Its sequencing, its pacing, these are perfect transitions from casual vocabulary to lightning verses, electrifying. The single was no commercial high-flyer, but set a tone that its parent LP would adroitly adhere to: anything goes, so long as it flows.Īnd flow Stankonia had to, brilliantly, because for the second consecutive set its makers pushed CD capacity, filling a 74-minute run-time.Īmongst its 24 tracks are skippable skits, although these add contextual colour to the album's singular bravado, but for the most part Stankonia serves the album format, rather than the other way around. Immediate long-play predecessor, 1998's Aquemini, was a plaudit-magnet in its own right a platinum-seller which piqued significant domestic interest yet didn't translate to a global audience.īut with the new millennium came new opportunities for partners-in-rhyme Andre 3000 and Big Boi: Stankonia is the sound of every cracked-open door being kicked off its hinges.īefore Stankonia came B.O.B - an unusual lead-single selection given its menage-a-trois of jitterbug drum'n'bass, gospel backing vocals and a virtuosic instrumental sensibility owing much to Sly Stone and Hendrix. While Stankonia wasn't the first taste of this dynamic duo's inspired interpretations of rap - schizophrenic pieces that tapped funk up for its number before forgetting to call it back snapping trap-rap rockers unleashed before the world caught up with the parlance - it was the most perfect distillation of everything that'd come before it. No Stankonia: quite possibly no Frank Ocean, no Janelle Monae, no Shabazz Palaces no southern playas taking the four elements from New York to outer space via the suburbs of the ATL. Imagine the hip hop of today without the influence of OutKast's fourth album. Grammy Award: Best Rap Album nominees (number: 2002 winner) (order: 7) Rolling Stone: 100 Best Albums of the 2000s: pub_ (number: 16) (order: 16) Fact Magazine: The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s (number: 48) (order: 48) Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2020 edition (number: 64) (order: 64) Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2003 edition (number: 359) (order: 359) Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2012 edition (number: 361) (order: 361)ĬritiqueBrainz ReviewsThere’s 1 review on CritiqueBrainz. Regina Davenport Celeste Moses Kawan “KP” Prather Relationships artist & repertoire support: