Outkast’s ATLiens was the soundtrack of Atlanta 20 years ago

The Making of ATLiens with Mr. DJ

It’s the 20-year anniversary of Outkast’s ATLiens.  We are going to travel back in time with the legendary Dungeon Family DJ/Producer, Mr. DJ, to talk about the creative process that brought this classic album to life. 

Friday, Oct 7th at A3C's Pro-Audio Center (SAE Institute) 

Check out the A3C Pro-Audio Schedule

Outkast was one of the first hip-hop acts to gain national attention. In 1996, all eyes were on the East and West coast. The regional beef between the two coast was at its peak and artists from those coasts was releasing, what are now, monumental albums. Meanwhile, in the south artists were trying their hardest to be heard outside of their city or state. Outkast was one group that broke out of the stigma that southern artists couldn’t rap. Their first album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik was a hit and went platinum, but it was their second album that turned heads. Big Boi predicted the rise of Outkast with the line “'96 gon' be that year that all y'all playa haters can bite me.” ATLiens was the album that represented ATL and gave the music industry a proper introduction to the city that would soon take over the national hip-hop scene.

 In the scope of hip-hop, the South was still new territory in 1996 and was foreign to those who were above the Mason Dixon Line. Outkast might as well have been real aliens, with their unique style, look, and sound. Atlanta accepted the album especially, with open arms as it was a direct representation of the city in different aspects. Most people were all too familiar with the drug and violence riddled rap that was coming from the East and West coast, so Outkast’s ATLiens album was a breath of fresh air. Outkast took a different approach on the ATLiens album. “Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac)” was a statement that Andre and Big Boi were not just some run-of-the-mill rappers and better than most. Andre spits:

“This ol sucka MC stepped up to me

Challenged Andre to a battle and I stood there patiently

As he spit and stumbled over cliches, so called freestylin

Whole purpose just to make me feel low, I guess you whylin

I say look boi, I ain't for that fuck shit; so fuck this

Let me explain on this child style so you don't miss

I grew up to myself not round no park bench

just a nigga bustin flows off in apartments”

The ATLiens album unified Atlanta. It had something for everybody to enjoy. From the hardest gangster in Zone 6 to the midtown hipster, ATLiens had songs you could just bob your head to, smoke to ("Elevators(Me & You)"), ride in the car to ("Two Dope Boys") and even make you think a little ("Babylon"). Different Atlanta neighborhoods and streets would be shouted out throughout the album, giving Atlanta residents the opportunity to brag and boast about their respective locations. The comic styled album cover art and title peeked the interest of people who would not have listen to the album if otherwise. ATLiens was able to attract new fans without alienating the fans they gained with Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.

 This album further shaped and defined the distinct sound of Atlanta and majority of the south at the time. Funk grooves, soul, and gospel were signature trademarks for southern artists. Outkast used those influences to speak on their experiences growing up and trying to make it as rappers. Andre 3000’s lyrics led to vivid imagery, while Big Boi amazed listeners with his pimp-like fast talking raps on tracks like “Jazzy Belle” and “ATLiens.”

Outkast put a stamp on the music industry with their ATLiens album. At the 1995 Source Awards, Andre 3000 famously made the statement “The south got something to say.” A year later Andre 3000 and Big Boi followed up with an ear full of music that would put Atlanta on the map and forever change how Atlanta natives refer to themselves.