While legions of children will be donning their best costumes on October 31 for Halloween next month, OutKast will be delivering another kind of treat: A 25th anniversary deluxe reissue of their fourth album, Stankonia.
The highly celebrated LP cemented members Big Boi and André 3000 as hip-hop’s official mad scientists, as they combined a hodgepodge of sounds and influences, like blues, gospel, rave, and funk.
Stankonia was also the follow-up to 1998’s Aquemini, the album that showed the Atlanta duo leaning into their respective group roles — Big Boi being the wise, space-aged, street prophet, and Andre the eclectic poet, who seemed to travel to other dimensions in between albums and head straight to the studio upon his return.
Bonus Tracks And Artwork
So, to celebrate Stankonia‘s anniversary, the reissue will include three vinyl records, new artwork crafted by André 3000, and a gatefold album cover. Never-before-seen photos from Stankonia’s promotional days, and a glow-in-the-dark poster will also be included.
Plus, some bonus tracks will be added: “Speed Ballin’,” which was first heard on the 2001 soundtrack for the action film, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, “Sole Sunday,” featuring the Goodie Mob, and remixes of Stankonia‘s first single, “B.O.B.”
The anniversary edition will be ready for purchase on October 31, but fans can preorder it now and begin buying specially-made merchandise starting on October 2.
OutKast Wanted To Rebel Against Rap Norms In 2000
Without question, some Stankonia songs are now considered OutKast staples, such as “Ms. Jackson” and “B.O.B.” But in a 2001 interview, André said he had no idea how the music would be received, since it was way outside of rap’s musical norms at the time.
It was clear in that conversation that he and Big Boi felt rap had reached a place of overcommercialization and creativity had reached a low point.
“Something is going to have to happen … because right now I feel, like, personally, it’s kind of like at a real commercial state,” Anrdré told Australian radio host Rosie Beaton on the station Triple J.
“Something new gotta come, though, something to get it back to the heart,” he added. “We knew we wanted this sound to be like a rebel sound … We wanted to be kind of like rebellion against what hip-hop was doing at the time. That’s why I think the album sounds so different from what was going on.”
The Stankonia reissue will be released on Legacy Recordings, and preorders can be purchased on their website.
Source: Triple J via ABC.Net
