Released: September 29, 1998
Label: La Face/Arista
Genre: Hip hop, neo soul
Producer: Babyface (exec.), Donny Mathis, Organized Noize, Outkast, Antonio m. Reid (exec.), David “Mr. DJ” Sheats
Album 500 down and this is a nice surprise. I had hoped that the first album for me to listen to would be something a little more like what I’d normally listen to, if only to ease me into this whole thing, and OutKast isn’t necessarily that. I do own their album released 2 after this one, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, but I’ve only ever really listened to their radio friendly singles “Hey Ya!”, “The Way You Move”, “Roses” and “GhettoMusick” (my favourite of these songs). Having listened to Aquemini quite a bit over the last week I’m keen to dig out some of their other stuff and give it a go, because this album was pretty terrific.
I’ve always liked the commercial rap, hip-hop and R&B that gets played on radio and in clubs, but never really sat and listened to lyrics of anything more serious than a party anthem (Shaggy anyone..?). The production and music on Aquemini is top-shelf with the gamut of instruments played in songs that range from gangsta rap in “Return of the Gangsta” (a seriously awesome track), to dancehall-fun-with-a-serious-name in “Rosa Parks” (seriously awesome again), to sweeping instruments in “Hold on Be Strong”. Throughout the album there is the constant reminder of the duo’s Southern roots through their lyrics and music with Southern guitars and harmonicas, and this gets mixed in some with the urbanest of urban references.
This was a great introduction to rap for me. It’s smart but has attitude – as a white middle-class guy from Australia, I’m about as far removed from the issues facing young black people in America’s south as you can get. Listening to this album, you get the struggles that these kids face – the influence of drugs and violence, domestic violence, there’s a pall of misery, but also a lot of hope, and a lot of joy in the music – sweeping at times. I always knew rap had something to say, but had never really listened. This is a great album with good music and smart lyrics, and in the end I’m really very thankful this was first.
Top track: “Rosa Parks”. Probably the most obvious since it’s the most accessible and fun, but it’s cool and will be great to pull out at a party. This track was nominated for a Grammy, but courted controversy with the real life Rosa Parks and lawyers seeking to sue OutKast for using the civil rights activist’s name. Brilliantly funky track.
This week: Well, I started something. And (luckily) at this stage I’m determined to see it through. The secret, I think, will be in making this project part of what I do every week – almost like it’s the undercurrent that will run through my life while everything else is going on. Anyway, kudos me for starting.
Anyway, moving on….
thehifielective 