For this installment of the Musical Map we’re switching gears. In many respects I’ve largely stuck to music with a somewhat similar style thus far. Today, however, we’ll be exploring the geographical weight of Outkast. Though there are several other groups from the area that could be utilized (Goodie Mob, for one), Outkast truly fills out northern Georgia with their music.
The geographical connections to the northern parts of Georgia our obvious (often they name drop towns in and around the Atlanta area). What’s not necessarily so obvious is how well Outkast portrayed the lives of their fellow residents. This is evidenced in “Da Art of Storytellin’” from the Aquemini album. From throw away affairs and late night parties, to drug overdoses and escape, thematically the song is as dense as it is entertaining.
Another illustration of life in the Atlanta area can be found in a song like “Throw Yo’ Hands in the Air.” While on one level it is a great party song with a catchy chorus, it delves deeper into the social mores of the area. This is particularly true in the second verse, where a sort of macho bravado (“Now, my oral demonstration be like clitoral stimulation to the female gender, ain’t nothin better Let me know when it’s wet enough to enter”) is immediately counteracted by a mature realization of the effects this dalliance might have, not just on themselves but that which might be created during the act (“If not I’ll wait, because the future of the world depends on therefore, if not the child we raise gon’ have that nigga syndrome or will it know to be the hard regardless of the skintone”) It’s also a song of escape, of making it…of channeling the frustration of their existence into music instead of through violence (“Put my glock away I got a stronger weapon that never runs out of ammunition so I’m ready for war okay”).
Another song that very adeptly fleshes out a certain scene is SpottieOttieDopaliscious. While the hook is marvelous, it is the lyrics themselves that set this song apart. A picture of a late night club in Atlanta is wonderfully captured. They very artfully juxtapose so many differing elements that somehow all blend together perfectly:
“While this fine bow-legged girl fine as all outdoors lulls lukewarm lullabies in your left ear competing with “Set it Off,” in the right. But it all blends perfectly, let the liquor tell it”
This foray into the night life of Atlanta eventually veers back into reality at the end of the song. The unadulterated fun of the clubbing suddenly morphs into reality.
“Can’t gamble feeding baby on that dope money
might not always be sufficient but the
United Parcel Service & the people at the Post Office
didn’t call you back because you had cloudy piss
So now you back in the trap just that, trapped”
Go on and marinate on that for a minute”
As a former ATLien, I would slice Atlanta up like a pie before I would blanket the metro area with Outkast.
1) You have the Ludacris, TI, Dupri, Lil' Jon factor to contend with in downtown areas depending on the flavor of the week 2) Athens,GA might just be college rock central and deserves it's own Alt-Rock bubble of protection - do not lump it in with Atlanta 3) Outside the I-285 perimeter it gets rural pretty quick. While in-town Atlanta might be progressive, it does not span beyond the loop. Skynard and the Oak Ridge Boys encroach from north and south, while there is a hot mess of country coming in from Alabama on the western side.
Jonny
Chris Bridges doesn't deserve any slices of any pie unless it's being served up in a labor camp. And only then should he be given a slice to keep him working alongside the rest of the chain gang lest he collapse and bring them more burden. I wouldn't even credit his ghostwriters because they are enablers in his fraudulence. Anything else I could say about TI, Dupri or Lil' Jon would be half cocked, but just for good measure: Ludacris can't/doesn't write.
I wouldn't have commented except that I watched Crash last night and had the delinquency that is Ludacris on my mind. I agree with you on Athens (B-52's and R.E.M) deserving a distinguished slice. I saw a rainbow colored Oak Ridge Boys shirt that looked great but I still haven't heard them because my pandora station has been beaten tasteless by my negative ratings.
Willie Nelson's Georgia is beautiful, and Savannah sounds agreeable.
Musical Map of America: Outkast
"Straw hat V-neck T's, that what they love"
For this installment of the Musical Map we’re switching gears. In many respects I’ve largely stuck to music with a somewhat similar style thus far. Today, however, we’ll be exploring the geographical weight of Outkast. Though there are several other groups from the area that could be utilized (Goodie Mob, for one), Outkast truly fills out northern Georgia with their music.
The geographical connections to the northern parts of Georgia our obvious (often they name drop towns in and around the Atlanta area). What’s not necessarily so obvious is how well Outkast portrayed the lives of their fellow residents. This is evidenced in “Da Art of Storytellin’” from the Aquemini album. From throw away affairs and late night parties, to drug overdoses and escape, thematically the song is as dense as it is entertaining.
09-da-art-of-storytellin-pt-1.mp3
Outkast – Da’ Art of Storytellin’ (Part 1)
Another illustration of life in the Atlanta area can be found in a song like “Throw Yo’ Hands in the Air.” While on one level it is a great party song with a catchy chorus, it delves deeper into the social mores of the area. This is particularly true in the second verse, where a sort of macho bravado (“Now, my oral demonstration be like clitoral stimulation to the female gender, ain’t nothin better Let me know when it’s wet enough to enter”) is immediately counteracted by a mature realization of the effects this dalliance might have, not just on themselves but that which might be created during the act (“If not I’ll wait, because the future of the world depends on therefore, if not the child we raise gon’ have that nigga syndrome or will it know to be the hard regardless of the skintone”) It’s also a song of escape, of making it…of channeling the frustration of their existence into music instead of through violence (“Put my glock away I got a stronger weapon that never runs out of ammunition so I’m ready for war okay”).
03-throw-your-hands-in-the-air.mp3
Outkast – Throw Your Hands in the Air
Another song that very adeptly fleshes out a certain scene is SpottieOttieDopaliscious. While the hook is marvelous, it is the lyrics themselves that set this song apart. A picture of a late night club in Atlanta is wonderfully captured. They very artfully juxtapose so many differing elements that somehow all blend together perfectly:
12-spottieottiedopaliscious-1.mp3
Outkast – SpottieOttieDopaliscious
This foray into the night life of Atlanta eventually veers back into reality at the end of the song. The unadulterated fun of the clubbing suddenly morphs into reality.