Album Review: Stankonia by Outkast

Knotty, funny, and frank, Outkast’s fourth album Stankonia extends and transcends the Southern funk/ rock/ hip hop synthesis this Atlanta duo nurtured so fruitfully on 1998’s ”Aquemini. ” Andre ”Dre” Benjamin and Antwan ”Big Boi” Patton may be intent on proving they are, as they say at one point on this 17 cut epic, ”the coolest motherfunkers on the planet,” but these guys are nothing if not down to earth. Their influences include, crucially, Richard Pryor (base head blackout sketches; a sentimental affection for prostitutes) and George Clinton (they quote the P-Funk All Star’s ”fakin’ the funk” mantra as well as a melody line from ”You Shouldn’t — Nuf Bit Fish”).

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