Pearl Jam's 'No Code' to Top Albums Chart". San Jose Mercury News: 3E. Retrieved on 2011-03-05.
  2. ^ Staff (September 15, 1996). The Charts – 'ATLiens' Landing. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2011-03-05.
  3. ^ a b OutKast Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200. Billboard. Retrieved on 2011-03-05.
  4. ^ a b c OutKast Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100. Billboard. Retrieved on 2011-03-05.
  5. ^ a b "RIAA - Gold & Platinum: ATLiens certified awards". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=OutKast&title=Atliens&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved March 5, 2011. 
  6. ^ Baker, Soren (September 27, 1998). Pop Music | Record Rack – Four-Star Performers. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2011-03-05.
  7. ^ a b Huey, Steve. Review: ATLiens. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-10-09.
  8. ^ Murray, Sonia. "Review: ATLiens". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: C4. September 5, 1996. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
  9. ^ Big V. Review: ATLiens. Blender. Retrieved on 2009-10-09.
  10. ^ a b Comer, Andrea. "Review: ATLiens". The Hartford Courant: 4. November 7, 1996. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
  11. ^ a b Juon, Steve 'Flash'. Review: ATLiens. RapReviews. Retrieved on 2009-10-09.
  12. ^ a b Powell, Kevin. Review: ATLiens. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-10-09.
  13. ^ Columnist. "Review: ATLiens". The Source: 118. October 1996. Archived from the original on 2009-10-09.
  14. ^ a b Harrington, Richard. "Review: ATLiens". The Washington Post: October 11, 1996. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
  15. ^ OutKast Album & Song Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Billboard. Retrieved on 2011-03-05.

[edit] External links

OutKast
Studio albums
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994) · ATLiens (1996) · Aquemini (1998) · Stankonia (2000) · Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003) · Idlewild (2006)
Other albums
Big Boi and Dre Present... OutKast (2001) · Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (2010) · Whatubeenwaitin4 (2010)  · Daddy Fat Saxxx: Soul Funk Crusader (2012)
Singles
Featured singles
Related articles
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