The 10 Best Outkast Songs of All-Time

Outkast is one of those groups that almost everyone has heard playing on the radio, at one time or another. In fact, they are widely considered one of the first rap groups to reach mainstream media, as they enjoyed a decent amount of airtime on radio platforms dedicated to mainstream rock as well as rap. The group was formed out of Atlanta, Georgia in 1992 and remained active until 2007, with a short reunion in 2014. Here are 10 of their best songs.

10. So Fresh, So Clean (2000)

You can probably imagine what the majority of this song is about based on the title alone. However, it’s always a good idea to keep in mind that when it comes to most rap songs, the title can’t always provide you with all of the information you need, as the songs often tend to be about something that is more subjective. This song is certainly no exception. At the end of the day, it really depends on the listener’s experiences, as the song can take on a number of different meanings.

9. Player’s Ball (1994)

Chances are, you’ve heard of people that tend to be with someone one night and another person the next night referred to as a player. Imagine if instead of trying to hide that sort of thing, people just came out and admitted it outright, almost as if they were proud of it. Put yourself in a situation where you’re going to a ball, but it’s only for individuals that are constantly on the lookout for their next one-night stand.

8. Rosa Parks (1998)

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last several decades, you know who Rosa Parks is. For those who need a history refresher, she was the individual who refused to give up her seat on a bus, something she was ordered to do simply because of the color of her skin. This is a song that not only celebrates her, but also calls attention to the fact that while we have made progress over the years, there is still a great deal of work that needs to be done.

7. Jazzy Belle (1996)

As you probably already know, the word belle is often used to refer to a woman, typically someone from the south, who has certain social status. In this particular case, the song is referring to someone who has not the typical social status that you would think of, but instead someone who sort of marches to the beat of their own drummer. The person in the story has a tendency to do things their own way but they always do it with a certain flair, hence the name of the song.

6. Babylon (1996)

Imagine what it would be like to exist in a perfect place where everyday problems didn’t weigh you down. Think about how it would feel to be able to focus on the things that really mean the most to you without constantly having to be held back by things that command your attention, effectively draining you of all of your creative and emotional energy. That’s precisely what this song is about. The lyrics talk about how nice it would be to live in such a place and asks an important question. Is it possible to create a life like that if you work hard and focus on the positive aspects of things more than you focus on the negative things that crop up?

5. Gasoline Dreams (2000)

You already know that gasoline powers your car, but you probably have a good idea of how flammable it is as well. After all, there’s a reason you’re not supposed to be gassing up your car while you’re enjoying a cigarette. Imagine all of your hopes and dreams going up in smoke just like gasoline that has been put to a flame. That feeling would be horrible and those are the types of emotions reflected in the lyrics of the song.

4. In Due Time (1997)

There are a few things more challenging than forcing yourself to wait for something that you want desperately, yet knowing that you can’t have it for a significant amount of time. This is a song about learning to go with the punches, having patience and understanding that everything happens in its own good time. The lyrics go on to exemplify how more often than not, trying to force something only serves to make it take longer than it would have otherwise.

3. Elevators (1996)

Is this really a song about elevators? In a sense, you might be able to make the argument that it is but in reality, it’s used as a figurative example. It refers more to the ups and downs of daily life and how everyone’s life has those peaks and valleys. It simply uses something that everyone is acutely familiar with to make the comparison.

2. Decatur Psalm (1996)

You might consider this song an homage to a part of the world that these individuals have a great deal of love for, as it involves the area where they grew up. The lyrics and the song aren’t always happy, because growing up there isn’t always easy. That being said, there is a genuine sense of pride in owning where one has come from and this is the song that perfectly puts that into perspective.

1. Morris Brown (2006)

When this song came out, it might have been almost impossible for fans to conceive of the idea that the band would break up the following year. Here, they seem to be hitting on all cylinders. Even to this day, the song is widely considered one of the band’s best, hence the reason that it managed to land in the number one slot.

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