Classic Album #107: Outkast - Stankonia

Stankonia was OutKast's second straight masterstroke, an album just as ambitious, just as all-over-the-map, and even hookier than its predecessor. With producers Organized Noize playing a diminished role, Stankonia reclaims the duo's futuristic bent. Keyboardist/producer Earthtone III helms most of the backing tracks, and while the live-performance approach is still present, there's more reliance on programmed percussion, otherworldly synthesizers, and surreal sound effects. Yet the results are surprisingly warm and soulful, a trippy sort of techno-psychedelic funk. Every repeat listen seems to uncover some new element in the mix, but most of the songs have such memorable hooks that it's easy to stay diverted. The immediate dividends include two of 2000's best singles: "B.O.B." is the fastest of several tracks built on jittery drum'n'bass rhythms, but Andre and Big Boi keep up with awe-inspiring effortlessness. "Ms. Jackson," meanwhile, is an anguished plea directed at the mother of the mother of an out-of-wedlock child, tinged with regret, bitterness, and affection. Its sensitivity and social awareness are echoed in varying proportions elsewhere, from the Public Enemy-styIe rant "Gasoline Dreams" to the heartbreaking suicide tale "Toilet Tisha." But the group also returns to its roots for some of the most testosterone-drenched material since their debut. Then again, OutKast doesn't take its posturing too seriously, which is why they can portray women holding their own, or make bizarre boasts about being "So Fresh, So Clean." Given the variety of moods, it helps that the album is broken up by brief, usually humorous interludes, which serve as a sort of reset button. It takes a few listens to pull everything together, but given the immense scope, it's striking how few weak tracks there are. It's no wonder Stankonia consolidated OutKast's status as critics' darlings, and began attracting broad new audiences: its across-the-board appeal and ambition overshadowed nearly every other pop album released in 2000.

- All Music

Easily a top 5 album for me. Tight production, sick lyrics, amazing album. Definite cIassic vote from me.

Yes (2) - Toriko, Proobie

No (6) - Hash, Andy, Dev, Balimi , MK, WGE

I vote no

There's some great individual songs on here but overall it doesn't quite stack up to their first albums, despite some great verses by Big Boi the beats didn't do it for me

the love below > stankonia

no, there are too many avergage songs.
TheBigTicket21

Hells Yeah, it's still my favorite Outkast album.Proobie44

Looks like this one is axed before page 2 :P

This is outkast at their finest, straight up yes.

Pure classic, an album doesn't have to be perfect for it to be classic. That's what's wrong with most hip hop fans, they overuse the word classic and can't even define it correctly lol. Not taking shots at anyone but that had to be said.

Take a look at how commercialized hip hop was in 2000. And outkast has the balls to come out with an album like this? And it's still commercially and critically acclaimed? The way how all the tracks have different genres of music in them and the album STILL keeps it consistant gives it a classic title. 

People always wanna pick apart albums and never look at the whole product.