Track Listing

1. Hold on, Be Strong
2. Return of the "G"
3. Rosa Parks
4. Skew It on the Bar-B - OutKast, Raekwon
5. Aquemini
6. Synthesizer - George Clinton, OutKast
7. Slump
8. West Savannah
9. Art of Storytellin', Pt. 1
10. Art of Storytellin', Pt. 2
11. Mamacita
12. Spottieottiedopaliscious
13. Y'All Scared - Big Gipp, Khujo, OutKast, T-Mo
14. Nathaniel
15. Liberation - C-Lo, , OutKast
16. Chonkyfire

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15360 in Music
• Released on: 1998-09-29
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Amazon.com
It takes a few listens to sink in, but on Aquemini, Outkast have pulled off a rare feat in hip-hop: they've made a good record that's a masterpiece of subtlety. What's more, it's their third record, and they've yet to fall into a rut--and that alone puts them in line for an award. The Organized Noize production crew is sublime, working with live musicians and crafting hook-filled soundscapes that complement Big Boi and Andre Benjamin's melodic patter. (See "Rosa Parks," "Chonkyfire," and the epic "Liberation," which features Erykah Badu, Cee Lo, and Big Rube--and clocks in at just under nine minutes.) Classy and intelligent, Outkast haven't sacrificed anything in their quest to make challenging, innovative hip-hop that forgoes idle boasting for the duo's message. A sample, from the title track: "Now, question: Is every nigga wit dreads for the cause? / Is every nigga wit golds for the fall? Naw / So don't get caught in appearance." --Randy Silver

The Source
Aquemini is a brilliant record.... It possesses an uncanny blend of sonic beauty, poignant lyricism and spirituality that compels without commanding. The record offers a rich blend of potent beats--tight snares, booming kicks and cool rimshots--and a diverse tapestry of various musical textures....

Entertainment Weekly
[Outkast] rip the rap envelope by trading samples for distinctive instruments like Kalimba and harmonica....

Customer Reviews

Unreal... 5+
Outkast has done for Hip Hop what Radiohead did for Rock (if you can even still call it that) with OK Computer. Listen, Wu Tang is amazing, The Roots are brilliant, Mos Def, Snoop, Dre, Nasty Nas, Busta, Talib, Beasties, Goodie Mob, Gang Starr... there's a lot of great artists in Hip Hop today but Outkast shines above all of them. Their message couldn't be more on point, their rhymes and delivery aren't even human and must be something they picked up in the outer reaches of the galaxy on ATliens, and the production (sorry RZA) is the best in the business. Also, look at what they get out of their guests... Rae on Skew it on the Bar-B... I've never heard anything that can match that style... and how about George Clinton on Synthesizer? But even Big Boi (who is incredible) can't touch Andre. On Return of the Gangsta, Rosa Parks, Skew it, Synthesizer, and Da Art of Storytellin' Parts I and II he's just... whatever, I can't find a superlative that does him justice. Buy the album. It doesn't get any better than this.

Hip Hop In It's Purest Form
Aquemini is a 9 year old album, but is a still a masterpiece. Anyone who says there are no lyricists in tha south...I guess yall dont remember how sick Outkast was. Outkast was tha second duo to lyrically outshine every group in hip hop (Rakim & Eric B came 1st, of course) Anywayz back 2 tha review, I cant get enough of Aquemini, so much so, I've lost it three times and re-bought it each time. Lemme break it down: Nice musical intro. "Return of tha G" is sort of a poetic track, very real though. "Rosa Parks" was one of tha catchiest singles in 98' cant even lie bout that, great song. "Skew it on tha Bar B" is one of my favorite tracks on tha album. Raekwon spits a rediculous verse. "Sythesizer" is also one of my favorite tracks with a great beat. "Da Art Of Storytellin 1& 2 " are my two favorite tracks on tha whole album, they take story tellin to a whole notha level.
I respect Outkast because they keep it real, extremely original, and gangsta all at tha same damn time. I mostly respect Andre 3000 because he's living proof that you should never judge a book by it's cover. Outkast is ATL's first shinning star, just like Scarface is our's, so alwayz show dem OG's tha respect. AQUEMINI is one of the most lyrical albums I own, so If you like Outkast, you should really already have this album. Lil Cris , 100%

How to follow up ATLiens? An Impossible Task
After Releasing ATLiens in '96 which is considered by me one of the top 3 greatest albums ever, it seemed nearly impossible to even come close to another album like ATLiens. With all the contreversy surronding Speakerboxxx/Love Below it is good to look back at the 90's and see Outkast's first 3 albums which are all 9+/10, 5 Mics worthy:

1. Hold On, Be Strong- Intro

2. Return of The "G"- The song really showcases Dre, his flow is on point, Big Bwoy is found on the second first but I find myself not enjoying his verse as much as I usually do. Good simple beat with some noises in the back that play with the mind. Lyrics= 9 Beat=10 Flow=9 Total= 9.3

3. Rosa Parks- One of the more popular Outkast songs with a great beat, hook and lyrics. AH-HA baby uhhuh ya ya baby I said Ah-Ha Hush that Fuss, everybody move to the back of the bus. Do you wanna bump and slump with us? We the type of people that make the club get crunk. Lyrics=10 Beat=10 Flow=10 Total=10

4. Skew it on the Bar-B- Raar Ya. Featuring one of my favorite MC's RaEKwOn The Chef, (Wu Wu Wu ), he spits a sick verse, the beat is a crazy dance mix and the hook is one that u gotta sing a long to and everyone comes hard on it. Lyrics=10 (Raekwon), Beat=9, Flow=10. Total= 9.67

5. Aquemini- The title track is easily, the best, song on this album. A slow smooth beat, one of my favorite of all time. Perfection of lyrics, relaxed flow. Perfect. Lyrics=10, Beat=10, Flow=10. Total=10

6. Synthezier- A weird song, but you have to enjoy the synthizer of course to enjoy this song. Dre's second verse is pretty sick. Lyrics=8 Beat= 9 Flow=8 Total=8.3

7. Slump- At this point in the album and on (Excluding Da Art's of storytellin) the cd really begins to become a southern album with real hard beats that you'd expect from Organized Noise. It's just a slow southern jam. Lyrics=9 Beat=10 Flow=10. Total-9.67

8. West Savanah- A solo by Big Boi, probably my favorite song in my car, one of the best flows I've ever heard on a song, and another good down south classic. Lyrics=10 Beat=10 Flow=10 Total-10

9. Da art of storytellin' pt 1- The classic Single that tells the story of two girls and problems they went through with the crew. It's a classic if you haven't heard it you probably don't know much aboot rap. Lyrics=10 Beat=9 Flow=9.5 Total-9.5

10. Da Art of storytellin' pt 2- A little 2 minute follow up to pt 1 with a more up pace beat and no chorus. Not much to say about it, it's d.a.s.2. Lyrics=9 Beat=10 Flow=9.5 Total- 9.5

11. Mamcita- Never really felt this song, I think this is the one that hurts the album's overall rating. The first verse by whomever is whack. Lyrics=7 Beat=5 Flow=8 Total-6.67

12. SpottieOttieDopaliscious- One of the first Dungeon Family/Outkast songs I heard. No real rapping going on here, it's mostly a long song of complimation of a great southern beat and some horns. Lyrics= 8 Beat=10 Flow= 8 Total-8.57

13. Ya'll Scared- Featuring the Goodie Mob(Check out Soul Food) I don't like the beat so right away it's hard for me to like it. Lyrics=9 Beat= 7 Flow=8 Total-8

14. Nathaniel- Interlude

15. Liberation- One long ass song. Don't really like it though. Lyrics= 9 Beat-8 Flow-9 Total- 8.67

16. Chonkyfire- haha this song is crazy. I always love outkast cause they play with your brain. It's the perfect song to end the album with. Only thing I dont like about it is how the beat changes when Big Boi starts to rap. Lyrics= 9.5 Beat= 9 Flow=10 Total- 9.5

FINAL TOTALS:
Lyrics=9.1 Beat=9 Flow=9.2 OVERALL=9.09/10

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