Maps of Music

Aquemini (1998)

Where the lyrics of Aquemini take you, and where it was really made.

The album's title is a mash-up of the two rappers' zodiac signs: Aquarius and Gemini.

Key places

Atlanta studio where most of Aquemini was recorded (1998)

Recording site Doppler Studios — The group recorded the majority of Aquemini at Doppler Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. The point marks the studio location, not an exact address. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Aquemini is the third studio album by the American hip hop duo OutKast
• Released 29 September 1998 by LaFace Records and Arista Records
• The title combines the zodiac signs of the two members: Aquarius (Big Boi) and Gemini (André 3000)
• The name reflects the album's recurring theme of the two members' differing personalities
• It follows the 1996 album ATLiens, which was a commercial success

Background

• The 1994 debut Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik was recorded when the rappers were 18
• After that album went platinum, LaFace Records gave the group more creative control and advanced money for ATLiens
• Aquemini expands on ATLiens' outer space-inspired compositions with live instrumentation
• Influences include 1970s funk, southern soul, gospel, country and psychedelic rock
• André 3000 gave birth to a first child in November 1997, which gave him new artistic inspiration

Recording

• Most of the album was recorded at Bobby Brown's Bosstown Recording Studios and Doppler Studios, both in Atlanta, Georgia
• The group had more creative freedom and a higher budget, so it could work at the studio for weeks at a time
• The duo produced most tracks themselves
• A baby grand piano was brought into the studio for live instrumentation
• Many session musicians came in and out during recording

Cover

• The packaging included a sticker describing Big Boi as "the playa" and André as "the poet"
• David Browne of The New York Times viewed the album art as an homage to 1970s blaxploitation films

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• OutKast was an American hip-hop duo formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1992.
• Members were Big Boi (Antwan Patton) and André 3000 (André Benjamin).
• The two met in 1992 at Lenox Square mall in Atlanta at age 16 and attended Tri-Cities High School.
• They were pursued by the producers Organized Noize and signed to LaFace Records, becoming the label's first hip-hop act.

Members

• Big Boi (Antwan Patton) was the "player" in the duo, covering conventional hip-hop topics.
• André 3000 (André Benjamin) was the "poet", discussing more unorthodox themes.

Career

• Debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994) is credited with laying the foundation for southern hip-hop.
• ATLiens (1996) and Aquemini (1998) were critically acclaimed.
• Stankonia (2000) brought mainstream recognition; "Ms. Jackson" topped the Billboard Hot 100.
• Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and won the Grammy for Album of the Year.
• The duo split in 2007 after the film soundtrack album Idlewild (2006); both members pursued solo careers.
• They reunited in 2014 for performances at more than 40 festivals worldwide.
• Credited with sales of 20 million records and six Grammy Awards.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Critics praised the album's musicality, eclectic sound and unique lyrical themes
• AllMusic's Steve Huey called it "a stroke of brilliance"
• S. H. Fernando Jr. of Rolling Stone wrote that OutKast showed you do not have to sell out to sell records
• Sia Michel of The Village Voice called it an impassioned state-of-hip-hop address

Reappraisal

• Rolling Stone ranked the album number 500 on its 2003 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list
• Rolling Stone moved the album up to number 49 in its 2020 revised list
• Pitchfork ranked it number 50 on its Top 100 Albums of the 1990s list
• Los Angeles Times labeled it OutKast's third brilliant slice of hip-hop
• Apple Music placed it at number 41 on its 100 Best Albums list in 2024

Records

• Debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart
• Sold 227,000 copies in its first week of release
• Certified platinum in November 1998, two months after release
• Certified double platinum by the RIAA on 2 July 1999
• The lead single "Rosa Parks" was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 1999 Grammy Awards

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Big Boi missed his flight to the mastering session, and the others had already settled the track list when he arrived.
• Big Boi wanted "Y'all Scared" to open the album, but the others chose "Return of the G"; Big Boi later agreed.
• MTV wanted to buy the film project and cast Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes, feeling they had more star power.
• André 3000 played a kalimba on "Hold On, Be Strong" after buying the instrument at a flea market.
• "Nathaniel" is a recording of an actual collect call from a friend who was in a Georgia prison.
• In 1999, Rosa Parks filed a lawsuit over the song "Rosa Parks", which was later partially reinstated on appeal and settled in 2005.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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