Speakerboxxx/The Love Below(Outkast) (2003):
Quite possibly the last combined work of Andre 3000 and Big Boi, this double opus is split into separate sections so each genius can explore without sharing. Andre’s half, The Love Below, proves what we already know: he’s the eccentric one. Andre juxtaposes obvious influences (Prince, Marvin Gaye, Jimmy Hendrix, Sly Stone) with rather experimental production. It’s a challenge because there’s no Big Boi to balance it out but he doesn’t falter. Spread is deliciously evil, with thundering beats and a falsetto to die for. Hey Ya revels in Beatles-esque energy without sounding self-conscious. She Lives in My Lap seamlessly samples Ghetto Boyz with spoken word from Rosario Dawson. Add the creepy-sounding Dracula’s Wedding and you’re left with one hell of a musical mind-fuck. Big Boi’s half has more conventional hip/hop joints that seem schooled from the track Red Velvet from their Stankonia CD. Any of the following…The Rooster, Ghettomisick and The Way You Move prove my point.
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