EP148: Regina Bradley on OutKast’s “Aquemini” (1998)

Episode notes

In 1995, OutKast was booed by an angry crowd at the Source Awards after they won Best New Artist. During his speech, Andre 3000 famously declared “The South got something to say.” Nowadays, ATL has a solid place in the history of rap, but OutKast had to fight for a seat at the table.

OutKast becomes the newest member of the Triple Crown club here on Heat Rocks and we’re talking to professor/scholar Regina Bradley about the duo’s smothered, covered, diced, and topped LP, Aquemini. We discuss Andre’s evolution as a rapper, the deep Atlanta love throughout the record, and where this album ranks in OutKast’s discography.

More on Regina Bradley

• OutKasted Conversations
• Regina’s podcast Bottom of the Map
• Website  Twitter

More on Aquemini

• Outkast’s ‘Aquemini,’ the blueprint of the Southern black renaissance, turns 20 (The Undefeated)
• Aquemini Turns 20 (Stereogum)
• The Making of Aquemini (Creative Loafing)

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Aquemini unless otherwise indicated):

• Rosa Parks
• SpottieOttieDopaliscious
• Hold On, Be Strong
• Slump
• West Savannah
• Return of the “G”
• Nathaniel
• Rosa Parks
• SpottieOttieDopaliscious
• Mamacita
• Da Art of Storytellin’ (Pt. 1)
• Liberation
• SpottieOttieDopaliscious
• Chonkyfire
• Aquemini
• Rosa Parks
• De La Soul: Patti Dooke
• Goodie Mob: Cell Therapy
• Dungeon Family: Trans D F Express
• EARTHGANG: Blue Moon

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find there
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