#500: OutKast – Aquemini (1998)

So it begins with OutKast. I wonder if this was a conscious decision on Rolling Stone’s part, to not come across as fuddy duddies or to present something more unexpected than a slightly-now-obscure 70s band.

I actually own OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, which is good (and will probably appear on this list), but admittedly I sometimes end up listening to the poppy stuff (“The Way You Move,” and of course, “Hey Ya!”) So to sit down and listen to a true rap album is newish to me.

I have conflicting feelings about rap. It populates a lot of my iPod playlists, but I get acutely aware of being a suburban white girl listening to songs often about problems pretty far removed from my life. Also, having just moved to Chicago and knowing about the gang violence that is plaguing the far south and west sides, it can be hard to listen to songs that, to borrow the academic pearl-clutching language, glorify that lifestyle. But, done right rap is hard to resist and, let’s be totally honest here, makes you feel kind of cool. And OutKast does it so well, and thoughtfully, ruminating on what, as Wikipedia nicely summarizes, "topics such as emancipation, drug addiction and problematic relationships, while exploring the bleakest aspects of humanity.”

I put them in the unscientific category of “fast rap,” where the rhymes go by, well quickly. I found that even if I zoned out and stopped listening, the rhythmic bumps of the songs was still enjoyable. However, I was getting kind of bored midway through the album. This is already putting the “no skipping” rule to the test. I’m less of lyrics girl and more about the tune, and after a while it all started to sound the same. I’m not a fan of vocal interludes and a few populate this record. They interrupt the flow and I feel like it’s the equivalent of people who post conversations with their friends on Facebook. They also have “skits” which also drive me crazy. Give me music. That’s all.

Rating: 4/10

Would listen to: If I wanted to feel tough, or if I wanted a reminder of how to pronounce "spottieottiedopaliscious"

Favorite songs: “Rosa Parks” (already a favorite), "Synthesizer" featuring George Clinton, “Mamacita,” and “SpottieOttieDopaliscious,” mostly because it makes you want to be compared to yams.

Notes:

• Rosa Parks is reportedly not a fan of “Rosa Parks.”
• I’m more a fan of the more playful Andre 3000
• “Mamacita” features female rappers in a way that's much better than most are featured lately.
• I can't find a good article that breaks down the differences between east coast, west coast, and southern rap. Just Yahoo! questions. Not a good source.
• The happy commercials for Wal-Mart and such that pop in on Spotify really don't fit when followed by an angry song about society's ills.
• I want to be able to use “go on and marinate on that for a second” someday after making a perfect point.