In 2003,OutkastreleasedSpeakerboxxx/The Love Below,a double album that would become the best-selling rap album of all time.One of music’s best collaborations, Outkast comprised André 3000 and Big Boi, two rappers native to the Atlanta area who had been active as a pairing for 11 years, since 1992. They’d eventually disband in 2007.
While Big Boi is still currently rapping, André 3000 has largely stopped rapping and, with minor exceptions until fairly recently, performing music altogether. The legacy of Outkast has reached legendary status by now, even beyond addressing their most significant feat withSpeakerboxxx/The Love Below, but the irony isn’t lost that rap’s most successful album comes from someone who has given up rapping.
Outkast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is the Highest Selling Rap Album Ever
Outkast’s Concept Was Unlike Anything That Came Before It
The year before releasingSpeakerboxxx/The Love Below, Outkast had reached the peak of their success as the duo’s fourth studio album,Stankonia, won Best Rap Album at the Grammys, while the project’s second single, “Ms. Jackson,” won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. In addition, the album boasted additional noteworthy nominations like Album of the Year.
It seemed as if Outkast couldn’t possibly go any higher as a unit, so, understandably,André 3000 and Big Boi were eager to embark on separate projects in hopes of trying their hand at solo success. Soon enough, André 3000 started developingThe Love Below, envisioning for himself a jazz-pop-funk infusion, and subsequently, Big Boi started producingSpeakerboxxxfor himself.
Despite breaking up, Outkast continues to be a staple of pop culture today, particularly being features in the soundtracks for television shows and movies like the recent horror motion picture,Heart Eyes.
André 3000 and Big Boi remained friends during their breakout attempts, even sharing their music with each other during their respective creative processes. Alas, while the duo were ready to break away from each other, Arista Records were not.Outkast’s label would not allow both men to release separate albums while signed to them.
Not only did Arista consider it a risky move, they wanted to capitalize on the momentum gained from having just won two Grammys as a duo.Despite their albums having such a stark contrast of tones and vibes, Outkast would compromise by releasing a double album. The experiment proceeded to sell 13 million units and has the highest number of certifications any rap album has received.
The album went 13 times platinum, selling 11 million copies worldwide. It’s also worth noting that “The Way You Move” unseated “Hey Ya!” in the number one spot on the Billboard charts, becoming the first duo to replace themselvse on the charts in music history.
The double album proved to be Outkast’s most successful album in that regard, becoming their first and only album to debut at number one on the Billboard charts. The album’s success rests largely on the shoulders of its hit singles, namely one of thebest pop songs of the 2000s, “Hey Ya!”
Both that and “The Way You Move” reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, while “Roses” peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. By the end of 2004, the double album was certified diamond by the RIAA. That same year, the album won both Best Rap Album and Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards.
What Happened To Outkast After Releasing SpeakerBoxxx/The Love Below
André 3000 Largely Retired, While Big Boi Released Three Albums
Speakerboxxx/The Love Belowwound up being Outkast’s fifth and final album together, and after starring inthe iconic 2006 movieIdlewild, the two went on an extended hiatus from music. From 2007 onwards, André would appear sporadically in the music scene and did so almost exclusively in feature appearances on other people’s songs.
Beyond the occasional remix from different musicians and acting roles, André 3000’s whereabouts were largely shrouded in mystery. 3000 was so mysterious at one point that some years back, it became viral news when fans started spotting André randomly on the street playing the flute in the middle of New York City. As it turned out, flute instrumentation became a new special interest for André 3000.
WhileSpeakerboxxx/The Love Belowis the best-selling album in rap history, Michael Jackson’sThrilleris the best-selling album in music history. Clickhereto check out our ranking of every song on its tracklist.
2022 marked the first time that André 3000 brought his flute into the studio, providing instrumental work onthe score forEverything Everywhere All at Once.One year later in 2023, André 3000 released an entirely instrumental album, marking not only the first time he’d release new music of his own in 17 years, but his debut solo album.
While the album did receive nominations for Album of the Year and Best Alternative Jazz Album at the Grammys, fans were split on the project, especially those who wanted to hear 3000 rap again.He’s admitted that his retirement from rap stems from not feeling like he has anything new or substantial to say lyrically at this current stage of his life, convinced trying to rap otherwise would be inauthentic.
The rap that Outkast fans have desperately craved from André 3000 is being provided by Big Boi.
As for Big Boi, while he continues to keep a similar low profile, he has been the most active in the rap genre between the two Outkast members. Three years after Outkast’s hiatus began, Big Boi released his debut studio album,Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, which peaked at number three on the US Billboard charts. 2012 and 2017 would see the release of his second and third projects,Vicious Lies and Dangeorus RumorsandBoomiverse.
While most fans have tried to keep an eye on André 3000 and draw their attention to him the most, fans shouldn’t overlook Big Boi or his contributions to the rap genre. The rap that Outkast fans have desperately craved from André 3000 is being provided by Big Boi. Although the two have completely different styles and Big Boi hasn’t been very consistent himself, fans desiring more Outkast should be seeking and talking about Big Boi just as prolifically.
Could Outkast Reunite For Another Album?
Unlikely, But Outkast Calling It Quits After Winning Album Of The Year Was A Good Thing
Seven years after their initial hiatus, Big Boi and André 3000 reunited onstage at Coachella 2014 in a shocking return. What would follow was a series of festival appearances and a #ATLast homecoming, with their final show occurring at the Voodoo Music Experience on Halloween 2014. This was all in an effort to celebrate their 20th anniversary as a duo.
Before resuming their hiatus, Outkast never released new music, and even following a2025 Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame induction, the prospect of new music from the pair seems unlikely. However, the fact that Outkast truly seem to be done with making music together isn’t a fact that should be mourned - it should be celebrated.
Outkast had a long and notable career, one that managed to inspire an entire generation of musicians, not just rappers. Their influence can be seen today in the likes of Janelle Monáe, Childish Gambino, A$AP Rocky,and Kendrick Lamar. Most importantly,Outkast ended while they were still on top, a hard feat to accomplish for muiscians who reach the promised land.
Not every artist can win a Grammy, fewer win Grammys for Album of the Year, and even fewer can say they won the award on their final and most successful album. That would be difficult to follow-up for anyone, so Outkast could not ask for a better sendoff, intentional or otherwise.Outkastmay never make new music again and Andre might never rap again, but ending their run on top only helps bolster their legacy.
