Why Outkast's Debut Album Started a Southern Revolution in Rap | 1994 Hip Hop Series

In this KZbin exclusive series, Bomani Jones looks back at the year of Hip Hop in 1994, which is considered by some to be one of the greatest years for rap music. In this episode, Bomani breaks down the debut album from Outkast, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. What made this album so good and how did it kick start a southern revolution in hip hop? Bomani also asks the question of where Outkast stands in terms of great rap groups all time and where this album stands in terms of legacy. #outkast #outkastalbums #southerplayalisticadillacmuzik
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[@marckristian81]

Atlanta born and raised. Yall have no idea how it felt to watch the city's music scene change from Miami bass style to what Outkast brought to the table. When they popped up on Martin!?! We were head over heels.

[@bdub4899]

Bro was down there went to school in the 90s and saw it change I remember when v103 wasn’t even a hip hop station I’m from LA and was dying to get back home to listen to some hip hop on radio outlast did change the south forever

[@marckristian81]

@bdub4899 big facts, V103 was straight R&B and in 95 we finally got 97.5 that played free styles from local rappers like DA Brat in the beginning because they didn't have that many commercials.

[@twilitezn]

@@bdub4899WORD??? Me too!!! I used to work at the Domino’s down by Fair/Ashby (I stayed over on Westview)….when I came up to ATL from Tampa, I was struck by how much ATL’s sound was similar to Miami’s (shout out to DJ Smurf!) ….when Goodie Mob dropped…everybody’s ears perked up…but when OutKast’s dropped….HOOOOOOTieHOOOOOOO….!!!!! That album TRANSFORMED ATL…!!! On a side note….i remember EXACTLY where I was when I found out that ATLiens dropped : I was walking up Ashby to go to the Kroger down Cascade for a late night run (Arden’s Garden Juices baby!) and was JUST going under the overpass going towards the little side mall before cascade…. …and THEN the opening bassline from “Two Dope Boyz in a Cadillac” kicked in…. ….and I froze…SO excited and didn’t move until the fourth track kicked in….i went to the mall early next morning and snatched that up!

[@lowkey6597]

You listen to that booty shake music in your trunk as long as there's that tick tick followed by the that bump 😂😂😂

[@marckristian81]

@@lowkey6597 aggins in the south wear gold teeth and gold chains been doing it for years so these aggins aint gone change.

[@erichellyeah]

When Bo gets in his OutKast bag, I could listen all day.

[@gamalielyoung8182]

you can listen to that album today 2024

[@Uredsun1]

I just listened to it....an hour ago😊 brought me back to '94 middle school days

[@blackice3395]

Outkast, best group to ever do it and it's not even close!

[@jamesbat09]

This is the show Bo shoulda pitched to HBO, this is FIRE 🔥

[@jarrellmason9080]

I can listen to him and Spencer (Bo solo) do music talk all day. The B Side with Bomani Jones.

[@AllenInRealLife]

FACTS

[@AficionadoOfArt]

The White Owls…… Are burnin sloooooooooow

[@AficionadoOfArt]

Chonkyfire is going to be here in history…….Em did that on the Westwood freestyle………

[@antgal9467]

RIP Ricco Wade! I tried to show my nephews the The Art of Organized Noize documentary when he passed but can't find it on Netflix anymore.

[@jarrellmason9080]

That was a dope doc. Sucks I never got to see them live but the closest I got was seeing Big Boi (He brought Sleepy Brown with him) on The F.O.R.C.E. Tour last year

[@treyparker3775]

This album put Atlanta in the map for the whole world to know

[@brandonwintpoetry]

Glad that they carved out space to let Bomani talk about music in this way.

[@bradross3586]

For sure. I became a fan after he was consistently doing music stuff. So to see it now is gratifying

[@Trey_swindu]

Co-sign! Bo really lights up in such a positive way when talking about music!

[@carlosjones6126]

I have a 22 year old daughter. Just this morning she told me she was listening to SouthernPlayalistic on her run this morning,

[@Hold_on_now_playa]

Good job pops you did her right

[@antoniowelch105]

Yes being from Atlanta this was the first album that actually felt like Atlanta for sure.

[@polodaron]

illmatic, the chronic, southernplayalistic all three iconic albums for the their regions

[@Platform_Tha_God]

Add " Me Against the World "

[@taronneal7645]

I had the cassette single of Players Ball that still had all the Christmas references left in. Crumblin Erb is my favorite joint too! Classic!

[@aubrey44]

We Can't Be Stopped - Geto Boys in 1991 is the album that opened up world to the South.. Southernplayalistic really just reopened our eyes to Atl..

[@zztv15]

Right

[@leonardbrothers1012]

I'm originally from Connecticut, so until this album came out everything I was into was East Coast Hip Hop. This was the first Southern Rap group I became a fan of, and this is the first Southern Rap album I ever bought (I was 14 at the time). I've been a huge fan ever since!!!

[@sebeku2]

Playa's Ball Reprise Remix is the classic till this day

[@tfam1148]

94 is the top 3 if not the best year of rap. OutKast first album was ground breaking! Way ahead of its time! All of the tracks were 🔥

[@sterlingcunningham2399]

96 gotta be up there too. It was Written, All Eyez on Me and Reasonable Doubt all dropped that year

[@tfam1148]

@sterlingcunningham2399 96 is definitely top 5. All of those albums you mentioned are still in my Playlist today!

[@tri3pleagent]

OutKast is my favorite duo of all time. Those first three albums had voodoo in the mix...something you couldn't quite figure out but loved.

[@hou-tanclan7612]

So what about Stankonia?? That shit classic. They have straight classics

[@King_Grizzly]

The first of 3 straight classics from OutKast.

[@hou-tanclan7612]

You mean 5 straight classics

[@ajgrand]

I remember we were going on vacation to Florida and before we left my cousin bought this tape. We sat in the back of the van and listen to this the whole way to Florida and back. I had never heard of OutKast. I learned that entire tape. Afterwards they were battling with waiting as my favorite group around that time

[@smokeyedwards6637]

This is how good it was. This was the 1st CD my mom bought me. Out of all that was out at that time my mom randomly picked this up 4 me. And when I asked her what made her pick this one she said that old school beat on that one song made her get it.💯 WE ALL SHOULD KNOW WHAT SONG IM TALKING ABOUT 💯💪🏾💪🏾

[@J.B.Whiteside]

🎵All the players came from far and wide Wearin' afros and braids, kickin' them gangsta rides Now I'm here to tell you there's a better day When the player's ball is happenin', all day ery'day🎵 My Grandfather loved that and he hated Hip Hop in general

[@medesrevenge9192]

Born and raised in the Washington DC metro area. Was residing in the South (one state over) when Outkast and Goodie Mobb dropped and gained traction. Even got a chance to see em perform after they dropped ATLiens. To witness the Southern hip hop explosion in Atlanta was something special.........

[@kingcaesar88]

As someone who is 35 and outside of the major Southern cities, I've always viewed Aquemini and 400 Degreez as the "Southern Takeover." This was a great explanation into the insight of someone who was a bit older from the era. It makes sense why this album was so big.

[@nolabrooks9906]

No way! Dre speaking the truth into existence at The Source Awards, but ATLiens and Goodie’s Soul Food & Dirty South was the start of the takeover to me. Now 400 Degreez introduced the bling, stunting era, but we have to pay homage to The Godfather Scarface / Geto Boys, 8Ball & MJG & UGK

[@kenstevens7855]

I agree. Those were the first two Southern rap albums that truly got equal play throughout the US. Prior to that, Outkast/Goodie Mob/Ball & G/UGK/Scarface/No Limit all got a lot of play outside their region but I'd say it was 75-80% of the play it got in the South. Those two were just as big everywhere. From my perspective there were four era's that preceded the South being the leading region in hip-hop. The Pre-historic Era (1980-1986), The Booty Era (1987-1992), The Ascent (1993 - 1997), & The Mainstream Era (1998 - 2003). Whether the "beginning of the takeover" started during the Ascent or the Mainstream Era is debatable, but it's pretty much agred upon that by 2004 the South had the game on lock.

[@shyguy1630]

That was the first time as a teen that music really meant something to me. I remember being a teenager and when that whole nyc migration happen to Atlanta around the Olympics in Atlanta. No one could deny OutKast dope. And Atlanta became a real place for hip hop. I love that album.

[@karlmcduffie2992]

Houston, Atlanta, New Orleans and Miami bass and sexploitation solidified the south undeniable influence and presence still to this day. I heard J Prince say one time East & West Coast was the bread the South is the meat....💯

[@vontesantos5981]

@karlmcduffie2992 Memphis you can't leave out that 901 hell even Dallas playa fly ganxta pat tela 8 ball mjg triple 6 mafia tommy wright kingpin skinny pimp project playas dj squeeky al kapone pimpsta d.o.c. kotton mouth big chief nemesis etc

[@karlmcduffie2992]

@@vontesantos5981 yeah can't forget about Memphis pioneers of the get crunk music and other styles that resonates in Rap & Hip Hop movement....the south as a whole is a beast...

[@MADELAW118]

​@@vontesantos5981 I totally agree with you but I think he's talkin bout bass music aka booty music. Memphis wasn't known for that

[@vontesantos5981]

@@MADELAW118 Memphis got some hard producers though dj Paul juicy j drumma boy & jazze phae & I was responding to buddy who was naming cities that put on for the south not the clip bra

[@jasonhurley2396]

OutKast made the rest of the country understand that Atlanta is the Capital for black people. I live in the Bay and we recognized their talent. As JT The Bigga Figga says “Game recognize Game!”. Shout out to to Mac Mall.

[@sebeku2]

With OutKast, not one album sounds like the other...making them the Greatest rap group of all time

[@jwade4514]

This album was and still is amazing. Ain't No Thang is criminally underrated

[@brejackal]

Senior year, Skipping to go to Greenbriar to buy the CD, and slow riding back jamming Players Ball…Memories

[@stangraham3079]

Funky Ride hit so hard.

[@wt7553]

Back in 1994, I was a senior in high school in NC. I was with some friends at a barber shop with Rap City on the TV when I heard Players Ball for the first time. There was a buzz about it. Everyone was hyped about that song. Had no idea they were barely a year older than me.

[@fanonk]

The comment "I'm just going to go where you take me." is 100% on point and like you said they did that their whole career. In a strange way it reminds me of the Steve Jobs quote in his biography "Our customers don't know what they want...we'll tell them."

[@gmoney6to10]

We listened to this cd on a school trip in our van because our teachers couldn't find a station to listen too. And they were cool with it, kinda.

[@chrisgilyard1]

Crumblin erb was my favorite and first time I smoked 😤🌲🪴⛽️ and funky ride

[@brandonjohnson3189]

Very good breakdown of this album. If I had some trees I would play Crumblin Erb right now. Reminds me of being shotgun in my homeboy's Cutlass.

[@jamesbat09]

His point about Southernplayalysticcadillac is very true, go listen to that song with the same name as the album and I dare you to tell me which one is Dre and Big Boi, their voices are interchangeable

[@PsychedelicLiterature]

For someone like me who is probably the least hip-hop person on the planet, your knowledge and insight continue to make you someone to whom I will listen and learn even when I’m not interested in the topic or don’t agree with your take because your unique perspective and use of the empirical always produce worthwhile ideas.

[@tfive24]

I went to the same high school as them, but they graduated a few years before, I got there. I remember listening to ATliens in my school library.

[@AllenInRealLife]

This was excellent. Thank you Bo. A couple things to add is Sleepy Brown's father was in a funk band. They were influenced by that and the NY hip-hop sound. Also, this album was kinda like a Dungeon Family album. Everyone was on it. Outkast got the deal with Laface but they used them to get Goodie MOB a deal too.

[@Stretch79]

I bought this from Columbia house '94 (I was 14) for a penny. I got all 10 Led Zeppelin studio albums.....and this album. The day they all came in, this was the first cd I popped in and instantly knew this was different

[@perfectlydeep79]

Bruh, this is the album hit so different. I was into rap and hip hop before it. But this is the album that made me fall in love with it in a way no album before it ever had. Felt every word of your review. From 1 Houston Jones boy to another much love. Keep this up Fam

[@fexcab]

Outkast>Beatles 😎🫡

[@sirjer73]

I love respect the Kast, but come on homie.😅

[@BraMoore]

Duh

[@6ft2220beast]

This is 🍎 n oranges 🍊

[@SocialLifeAvl]

94, I was a junior in HS. This album changed my life trajectory. Freshmen year of college, ATLien dropped. Life was good. Amazing review Bo!

[@bessie1384]

The album that shifted the culture in Atlanta. I'm from East Point, so hearing my hometown shouted out on "Ain't No Thang" sent me to the moon! It hits different when you know the streets and landmarks they are referencing. Shout out to 89.3 & 88.5 for being the first stations to play this album. Also, to Arnell Starr (American Music Makers/Planet Rock) for playing the videos. May he and Rico Wade Rest In Peace. Aquemini is my favorite, but when I want the feeling of Old Atlanta, this is the one I play.

[@richardnyahoe8172]

Greatest Hip Hop group of all time!!! If if ands or buts. 💯

[@KWTX22]

Not even the greatest hip hop group from the South.

[@nickjones3860]

@@KWTX22who?

[@zofree08]

💯

[@chopin1975-tq3gx]

brockhampton is better

[@KWTX22]

@nickjones3860 UGK is better than Outkast. I'm taking Ball and MJG over Kast too

[@XavierCoolDude]

Jesus Bomani knows his shit. OutKast came out in 94 when I was 16. Players Ball was incredible but being from South Jersey, they didn’t get alot of radio play up here but you could tell they were dope. Once Elavatorz came out 2 years later is when I realized how incredible and innovative they were. Just like Bo, OutKast the genesis of a movement of Southern hip hop. Southern.. is a classic in every sense. Imo they are the greatest hip hop group.

[@GeedyP]

I’m from New Orleans I love the way you explain this

[@dricjackson4902]

Southernplayalisticcadillacmusic was the soundtrack to my freshman year of college.

[@creamabdul-jabbar]

i have this record sitting on the turntable rn by chance, serendipitous

[@79optik]

I'm from Brooklyn. When they dropped in 94 I was the only person that I knew listening to them. One of my people said "you like that pimp shit?" Lol I was like "those are emcees".

[@TheeTwanSolo]

I got my first Rap/Hip-Hop cassette in 1985 at 7 years old. It was a compilation album called "Street Rap" with everyone from UTFO, Run DMC to Whodini, and I've been hooked since. Being born and raised in Kentucky, I listened to every region of hip hop music. Because I'm from the top of the south and country, southern rappers resonated with me more. 8ball & MJG, Geto Boyz, UGK, and so on were and still are my groups, but when that Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik dropped, it changed the game. That's when the southern flood gates opened. I still heavily listen to all regions of hip hop in the US but the southern shit is my heart. I'm forever grateful for all dope MCs and Outkast, specifically, for being the ones to help make it dope to be from somewhere besides the east coast or the west coast.

[@BashayG7175]

As a 13 year old high school freshman in 96, my first experience with Outkast was the Atliens album, and it blew my mind. I've been a fan ever since

[@kariob3428]

Bo is really in his bag on this one! It’s honestly hard to explain how important this album was to hip hop and was the origin of the greatest group in the history of the genre of my lifetime. I still remember the first time hearing this album and it shook up my sensibilities. Still remember ATLiens and Beats Rhymes and Life dropping the same time and for me that was the passing of the torch. Then to follow that up with their magnum opus in Aquemini and I knew I was living in a historic stretch. More heat followed and those men ascended to the mountain top!

[@willis7404]

It’s been amazing as someone just under 30 who wasn’t alive during OutKast’s come up but getting the chance to truly discovery OutKast. Living in Atlanta of course I’ve listened to OutKast, but a couple years ago I truly listened. I sat back with a speaker in the backyard and played Southernplayalisticaddilacmuzik no skips. I really love EarthGang but there will never be another OutKast

[@guttarich10]

That album changed everything 🥃

[@bhubb4u]

Being at a HBCU when this dropped! At Gram....everyone cars and dorms was bumping this. I went to Denver over the summer to visit a friend. Her Pops was bumping this in his El Camino. That when I knew Kas was different.

[@jazzbase412]

You broke that shit down! Totally agree with all of your points.

[@tues.and.thurs.podcast]

This entire assessment was SPOT ON!!!

[@michaelb3927]

Big Boi is the most underrated rapper in the world! His style is like no other… they’re both funky as hell, smart, authentically southern sound

[@liddell437]

Can’t have Dre in top 3 and big boi not be in top 10 that shit don’t sit right with me

[@josephterrell2835]

love this album so much man. and it took the coastal domination of hip hop and put the south on the map in a monster way.

[@BiGGCaiN24]

OutKast style was birthed from Souls of Mischief outta Oakland. Rico Wade said that in an interview and once I heard that I can hear the style all over OutKast stuff.

[@kenstevens7855]

I always thought their mannerisms and style were similar in this time period. I think that's why although this album is a classic it doesn't feel as "authentic" as their other albums. It feels like they were finding themselves at the time and were more influenced by what was popping (whether it was local influences or music industry influence) versus true self expression. Now, they had their moments of self reflection and commentary, I'm not saying it wasn't there. But I do feel like most 19 year olds, they still were learning who they were. Most artists first album have this very same issue.

[@regomoditswemolai5168]

I thought they were influenced by A tribe called Quest

[@isaiah9750]

One of my all time favorite albums 🔥

[@pricedalegend]

my favorite Hip Hop Album ever....white boy from Indiana.

[@josephterrell2835]

that chronic comp is A1 and it is because these dudes were legit musicians with professional skills in production that allowed the true spirit of a region to shine though.

[@commoncentz3148]

The 1994 Source Awards is the one that kicked everything off between East and West. OutKast was caught in the middle of it in the 1995 Source Awards.

[@OKG1979]

As a kid from Oklahoma with deep south roots (Georgia and Florida). I watched the whole hip hop evaluation timeline. Loved LL and Slick Rick, then 2Live crew and Geto Boyz, Then Cube and Snoop, so when Kast dropped it felt like home bass of the South, soul of the South, but you could hear the west and east influence. Southernplayalistic is a magnum opus

[@michaelb3927]

Bo you already had my respect 🫡 but dropping this appreciation video? You go up several notches!! I’ve lived in/around Atlanta for 30 years they were the first “new” artists I got into! Pac, Big, and Bone were already established and I was a couple albums behind but bc of SoSo Def Bass Allstars (produced by Lil Jon) and soon followed Southernplayalistic______ were the first debut rap album I had ever heard… playas ball was on a Christmas Album L.A. Reid was pushing! Why it begins with sleigh bells and “it’s beginning to look a lot like “

[@thuglifeinc4894]

Eagerly waiting for the Super Tight... video.

[@shawnwalker816]

Crazy I saw pac and outkast at freaknik in 94!! Great time in my life😊

[@martingroceryservice4421]

Man, let me tell you something. This album raised me. Hooked automatically. It felt like Atlanta was being explained on this album

[@justinwinston9929]

I can’t tell you the amount of rotation this album received from me. Some new rappers should use this album as a case study on how to lyrically paint a picture of your life, your surroundings, your city, your struggles, and celebrations at that time.

[@sebeku2]

Sleepy Brown's dad was in Brick ...he was molded by the funk ..birthed in the funk

[@AficionadoOfArt]

Love Bomani!!!!!!!!!!!

[@shedrickturner7758]

Excellent breakdown and commentary in this album, it’s one of my all time favorites

[@A.ChristopherJohnson]

Outkast do they thang !!!

[@Trey_swindu]

Yeah that Laface Christmas album version of Players Ball was hilarious

[@petepuma6483]

EXCELLENT! Break down of this C.L.A.S.S.I.C. album, like he said the WHOLE project is a vibe that the live instrumentation locks you in for the..... FUNKY RIDE 😉. EASILY in my top 10 of all time lyrically it's a clinic on style, substance & delivery. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙

[@OKG1979]

Bomani I feel u my whole family lives in the A, I knew it all

[@garybrown5391]

This album hit when I was in high school, and we lost our minds. Being from FL, there were no artists at the time who looked and spoke like we did, so they were like fresh air.

[@chrisrhodes2]

Hootie Hooooo 🔥

[@TheDistrict2380]

All FACTS! Greatest Rap Duo EVER!

[@chrisrhodes2]

Outkast criminally underrated. So many dudes only appreciate street rap and brush off any rappers talking about grown man stuff or having poetic lyrics.

[@prof3ssor178]

The title to this video I agree 💯!

[@Domo-yo4pz]

Been waiting for years for u to break down how u felt about this album with some extended time... 🎉🎉🎉 thanks

[@korbymarks]

I enjoyed this.

[@dominicharriott9771]

NEED MORE OF THESE LOVE IT. AND YOU GOTTA DO MORE WITH SPENCER. I REALLY ENJOY YOUR MUSIC BREAKDOWNS

[@reggiemiller1176]

Greatest rap duo of all time

[@jus3278]

Crumblin Herb is also my favorite record on the album. Great taste Bo. Funky Ride would probably be my 2nd favorite.

[@zeechilton4194]

Couldn't agree anymore with everything said!!!!

[@ledarionleonard2341]

Bo, I know couldn’t have everybody, but what about Bone Thug’s “Creepin’ on The Come Up?

[@ledarionleonard2341]

BTW, OutKast is the greatest group/ duo of all time, in any genre to me.

[@jw2278]

Love these. Keep up the good work 👊🏾

[@outlawed7515]

Funky ride vibes like no other!!

[@JGSPEAKZZ]

Great analysis

[@jarrellmason9080]

I can listen to this all day. Maybe a separate solo Bo podcast with just music talk. Put Spencer on there too.

[@slimthugga1]

I’m born in ‘92. Born & raised in TX. So I didn’t experience these albums as they came out but they were apart of the soundtrack that came with riding around with my big cousin’s. As I got older & went back to listen for myself OutKast immediately became one of my favorites. Considering this album came out the same month & year as Illmatic it honestly makes me wish more people held Southernplayalistic in the same regard. Because you can’t convince me that OutKast didn’t put out the better album.

[@luggerphilippe8409]

I don't know why I wasn't really into there music back then..I like some of there music now but my friends were loving there sound..I did like that hooty hoo back then tho..

[@chazzarmorris2499]

The Call Of The Wild,.... Mannn that track was insane.

[@boking8575]

Hootie hoooooooooo zone 3 in dis bit most slept on album. Juh preaa play shawty an peaches gone hanled da rest

[@Crs313]

Outkast is one of the greatest groups in music all genres period.

[@ivanechenique2369]

Great info!

[@kevinbrown1327]

MORE PLEASE!!!!!!

[@damienwilliams7444]

This like an hour too short

[@derekjwilliams007]

Yeah they changed the game for the future of hip hop