The new versions will be available in late November
This fall, Outkast is teaming with Get On Down and This is Certified to commemorate the anniversary of two of their biggest albums — Speakerboxxx/The Love Below and Aquemini.
Twenty years ago on September 23, 2003, Outkast released their epic fifth studio album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, which went on to become one of the top-selling hip-hop albums of all time. The double album is two solo projects representing each member’s respective musical vision at the time. Speakerboxxx is Big Boi’s southern hip-hop album and more akin to the prior albums with Andre joining in some verses and contributing to production. The Love Below is Andre 3000’s exploration of hip-hop, funk, soul, jass and pop. Musically the production was handled by the artists along with a few new contributors, a departure from working with Organized Noize on earlier Outkast albums. After the release of two hit singles from each member “The Way You Move” and “Hey Ya,” the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, a first for Outkast after three prior No. 2 debuts.
For the 20th anniversary, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is being reissued for a second time on limited edition vinyl. Speakerboxxx is pressed on double Platinum Chain colored vinyl representing Big Boi’s style and The Love Below is pressed on Pearl colored vinyl representing Andre’s style.
Twenty-five years ago on September 29, 1998, the group released their groundbreaking third studio album Aquemini. The group evolved from the space age minimalist production of ATLiens and incorporated live instrumentation drawing on 1970s funk, southern soul, gospel, country, psychedelic rock, and other influences. Loved by critics and fans, Aquemini is regarded as one of the best hip-hop albums of the 90s and would go on to sell over two million copies.
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Aquemini, the album will be reissued in two limited vinyl editions. The SpottieOttieDopaliscious Edition is pressed on triple gold vinyl in a premium all-felt-covered jacket with embossed gold foil, printed insert, and commemorative OBI limited to 500 copies. A second multi-colored edition will be pressed on three colored LPs (Gold Galaxy, Cloudy Magenta, Cloudy Green) in a gold foil embossed jacket, printed insert, and commemorative OBI limited to 2000 copies. The sets include a printed insert with lyrics and die-cut printed inner sleeves.
Shipping is scheduled for late October for Aquemini with Speakerboxx/The Love Below expected to ship in late November.
Hailing from Atlanta, GA the duo of Big Boi and Andre 3000 known to the world as Outkast dropped their debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik in 1994 with their production team Organized Noize. They started a movement in southern hip-hop with a new sound and launched the careers of Goodie Mob, Killer Mike, Cool Breeze, Slimm Calhoun, and others which would form the collective known as The Dungeon Family named after the Organized Noize studio located in the basement of Rico Wade’s mother’s house.
