Speakerboxxx/The Love Below: Recalling How The Highest Selling Rap Album Of All-Time Came About On Its 21st Anniversary
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One of the greatest rap albums of all-time was released 21 years ago today (September 23rd). Continue reading to hear the incredible story of the legendary album coming together.
Late in 2022, legendary record executive and producer Antonio Marquis ‘L.A.’ Reid was on Questlove‘s Supreme Podcast. While on, he discussed various topics including his rise to fame, founding LaFace Records and TLC. He also shared an unbelievable story about Outkast‘s fifth album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.
Reid framed the story by saying Big Boi was going to drop a solo album. The album was done and they felt confident that they had a big single with ‘The Way You Move.’ As the date that the album was supposed to be released loomed, L.A. Reid got a call from none other than Andre 3000. Benjamin (who wasn’t working with Big Boi at the time) asked “When are you dropping Big Boi’s album?” Reid gave him the date. 3K asked a follow up question, “If I wanted to drop an album with that, how much time do I have?” Reid says he responded and said “Three weeks.” After he let out a big sigh, Andre said “Okay.”
Big Boi had gone solo, finished a photo shoot, picked a single and put a release date on the calendar. It was unclear to Reid how much Andre had already recorded since he hadn’t said anything about it. In fact, if not for Andre calling Reid, there wouldn’t have been any indication that he wanted to make an album. Reid recalls that on the night that they had to turn the album in so they could manufacture, Andre had studio sessions going everywhere. Reid says that 3K had an ensemble of studios in motion to make the deadline. Once Andre finished, he let Reid listen to what he had been cooking up. Reid heard ‘Hey Ya’ and was amazed. Reid notes that he was most blown away by the fact that he finished it in the time that he did. You can listen to L.A. Reid tell the story below.
It’s a good thing thing that Andre 3000 made that call. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below went on to become the group’s first number one, selling almost 510,000 copies in its first week. The album has been certified diamond and 13 times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making it the highest selling rap album of all-time. The album eventually spent a total of seven non-consecutive weeks at number one and 24 weeks in the Top 10. At the 2004 Grammys, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below became only the second hip-hop album (Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was the first in 1999) in history to win Album of the Year. The dynamic duo also took home wins for Best Rap Album, and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for “Hey Ya!” the same night.
What’s your favorite song on Speakerboxxx/The Love Below? Where does this album rank amongst Outkast’s discography? Slide in the comments and let us know your thoughts! Shout out to the dynamic duo on the 21st anniversary of a legendary album!
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