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Aquemini

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Untitled

Aquemini is the third studio album by American hip hop duo Outkast, released on September 29, 1998 through LaFace Records. The title is a portmanteau of the two performers' Zodiac signs: Aquarius (Big Boi) and Gemini (André 3000).[1]

The album was certified platinum in November 1998, only two months after its release, and was certified double platinum on July 2, 1999 by the Recording Industry Association of America.[2] Aquemini peaked at #2 on both the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop charts.[3] Four of the album's tracks had already or would later become singles, although some were limited (promotional) releases and not available commercially.[4] It was ranked as number 500 in the book version of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Background and recording

The group originally planned to create a film in conjunction with the album, completing a script three months before the release of the record. Outkast met with MTV for the project, who, despite liking the idea for the film, hoped to instead buy the project and cast Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes instead, feeling the latter two had more "star power."[5] Although the duo recalls being "heartbroken" at the time, André 3000 and Big Boi continued to work on ideas for a collaborative film, eventually resulting in the 2006 musical Idlewild starring the group.[5]

Music and lyrics

The album is vaguely futuristic, synthesizer-drenched and punctuated with anthemic choruses and bluesy beats. It addresses topics such as emancipation, drug addiction and problematic relationships, while exploring the bleakest aspects of humanity. In contrast to much of hip hop music in the late 1990s, OutKast did not tone down the regional qualities, like the harmonica break on "Rosa Parks" and distinctive Atlanta slang and diction throughout.

Aquemini also features live instrumentation and poetic lyricism, such as the reggae horns on the seven-minute long "SpottieOttieDopaliscious," which included the observant narration of their Atlanta upbringing - referencing the Charles Disco and Hollywood Courts;[6] while also including a wah-wah guitar on the closing track "Chonkyfire". The album also included "West Savannah," which was an outtake from Outkast's debut album "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik." The track was also featured as an intro to the "Benz Or Beamer" video, but was held off "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" and not used on the duo's follow-up album "ATLiens," finally to surface on this album. The song is the original version and was not re-recorded for the album. A small intro to the song begins at the end of "Slump," with Big Boi referring to the song's history.

Delivered with rhythmic vocal styles and distinctive Southern rapping, the main focus of the album seemed to be on morality. With complex metaphors and dirty South slang, Andre addresses his critics in the album opener, "Return of the G." "It's the return of the gangsta/Thanks ta' them niggas that think you soft/And say, "Y'all be gospel rappin'" /But they be steady clappin'/When you talk about bitches and switches/And hoes and clothes and weed..." Aquemini's catchy lyrics are a mix of street-wise and common sense. RapReviews.com noted that "Aquemini is full of small moments that make you nod your head and look forward to hearing them again."[7] "SpottieOttieDopaliscious" featured a soulful hook by Sleepy Brown and introspective lyricism by Big Boi and Andre, reciting it in spoken word style.

The intro to the album, "Hold On, Be Strong," was written by session guitarist Donny Mathis and was originally a full song with verses, but the group preferred to only use the hook.[8] André 3000 played a kalimba on the song after purchasing the instrument at a flea market, drawing inspiration from Earth, Wind & Fire.[8] "Return of the G" addresses concerns from fans who felt that the group's style had changed too drastically since the release of Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, as well as those who make poor decisions in order to keep their street credibility.[8][9] When discussing the lyrical content of the song, André 3000 explained, "I was young and wilder and some of my fashion choices people didn't accept at the time. I started getting flak from some people, so they were like, 'Either he's gay or on drugs'...'Return of the Gangsta' was trying to give them a sense of, 'Hey, I'm still a regular person.'"[8] "Rosa Parks" contains blues-influenced guitar work and folksy harmonies that "announce OutKast's distinctive style of Southern boogie. The groove goes into overdrive during a clapping, foot-stomping breakdown funkified by a fierce harmonica as the kick drum pounds incessantly."[10] The song led to much controversy with Rosa Parks filing a defamation suit against OutKast.[11]

"Synthesizer" contains elements of electrofunk and features funk musician George Clinton.[10] Emma Warren of The Guardian called the track "raw and woozy", dubbing it the "weirdest moment of the record".[12] On "West Savannah", Big Boi discusses his Southern roots, and references individuals who grew up outside of the South who fail to recognize different regional Southern identities by stating "You might call us country, but we's only Southern".[13] "Da Art of Storytellin' (Part 1)" tells the story of a self-destructive childhood friend named Sasha Thumper who dies of a drug overdose.[14] Commenting on the song's lyrical content in his book Icons of Hip Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music, and Culture, Volume 2, author Mickey Hess remarks that André 3000 "manages to walk the fine line between emotionalism and masculinity by articulating this highly emotional narrative with an almost emotionless tone."[14] "SpottieOttieDopalicious" relates a story of ill-fated romance, with André 3000 describing the infatuation during an encounter with a woman at a club and Big Boi noting the hopelessness of the relationship as the song progresses.[15] The eight minute-long "Liberation" combines a variety of musical styles, including gospel, jazz, blues, and world music. The song is notable for not including rapped vocals and instead features vocal alternations between singing and spoken word styles.[16] Lyrically, the track utilizes images of slavery to symbolize artistic freedom and not being concerned with the opinions of the public and record labels.[16]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[17]
Robert ChristgauA–[18]
Entertainment WeeklyA[19]
Los Angeles Times[20]
Q[21]
Rolling Stone[22]
Slant Magazine[23]
Spin9/10[24]
Uncut[21]
USA Today[25]
The Source[26]

Aquemini received general acclaim from music critics upon its release. AllMusic's Steve Huey called it "a stroke of brilliance". He praised the record for avoiding the "hardcore clichés" and summed up his review by saying that Aquemini is "a virtuosic masterpiece, and a landmark hip-hop album of the late '90s".[17] Robert Christgau also commented positively on the album, stating that the record "evolved G-funk with denser instrumental crosstalk."[18] Los Angeles Times writer Soren Baker complimented OutKast's "intelligent hip-hop" and commented that "musically, the collection supplies some of the lushest tracks ever included on a hip-hop record".[20] Q named it the group's "third best offering" and called it "breathtaking in its ambition makes most rappers seem drab and doltish in comparison."[21] Sia Michel of The Village Voice called it "an impassioned state-of-hip-hop address".[27] In a brief review for "Entertainment Weekly," Cheo Tyehimba qualified Aquemini as the hip-hop album of the year.[19]

Fernando Jr. of Rolling Stone wrote "OutKast prove that you don't have to sell out to sell records. Sporting plenty of live chops and soulful harmonies, Aquemini's fresh, original feel defies rap's coastal clichés."[22] Steve Jones of USA Today commented that the duo's "molasses-smooth raps speak to the stark realities of urban streets. And with the hard-driving, Southern-fried grooves provided by live studio musicians, these songs not only make you dance, they make you sweat".[25] Tony Green of Spin said that although they are not as spiritual as Goodie Mob, Outkast's "streetcorner signifying" offers listeners more than simple musical pleasure and that they "have crafted some of the most seductive and dramadelic textures."[24] Giving it a five out of five "mic"-rating, Charlie Braxton of The Source praised the duo's "submersion into the baptismal waters of the African American musical continuum" and "their superb use of the urban narrative." Braxton called Aquemini "a brilliant record" and commented that it "possesses an uncanny blend of sonic beauty, poignant lyricism and spirituality that compels without commanding".[26]

In a retrospective review, Tim Stelloh from PopMatters described the album as "loud, unpretentious, eclectic kick in the ass". He praised it for being "full of both fear and curiosity, and those emotions were channeled through its production."[28] Dave Hughes, writing in Slant Magazine, stated: "Ten years on, Aquemini is the single strongest aspect of one of the art form's deepest benches. Snappier and more experimental than the pair's early work, and focused enough to feel comfortable in a sprawl, it's the moment when OutKast came fully into itself."[23]

Accolades

Aquemini has been included in several publications' best album lists. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked it number 500 on its list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The staff explained the inclusion by stating: "OutKast unleashed an explosive hip-hop that deployed live musicians, social commentary and a heavy dose of deep funk".[29] The album was placed at number 11 on the list of the "100 Best Albums of the Nineties" made by the same magazine.[30]

Paste named the album "the best Atlanta hip-hop album of all time".[31] Pitchfork Media ranked the record at #50 on their "Top 100 Albums of the 1990s", describing it as "smooth and well-conceived".[32] Spin included it on three of their lists. They ranked it number 35 on the "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s" and number three on the "Top 20 Albums of '98".[21][33] The magazine also ranked it 76th on their 2010 list of "The 125 Best Albums of the Past 25 Years".[34] In 2004, Stylus ranked it 185th on their "Top 101-200 Favourite Albums Ever" list.[35] In 2013, Vibe named it the 20th greatest album since 1993.[36] ego trip ranked it the second greatest hip hop album from 1980 to 98,[37] while Hip-Hop Connection ranked it the 11th greatest rap album from 1995 to 2005.[38] New Nation named it the 80th best album by black artists.[37]

The album was included in Blender's "500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die" (2003),[37] Tom Moon's 1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008),[37] Continuum Books' 33⅓: A Series of Books about Critically Acclaimed Albums,[39] and Q's "The Ultimate Music Collection" (2005)[40] The lead single "Rosa Parks" was nominated in the category Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 1999 Grammy Awards.[41] The album's twelfth track "SpottieOttieDopaliscious" was ranked at number 16 on Pitchfork Media's list of the top 200 tracks of the 90s.[42]

Legacy

Aquemini is a hip-hop classic that pushes the limits of what we normally consider hip-hop, yet is decidedly true to its roots.

— AllHipHop, on the album's legacy[43]

Critics hailed the recording as OutKast's most fully realized up to that time and one of the best of the 1990s.[44] Steve Huey wrote: "Aquemini fulfills all its ambitions, covering more than enough territory to qualify it as a virtuosic masterpiece, and a landmark hip-hop album of the late '90s".[17] Ebony observed that Aquemini is "perhaps Outkast's best effort" and "a huge commercial and artistic success".[45] Matt Wink concluded that Outkast with this album "carved their place in the game and grabbed the world’s attention. No two people with a similar background could be more different and no two artists could have made this masterpiece."[46]

Los Angeles Times labeled the album "OutKast's third brilliant slice of hip-hop".[20] Rolling Stone wrote that "Atlanta's reputation as hip-hop's most avant-garde area code — the Long Island of the Nineties — was cemented" with this effort.[30] In a column for Jazz Times, Tony Green wrote that "Outkast's Aquemini dispels any notion that hip-hop is out of sonic ideas. If anything, it shows that the genre's appetite for new sounds is as ravenous as ever."[47] According to Emma Warren from The Guardian, this album is "a high point of 90s hip-hop" and a prove that "the old push and pull between the east and west coast of American hip-hop was over".[12] Tim Stelloh of PopMatters felt that "Aquemini far surpassed OutKast’s previous release A-tliens [sic], and made the group one of those rare commercial anomalies—kind of like Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, or Public Enemy".[28]

Track listing

Track listing and samples compiled from album liner notes.[48]

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Hold On, Be Strong" (featuring The Four Phonics)Donny Mathis, OutKast1:11
2."Return of the 'G'"Organized Noize4:49
3."Rosa Parks"OutKast5:24
4."Skew It on the Bar-B" (featuring Raekwon)Organized Noize3:15
5."Aquemini"OutKast5:19
6."Synthesizer" (featuring George Clinton)OutKast5:11
7."Slump" (featuring Cool Breeze)OutKast5:09
8."West Savannah"Organized Noize4:03
9."Da Art of Storytellin' (Pt. 1)"Mr. DJ3:43
10."Da Art of Storytellin' (Pt. 2)"Mr. DJ2:48
11."Mamacita" (featuring Witchdoctor)Organized Noize5:52
12."SpottieOttieDopaliscious" (featuring Pat Brown)OutKast7:07
13."Y'All Scared" (featuring T-Mo, Gipp and Khujo)Mr. DJ4:50
14."Nathaniel"OutKast1:10
15."Liberation" (featuring Cee-Lo, Erykah Badu and Big Rube)OutKast8:46
16."Chonkyfire"OutKast6:10
Total length:74:47
Sample credits[48]
  • "Return of the 'G'" contains interpolations from "Superfly" by Curtis Mayfield
  • "Rosa Parks" contains interpolations from "Cancion De Amor" by The Sandpipers
  • "Skew It on the Bar-B" contains an interpolation of "Police Woman" by Henry Mancini
  • "Synthesizer" contains an interpolation of "Rock Dirge" by Sly Stone
  • "SpottieOttieDopaliscious" contains excerpts from "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight" by Genesis
  • "Y'All Scared" contains interpolations from "Air Born" by Camel

The clean version of the album has all of the skits in between the songs removed. The interlude "Nathaniel" was omitted, as was verse five of "Liberation".

Personnel

Credits are adapted from AllMusic.[49]

Musicians

Technical personnel

Charts

Chart (1998) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 2
U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums 2
Top Canadian Albums 17

References

Notes

  1. ^ "Aquemini". Epinions. 2007-11-23. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  2. ^ "RIAA searchable database". Riaa.com. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  3. ^ Aquemini > Charts & Awards, Allmusic
  4. ^ "OutKast discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  5. ^ a b Conniff, Tamara (July 22, 2006). "Kasting a Wide Net". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  6. ^ http://rapgenius.com/Outkast-spottieottiedopaliscious-lyrics
  7. ^ Aquemini rapreviews quote RapReviews.com.
  8. ^ a b c d Carmichael, Rodney (June 24, 2010). "The Making of OutKast's Aquemini". Creative Loafing. Sharry Smith. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  9. ^ Hughes, Dave (September 29, 2008). "Outkast: Aquemini - Music Review". Slant Magazine.
  10. ^ a b Fernando, S.R. (September 4, 1998). "Aquemini - Album Review". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  11. ^ "CNN.com - Supreme Court allows Rosa Parks to sue OutKast - Dec. 8, 2003". {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) [dead link]
  12. ^ a b Warren, Emma (October 12, 2011). "My favourite album: Aquemini by OutKast". The Guardian. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  13. ^ Miller, 2010. pp. 38-39
  14. ^ a b Hess, p. 462
  15. ^ Wang, 2003. p. 133
  16. ^ a b Sarig, p. 172
  17. ^ a b c Huey, Steve. "Aquemini - Outkast". AllMusic. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  18. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (October 1998). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  19. ^ a b Tyehimba, Cheo (November 6, 1998). "Aquemini (1998) Outkast". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  20. ^ a b c Baker, Soren (September 27, 1998). "Outkast "Aquemini" LaFace/Arista". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  21. ^ a b c d "Outkast - Aquemini CD Album". Q. CD Universe. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  22. ^ a b Fernando Jr., S.H. (September 4, 1998). "Aquemini". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-04-18. Retrieved September 13, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ a b Hughes, Dave (September 29, 2008). "Outkast: Aquemini". Slant Magazine. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  24. ^ a b Green, Tony (December 1998). "Reviews: Outkast - Aquemini". Spin: 178. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  25. ^ a b Jones, Steve (September 29, 1998). Google News Advanced News Archive Search "USA Today review". Retrieved August 18, 2013. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  26. ^ a b Braxton, Charlie (November 1998). "OutKast: Aquemini". The Source. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  27. ^ Michael, Sia (October 27, 1998). "Outkast: Aquemini". The Village Voice. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  28. ^ a b Stelloh, Tim (February 6, 2004). "Outkast: Aquemini". Popmatters. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  29. ^ Rolling Stone (May 31, 2009). "500 Greatest Albums of All Time: #500". Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  30. ^ a b Rolling Stone (April 27, 2011). "100 Best Albums of the Nineties: #11". Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  31. ^ M.T. Richards (August 13, 2013). "The Five Best Atlanta Hip-Hop Albums of All Time". Paste. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  32. ^ Pitchfork Staff (November 17, 2003). "Top 100 Albums of the 1990s". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  33. ^ "The 90 Greatest Albums of the '90s". Spin. Spin Media. September 1999. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  34. ^ "125 Best Albums of the Past 25 Years". Spin. Spin Media. February 15, 2012(from the magazine's 2010 article). Retrieved September 17, 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "Top 101-200 Favourite Albums Ever". Stylus. Todd Burns. March 22, 2004. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  36. ^ "20. Aquemini (1998)". Vibe. Vibe Media. April 18, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  37. ^ a b c d "OutKast: Aquemini". Acclaimed Music. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  38. ^ "The 100 Greatest Rap Albums 1995-2005". Hip-Hop Connection. Infamous Ink. January 2006.
  39. ^ Schmelling, Michael (2009). 33⅓: OutKast's Aquemini. Continuum Books.
  40. ^ "The Ultimate Music Colelection". Q. Bauer Media Group. April 2005.
  41. ^ "Rosa Parks settles suit over OutKast CD". CNN. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  42. ^ Pitchfork Staff (September 3, 2010). "Pitchfork Top 200 Tracks of the 90s". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  43. ^ Odeisel and Outkast (March 27, 2008). "Aquemini: Outkast Takes A Stand!!". AllHipHop. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  44. ^ the University of Michigan. Current Biography Yearbook, Volume 65. H. W. Wilson Company.
  45. ^ "Southern Fried Hip-Hop". Ebony. January 2004. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  46. ^ Wink, Matt (November 29, 2011). "Out from the Dungeon: Aquemini Made Outkast the Pride of the South". Popstache. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  47. ^ Green, Tony (March 1999). "Outkast: Aquemini". Jazz Times. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  48. ^ a b Aquemini (Media notes). LaFace Records. 1998. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help)
  49. ^ "Aquemini – OutKast (Credits)". AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2013.

Bibliography

  • Miller, Kiri, ed. (June 21, 2010). Traveling Home: Sacred Harp Singing and American Pluralism (Music in American Life). University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0252077579.
  • Wang, Oliver, ed. (May 1, 2003). Classic Material: The Hip-Hop Album Guide. ECW Press. ISBN 1-55022-561-8.
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