Feel it bounce from fiery to tangy as Big Boi takes you from the LSD soul drop of “War” to the salsa-dipped spice of mega hit “The Way You Move.” And when you’re done, make another. One sip of this magical concoction pings every palette quadrant on your tongue. It’s sweet, it’s spicy, and most importantly, it’s refreshing. Like Big Boi’s contribution, this isn’t for those who can’t take the heat. Infusing the tequila with sliced jalapeño only heightens the experience. And who in their right mind doesn’t like margaritas? There’s nothing like kicking back on a Tuesday afternoon in Venice Beach, watching the sun dip into the ocean while clutching a delicious marg with a salted lip (yes, I know it’s still winter, but a boy can dream). When you sit down with Speakerboxxx, you’re going to want a favorite with a twist. IT’s classic Outkast, but with a hint of spice, like it’s been sprinkled with a dash of Latin flare and funk by Salt Bae. With André in the wings though, his music gets a bit of a kick. He’s good at what he does, but that often involves running in place and ignoring current trends.
I mean, take a look at the vast majority of his solo work.
If he had his way, Big Boi would probably churn out a series of masterful raps over versions of the same backing track, speed dial his Favorites list for features, shrink wrap and repeat. If you like it lighter, fill the glass halfway and add sparkling water.
But why do we have two hands if not to double-fist our drinks?īuckle up and get ready to zip back to 2003, when Stacy’s mom had it going on and the worlds of hip-hop and pop would never look the same again. Technically speaking, we don’t have one classic album ahead of us, but two – Big Boi’s fiery, kinetic down-South Speakerboxxx and the genre-bending jazz of André 3000´s The Love Below. If we got our feet wet in our last edition of Tunes & Tumblers, this is us jumping headfirst into the deep end with a cinder block tied to our feet. Two masterpieces packaged and sold back to back, and still the last hip-hop record(s) to win Album of the Year at the Grammy’s. Instead it came as the satin bow on their greatest gift to humanity, the double opus Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It was a diamond monument on the skyline of pop music history. Had it happened on its own, this song still would have been the pinnacle of all things Outkast. The wold wasn’t ready for the cultural shakeup that would begin with “Hey Ya!” Outkast © 2014 Jackson” ( oooooh!) overshadowed the rest of their discography.
Sure, they hit gold with “Elevators” and helped put the ATL on the map in a time when New York and LA were seen as the only big players in the rap game, but the crossover behemoth “Ms. It’s hard to imagine now, but at the dawn of 2003, the Atlanta power couple Outkast were primarily seen as a One Hit Wonder in pop circles. If this scene sounds familiar, that’s because it happens every weekend in every banquet hall across the US. The whole hall erupts in a synchronized clap and proceeds to lose its mind. Two three four! My baby don’t mess around ‘Cause she loves me so This I know fo sho! A bouncing acoustic riff bursts from the monitors accompanied by the unmistakable vocal warble of André 3000. There’s the Nelly, the Usher, the obligatory “Crazy in Love.” Then something happens. The DJ cycles through a Rolodex of tracks that slayed at your middle school dance. The festivities are several trips to the open bar deep and a bunch of grown adults are gyrating like Round One contestants on So You Think You Can Dance. Picture it: literally any of your friends’ weddings. ? ? In 2003, hip-hop masterminds Outkast shook the pop landscape with their double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. What better way to commemorate this feat of genius than with one drink for each hand? Put up your feet and enjoy a cold one on us. We invite you to bring out your inner mixologist as we approach the music we love from a unique, immersive, and thoroughly delicious perspective. Atwood Magazine’s Tunes & Tumblers column explores the way our senses mingle by pairing new and classic albums with cocktail recipes.
Listening to music is more than just an auditory experience.