Outkast provides enjoyable twist

By Wes Woods, On-Line Forty-Niner

Tuesday, October 13, 1998

In modern hip hop, Eric B and Rakim, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, Dr. Dre and The Roots have all contributed to smashing what hip hop was supposed to sound like.

Outkast's third CD "Aquemini," like the Fugees "The Score" in 1996, does not quite reach those heights, but it definitely stretches the boundaries of hip hop.

This extremely enjoyable 16-song album by Andre (Dre) Benjamin and Big Boi is not a typical hip hop sounding effort. Even more innovative than their 1996 effort, "Atliens," Outkast provides a twist in today's hip hop musical landscape of materialism and glitz.

They focus on topics such as drug addiction, the importance of appearances in today's society and becoming adults while maintaining their unique "southern-playalistic" style.

The album sticks out musically, utilizing such diverse instruments as acoustic guitars, live drums, percussion, congas and even a harmonica solo.

And, while Dre manages to lyrically up the ante on Big Boi nearly every time, Big Boi still holds his own. When Big Boi comes with "Betta know that, some say we pro-black, but we professional, we missed a lot of church, so the music is our confessional," Dre answers back with "... sin all depends on what you believin' in, faith is what you make it, that's the hardest s*** since MC Ren."

However, "Aquemini, is not one of those albums to throw in the car and just bump.

It is not a witty, punch line type of album. It is a listen and pay attention album. The beats do pound, but overall, the disc is very mellow and overpowering in a layering, melodic swirl rather than a simple, catchy beat.

The seven minute smoothness of "SpottieOttie-Dopaliscious" with catchy horns, live drums, grinding guitar and Dre and Big Boi's spoken word delivery is a mellow and musically rich offering.

The catchy introspective lyrics, keyboard wailing and up-tempo shuffling beat of "Da Art of Storytellin' (Part 1) is fantastic. Among the other songs, the acoustic-guitar driven single "Rosa Parks" and the "Atliens" sounding "Aquemini" are very smooth.

Despite taking more listens than the average album to get into, "Aquemini" is one to be around for a while, both lyrically and musically.