"Well, its the Big 300. Back in September of 2002 when I debuted, I honestly didn't think I would get anywhere near being this popular or put out this much work for just one site which pays chump change for it. Personally, I would like to thank all of the Epinions members and non-Epinions members who read my work and supported me since my debut. I truly appreciate it when people actually read my stuff and take it to heart, because a lot of my reviews are loaded with emotion and fire that these so-called "hip-hop magazines" lack. For my 300th, I worked for about three days on this, and am sort of proud with my results. This is probably my most dense review, and anything lower than MH would be a travesty. Cheers...




Every once in a while there is an album which drops in music that penetrates the barrier of generations and is forever looked upon as being a masterpiece in every sense of the word. In the history of music, albums such as Pink Floyd's The Wall, The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, or Michael Jackson's Thriller have been given these accolades. Albums which pushed the imagination of the listener into a world which doesn't exist and will probably only be a realization in the minds of those who are truly deep and listen. No other album in hip-hop history digs into the crevices of your mind other than Outkast's ATLiens, which is beyond just a classic, it is what I call "masterpiece".

Rewind to 1996. Fresh off the heels of the solid debut Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and the hit single "Player's Ball" in 1994, Big Boi and Andre 3000 were bonafied hip-hop superstars. Being one of the few acts from the south who strayed away from ice chains and materialism like the many shallow rappers of our time, we knew that Outkast's sophomore album would be dope. However, it is damn-near impossible to predict that Outkast's second album, ATLiens would be just as good as it is. Featuring in-house production from Andre 3000, as well as Organized Noise, the beats were set to be brilliant even before the album dropped. However, the subject matter alone makes this album a worthy purchase. Big Boi and Andre take a complete U-Turn from their debut, rapping in a completely different style. The word "Introspective" can't even describe what I am talking about here.

Well, I think this idiotic intro has worn out it's welcome. Now, read on and discover why I believe that this is one of the best albums to ever be concieved in music, keeping in mind that my words can't even do it justice...


Track List & Rating

1. You May Die (Intro) (NOT RATED)
2. Two Dope Boyz (In A Cadillac) (5 Stars)
3. ATLiens (5 Stars)
4. Wheelz Of Steel (5 Stars)
5. Jazzy Belle (5 Stars)
6. Elevators (Me & You) (5 Stars)
7. Ova Da Wudz (5 Stars)
8. Babylon (5 Stars)
9. Wailin’ (5 Stars)
10. Mainstream f/ Goodie Mob (5 Stars)
11. Decatur Psalm f/ Cool Breeze, Big Gipp (4 Stars)
12. Millennium (5 Stars)
13. E.T. (Extraterrestrial) (5 Stars)
14. 13th Floor/Growing Old f/ Big Rube (5 Stars)
15. Elevators (ONP 86 remix) (5 Stars)




If you're still a non-believer, a doubter, a closed-minded fuck, then just take ONE listen... just one, at "You May Die (Intro)". Typically, I detest introductory skits because they serve no purpose than to waste time telling us who the artist is, over and over again. No Duh... we bought the fucking CD, I think we know who the artist happens to be. Organized Noise gives us a unique feeling throughout the entire album, but everything is set up perfectly on this intro first. Let me just say this, and I am not overrating or overexaggerating this intro, but its amazing when the music is so beautiful that it has a good chance of bringing you to tears. It's very difficult to describe the actual feel of this, but it honestly feels as if somebody just died when you hear it, and that is the type of album that ATLiens turns into. An album where emotions are sturred not only in the listeners, but the artists performing it themselves. The female who sings on here has one of the most hauntingly beautiful voices I have ever heard, and her eye-opening lyrics are nothing short of thought-provoking: "You can be sure, some will owe to get high, you may hurt till you cry, You may die... (you may die), Keep on trying (keep on trying), Till it's summer, in the city..... Till it's summer, in the city". Honestly, this seems like something that would gut-wrench your heart, and we have yet to even HEAR Big Boi or Andre speak. The guitar and piano mix is nothing short of tear-jerking, reminiscent of classic old, non-hip-hop classics like Phil Collins "In the Air of the Night" or John Lennon's "Imagine". What a startling new revelation! Big D knows more about music than just hip-hop. Unbelievable.

The album truly kicks off with a light-hearted, yet emotional journey back with "Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac)". This song picks up right where Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik left off at, even though we'll soon discover that the album takes a complete U-Turn from that.

Organized Noise give us an immensefully emotional piano loop, harsh drum and clap mix, some nice distorted bass. Atmospheric doesn't even begin to describe how ill this beat is. The nice little distorted sample in the background also adds to the feel of the song. Organized Noise are the most overlooked producers in history and they do a splendid, even genius job on this beat. It draws you in, and suck you like a black hole. Storytelling seems to be the specialty of Outkast on this album, and you can see signs of it here on this song. Granted the rest of the album is more deep and sombre, this song has it's own atmospheric touch that I can't quite put my finger on. Big Boi and Andre spit in such a spirit that makes the song completely untouchable by any in my eyes. Despite the fact that Outkast is headed in a much more thought-provoking, introspective direction, this song is relatively light-hearted lyrically, and contains a lot of the familiar Outkast bounce that long time fans will find nostalic. These lines, spat by "Ice Cold" Andre 3000 pretty much say it all: "This ol sucka MC stepped up to me, Challenged Andre to a battle and I stood there patiently, As he spit and stumbled over cliches, so called, freestylin, Whole purpose just to make me feel low, I guess you whylin, I say look boy, I ain't for that fuck shit; so fcck this, Let me explain on this child style so you don't miss, I grew up to myself not round no park bench, just a nigga bustin flows off in apartments". You have just seen the perfect mixture of braggadiocio rapping and storytelling. Outkast have yet to ever achieve this true spirit of perfection than what we are given with ATLiens.

The title track "ATLiens" soon hits the speakers as the third song, and also serves as the second single from this album, but certainly not the hit song (that comes later). However, I distinctly remember this song getting hordes of radio play circa 1996-1997, and it's actually still played here in Tampa, but only on late nights. The beat is definitely recognizable (self-produced), and if not, then the chorus will INSTANTLY get you to bob your head upon first listen: "Now throw your hands in the airrrrrrr, And wave 'em like you just don't carrrrrre, And if you like fish and grits and all that pimp shit, then everybody say O-Yea-yerrrrrr". In my opinion, this is THE greatest hook in hip-hop history. Now, as for the song itself, it's quite genius. You would probably think that they would drop a simple, up-tempo, abstract single like "Hey Ya" or "B.O.B.", or perhaps a more laid-back, pimpish single like "The Way You Move" or "Player's Ball". Nope, its neither.

Big Boi and Andre 3000 drop a single that doesn't even need to be a single, but is unbelievable. The song not only has the catchy hook and beautiful beat, but honest, through-provoking subject matter, underlining messages, AND dope lyrics. Outlast absolutely REFUSE to fall prey to the bling bling mentality of all of these other southern rappers like Master P and anybody in Cash Money. I simply LOVE all of the little messages and tidbits put in the lyrics, as it appears that Andre and Big Boi are taking completely wide-open shots at commercial rap. With bars like this, you'll soon be right behind Outkast in journeying into a world where materialistic hip-hop and gangsta rap doesn't even exist: "...the job of speakin through us we be so sincere with this here, No drugs or alcohol so I can get the signal clear, as day, put my glock away I got a stronger weapon, that never runs out of ammunition so I'm ready for war okay". Genius... Simply Genius...

Now that we've gotten past all of the up-tempo, radio-friendly joints, I think it's time we get to the true heart and lungs of ATLiens. This area is basically an incredible assembly of honest storytelling, emotional travels, and thought-provoking tales of every single kind of human emotion that is theoretically possible. You honestly have no clue how good it is until you actually hear it, and listening to "Wheelz of Steel" is a perfect way to kick it off.

Now, don't be fooled by the title. This song is far different than anything related to "rims" or "20 inch sprewells". Right away, the beat will crasp you as it is wildly simplistic and really has a lack of melody, right until the song kicks into high gear. From then on, you'll hear an assortment of melodic guitar, background synthesizers, and thumping drum and bass accompaniment. The scratch sessions are a throwback to old-school hip-hop, as once again it becomes apparent that 1996 was "the year of the classics" (that and 94). Lyrically, the song excells with the same kind of storytelling that I mentioned earlier in the review. Instead of sticking to one kind of subject though, Outkast decide to flip around various different topics from religion, to loyalty, to sexually transmitted, to the history of growing up and becoming a rapper. Outkast mainly raps about the problems with the world, with one underlining message. To me, that message is maturity. Andre 3000 and Big Boi rap about the transition from their bouncy debut to ATLiens and how they have matured greatly. Besides those little underlining messages, the music itself is fun to listen to and definitely bouncy.

"Jazzy Belle" is the first song that actually has a set subject matter, and is a hip-hop classic in every sense of the word (and also the third single). It's pretty amazing that we see just about every single kind of song or subject matter imaginable on this album, but this song covers two subjects quite well in the traditional "extended metaphor" fashion. Taking a page from Common Sense's "I Used to Love H.E.R.", we get a nice little track comparing hip-hop music to a female who is unpredictable, and is slowly turning into something terrible. I sort of loved how both Andre and Big Boi drop little clues about what it is they are actually rapping about, without actually giving out what it is: "When they can let they throw em, down from hitchikin and bitin' niggas until the temple they call the body, now everybody got it,. Had it, talked about it amongst they friends, Comin around my crew lookin Jazzy, wanna pretend. It's these kind of eye-opening, throught-provoking lyrics that are seen throughout ATLiens, and one of the very things that separates it from any of Outkast's other work, and maybe even any other album in music. The other major thing that separates this is the beats, specifically this one. Many fans are accustomed to Outkast's familiar P-funk style and find it as sort of a surprise that this album doesn't have the same fast-paced feel to it. Well that's where the beauty of it is. Specifically on this song, the soft drum and clap mix, with light southern bass, and guitars sets the sombre, yet sublime mood for the song. The background vocals are as haunting as those found on the intro, and provide yet another atmosphere to an already classic song.

The lead-single from this album is also Outkast's big hit from this album. "Elevators (Me and You)" is a song that many hip-hop heads should recognize instantly because of how much praise it has gotten not only on this site, but everywhere else. The song's subject matter, though simple enough, has enough twists and turns to keep the song fresh despite its numerous new-aged clones. Big Boi and Andre spit about coming up in the rap game, basically telling their story. We get a very comic-bookish journey, not unlike their familiar album-cover, which storytells their hardships to a key, as well as the good moments that they had as well as their reaction. The jaw-droppingly catchy chorus "Me, and you, yo' momma and yo' cou-sin too..." will have everybody who listens to this singing along. However, despite the catchy chorus, it's the powerful lyrics and well-written compositions that truly makes this a classic. The smoothness of Outkast's music has never been this ill, and words simply can't describe it. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. The beat, in case in someway you haven't heard it yet, is unbelievable. A soft bass-driven beat with a haunting clap, mixed with echo, some guitar flicks and low-key keyboard set the tone. But it's the melody, which simply can't be explained on paper, that make it so good.

The up-tempo "Ova Da Wudz" finds Outkast, once again, dropping a different, more varied subject matter. This time, Outkast spit about the evils of record companies, and the state of hip-hop and how getting signed is so difficult. One of the things that Outkast is rarely noted for is their use of metaphors in their rhymes. They've got tons of them and sometimes you'd have to listen to a song repeatedly to catch them. Granted that Outkast isn't on the same lyrical level as others who drop consistent metaphors every 3 bars, they still manage to stay on the subject matter in their own, unique way. This, in my opinion, is simply brilliant, as you can see in Big Boi's metaphoric line here: "There's some hoes in this house, damn right, I'm thinkin about the way you skull me, guzz me, Suckin me dry like deserts Mojave, Gotti, hotties and honeydips, Likin the way you do me, screw me it make my money flip". Big Boi is rapping about what the record industry seemingly does in metaphoric fashion, but he never actually says that, which is the beauty of it. The industry "screws" him, and only a moronic fan would think that he was rapping about a girl.

"Babylon" is one of the most haunting songs that I have ever heard during my tenure as a music fan.

This song basically revolves around self-acceptance, as Dre and Big Boi storytell about various moments in his past and how he most likely wasn't raised perfect, but it still a firm believer in religion. With unbelievably memorable lines like: "I'm fascinated by the way yo nipples peak at me through yo blouse, freaky me, freaky you can't help but be aroused, excuse me Lord less for thinkin, but that's the way we was brought up, sneakin to watch playboy at night, we all must be caught up in worldly ways". That right there shows exactly what I'm talking about with this album. Things that we all think in the backs of our minds (well at least me), are finally being unleashed on wax. It's Andre 3000 who also drops, unarguably, the most haunting verse in his career on his track, rapping something that my words simply can't describe, so I will paste it: ""I came into this world high as a bird, from secondhand cocaine powder, I know it sounds absurd, I never tooted but its in my veins, While the rest of the country bungies off bridges without no snap back and bitches they say they need that to shake they fannies in the ass clubs, they go the other route, turn each other out, burn each other out, Where a bonified nigga like me can't even get no back rub these days, Ain't that bleak on they part, But let me hold it down cause they shut you down when you speak from your heart, Now that's hard, while we rantin and ravin bout gats, niggc they made them gats, They got some shit that'll blow out our backs, from where they stay at...". As for Big Boi, well he's classic on here as well, dedicating his verse to his aunt Rene, whom he was close to, whom had passed away right before the release of this album. One of the beautiful things about ATLiens is that when you listen to it, you can live vicariously through Outkast and not even have to worry about your own life, despite the fact that a huge chunk of the album revolves around life's problems. Again, these are the kind of things that make an album go beyond classic status and become an all-time masterpiece.

The state of hip-hop music from Outkast's point of view is examined much more thoughroughly on "Mainstream". The Dungeon Family unites here as Outkast teams with Goodie Mob to give us an incredible collaboration. This song is probably the closest that you will get to P-Funk here, as the uptempo guitar flicks and pianos meld together to provide a very southern melody, but not southern enough to allow you to "get krunk". The lyrics here are incredibly eye-opening, and both groups succeed in dropping memorable rhymes about the state of mainstream hip-hop, and how it is judged too highly on clothes and image than on music. These ideals are still the same today, only these days the music is just as terrible as anything else, including the self-esteem of the rappers who drop these so-called "hits". Many have always considered ATLiens to be ahead of it's time, and it's songs like these that further set that notion on lock.

When you think about it from a naysayer's perspective, one would believe that even with an album as good as Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik happened to be, it was virtually impossible for any group, much less a southern act, to go so far beyond it that it felt like lightyears passed. Outkast did it on ATLiens. This album is far-cry from anything else we have ever heard from Outkast, and maybe from anybody else in hip-hop. The ONLY song on here that isn't 5 Stars is "Decatur Psalm", and that's ONLY because of the halfway annoying guest appearance from Cool Breeze. Sorry to say, but his voice absolutely does NOT fit with Outkast at all.

ATLiens gets rolling once again with "Millenium", the next classic. It's songs like this which make this album as eclectic as possible, making Outkast the Pink Floyd of hip-hop. There is no feeling similar than laying back in a dark room and playing this album, and songs like this in particular and just spacing out and being taken to worlds beyond those that a mere spaceship can reach. Nobody can truly understand except for a select few, to be honest. But anyways, yeah, the song is ill. We get an up-tempo, bass-driven track which serves as only a melodic beat, allowing the lyrics themselves to be powerful. Similar to a spoken-word track, we find both members of Outkast straying away from a set subject matter, and just dump out their emotions. One truly memorable part comes from Big Boi as he expresses the stereotypes placed on African-Americans through his view: "For sellin your crack in sacks, I'm glad I'm white not black, shit, on the real, that's how them whiteys really act, When your back was turned, them slackers learned and now we fallin apart, You lookin me in my eye, but you ain't feelin me in your heart". Andre's singing of the background vocals and hook basically round out the track as being yet another classic that Outkast can add to their repertoire.

The next joint "E.T. (Extraterrestrial)" is unique not just for its eye-opening lyrics, but for the incredibly unique musical vision here. The beat is composed of rather unique sounds which many will be creeped out by. The sound of heavy breathing in the background is sort of unearthly, and the melodic guitar flicks make the song a different listen than almost anything on the album. Well, come to think about it, every single song is a unique and different listen here. It's sort of strange because the sounds of the heavy breathing is basically what replaces the drum loop, which this track is basically void of. Honestly, the production itself is "out of this world", pun intended. Subject Matter-wise, we once again find creativity is of the utmost importance to Big Boi and Andre. This song revolves around being "alienated" (pun intended again) in life and being separated from the croud. The extended metaphor found here is simply beautiful, considering those who are alienated so different that they are referre to as extraterrestrial. However, the beautiful thing about the song is that Outkast embraces being alienated in every way possible and encourages others to follow suit. The song has a huge amoung of different meanings all revolving around being different. Being different people. Releasing different music. Being stereotyped as "different people" or "different artist", it's seemingly all covered here in just two verses.

"13th Floor / Growing Old" is the grand finale of ATLiens, and is a classic in every sense of the word. Firstly, the song is opened by Big Rube who spits spoken word poetry over a haunting piano melody, which basically sets the song up for Big Boi and Andre to spit. Once you hear a TLC-sounding chick sing "The memories of yesterday", and the familiar scratching, you know you are entering the final stretch of a musical journey which almost nothing can compare to. This song, well, I simply cannot describe it, it's too difficult. Driven by an ungodly piano loop, it's the poetry that truly brings tears to your eyes and emotions to your hearts.

One of the things that we as humans fear the most is growing old and withering away, then eventually dying, not knowing what awaits for us after we die. Many religions praise life after death, but an open-minded individual would always fear the possibility that religion is incorrect and we just die and are forgotten in the annals of time. This song addresses the issue in one of the most indirect way possible. It sort of seems like Outkast speaks to you without truly speaking to you. Outkast rap about growing up from being an idiotic youth, to eventually getting old (which they have yet to do), and pass, yet only really mention the meaning that I pulled from it in metaphors. Outkast basically drops the grim reality that growing old and dying is inevitable, and sort of eases your mind in telling you that you're not alone and that it will happen, and when it does, you will feel better. The song is basically just a storyline, which serves as so much more. Once again, I have to stress how much of a masterpiece this song is. The lyrics, the beat, the chorus, are all sublime and it's difficult to find a song as perfect as this. The song closes out with a thought-provoking and unforgettable line, which will probably be stuck with me until the day I die:

"Trees bright and green turn yellow brown
Autumn caught em, see all them leaves must fall down, growin old..."

ATLiens comes to a close with "Elevators (ONP 86 remix)", which features a much bouncier beat, and slightly different lyrics. Yeah, it's classic, no need for an explanation.

As painfully long as this review is, I still don't feel like I have done ATLiens justice as an album. Perhaps it's for the simple fact that the album emmits brain patterns that we don't fully understand as humans and can barely put down on paper. I'm sure that right now there is some idiot saying "It's not thaaat good you fool, Aquemini is better!!" Granted that album was a classic in its own right, it simply cannot touch the sheer brilliance found on ATLiens. It honestly appears as if Outkast was blessed from some sort of higher power to create one of the best albums in history. Every song has a meaning. Every beat has it's own feel. Every lyric is powerful and serves a purpose. This album is incredibly heavy and deep, and if you don't like that, then you shouldn't get this at all, or be a fan of Outkast whatsoever. A group who absolutely refuses to be "normal" in a world where being "normal" sells records and gets you rich, they STILL do it.

Outkast would go on to drop Aquemini, which would garner them a single in the top of the charts, as well as a hit BET and MTV video. In 2000, Big Boi and Andre dropped Stankonia, which earned them two grammies and skyrocketed their profit. Just a few months ago, Outkast won a grammy for "Best Album" for Speakerboxx / The Love Below, which is a great moment for hip-hop because it's only the second time a hip-hop album took this award (Lauryn Hill did it first, of course). Personally however, I don't give a damn. In my heart and in the heart of others, ATLiens will forever be Outkast's masterpiece and most perfect album, and one of the most perfect collections of songs in the history of music... period.

5 Stars

















Other Outkast Releases:

Outkast - Aquemini

Outkast - Stankonia

Outkast - Speakerboxx / The Love Below



Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Going to Sleep