Day 26, OutKast - ATLiens

Stars: 2.75
Favorite Song: ATLiens, E.T. -> 13th floor Getting Old
Show: 33$

ATLiens is not the freakiest in OutKast’s discography, but it may be deepest. ATLiens was still too young to have their signature eclecticism and playfulness found on Aquemini through The Love Below/Speakerboxxx, but it is a launch pad for that style which has made them so famous. Knowing Aquemini and Stankonia so well, I must say I was a little underwhelmed with ATLiens, but I at least appreciated the OutKast history lesson.

I will argue that this is a much deeper album that any else I have heard by them. Lyrically, you can see Big Boi and Andre beggining to steer away from pimps and ganstas, and falling into discussions on life. This isn’t to say that these two guys from Atlanta didn’t don’t talk about that lifestyle anymore, because that would be a lie; they just approach it with a sense of maturity and retrospect here. Here are two lines from “E.T.”: “We was little nappy headed niggas in the projects, but now they carjacks and wait on income tax and unsafe sex. They get the tecs to flex… no no, not this time. Niggas around my way can rhyme so fuck that country shit.” “Holding on to memories like roller coaster handle bars…I may appear to be your average Joe, but little do you know that even Joe got problems that he gots to joust with.” The production on this track is also uniquely reserved. For one, there are no drums. The beat is inferred from the spoken-word raps and light background melodies.

But let’s be real. ATLiens has still got that Dirty-South mentality. The title track, “ATLiens,” seriously bumps—and it’s got a funny hook, too: “Now throw your hands in the air and wave 'em like you just don't care. And if you like fish and grits and all that pimp shit, then everybody say ‘Oh Yeah-er.’” And their flow is incredible. Andre and Big Boi can fly through syllables and rhymes without anyone blinking an eye. They still have their own distinctive styles, though. Big Boi is faster and a little dirtier, and Andre is a touch more graceful and he can mix his style up.

This album charges out of the gates funky and stylish and then sort of cools off in the middle until it slows down completely with the last two tracks. I like the variety, but the order seems a little top-heavy.