It is the sound of the rebellious. I’d say it’s the universal language of the youth. And whether it’s teenagers to people in their 20s, 30s, 40s to 50s, there’s no age limit on it. It’s what brings people together. You can go to a concert and it’s everybody in that motherfucker! So yeah, it is a universal love language. Why do I love that you love Kate Bush so much? (Big fan of both of you) Stronzo123 If I had to pick a favourite, I gotta say The Dreaming – that album was so moody. I just go on my phone and type “Kate Bush” and let it cycle through all of it. Before you know it, I’ve spent my whole day listening to Kate Bush. I love Experiment IV. That was so underrated. Even like The Wedding List or Babooshka – those music videos were ahead of their time. She’s the best. As a lifelong Outkast fan, I have two questions. First, what was it like filming [Depression-era musical] Idlewild? Second, as a rapper with one of the most unique flows in hip-hop, what were your influences? DM3000 I might be up late at night and Idlewild comes on HBO and I’m like: “Wow, we really did that!” Just like the Outkast music, man; some things were light years ahead of their time. I think that film and that experience is something that is a cult classic. From the music to the wardrobe to the story to the messages. It was cool [to explore our blues roots]. The prohibition era and all that? With the hooch. It is one of those things that’s going to be here for ever. In terms of the flow, there’s something of everything. I’ll give you my top artists of all time: 1a is Bob Marley, 1b is Kate Bush, and then right behind her is NWA. So, that tells you where I am at with it. As far as MCing, we listen to everything from A Tribe Called Quest to 8 Ball and MJG, the 2 Live Crew. UGK. MC Ren was one of the hardest motherfuckers ever! Definitely E-40. You just sort of find your style … and it’s a hodgepodge of everything. I can go out of different corners and crevices of the beat and catch the guitar lick. Then I jump back on the snare and ride the bass for a minute. It is definitely a gift from God. What was it like working with George Clinton? PhilipJMRebbec People ask me: is George Clinton like the dude on the Mothership Connection album cover in real life? Abso-fucking-lutely. The first time we worked with him was on Synthesizer on Aquemini. The last part of the song, he says: “Said she’d lapdance on your laptop / while your laptop’s in your lap!” He came up with that on the spot. To me, he is really a rapper. He just went in the booth and started going. A one taker. A funk god. Where have you enjoyed performing most? Bleakdouglas Super Bowl was one. And the other one was the album of the year performance we did at the Grammys. It was crazy to perform with Earth, Wind and Fire. What were your feelings as you took to the stage to accept your best new artist award at the infamous 1995 Source awards? DeJongandtherestless The east coast and west coast beef was happening. It was weird, but it was exciting too. This was our first big awards show and we were nominated, and for us to actually win, it was like: “OK, they know what time it is for us in the south!” But when we got booed, it was like: “OK, y’all thought this was a novelty or a one-time thing? Wait till we show you what else we can do.” It put the batteries in our back to just keep going harder as Outkast. Tupac actually wanted to work with us on his unreleased One Nation album, which was all about uniting everybody. I remember him barking to me and Andre 3000 down the phone like: “Yo, I need you on this compilation! I got my group the Outlawz. Yo, we gotta do it maaaaan! We’re gonna change the world.” That kind of talk. We lost someone special. What is your favourite meal? Yousoonice Gotta be some lobster. I am a pescatarian who occasionally indulges in turkey and chicken. I ain’t eaten beef or pork in almost 30 years. I cut that out of my diet. It has to be like a lobster tail. A rice pilaf. Some black-eyed peas … seasoned correctly, that’s important. Throw on a butter bean or a liver bean. Yeah. I’m a real bean guy. Could you please detail your bathing regime and recommend body products keeping you So Fresh, So Clean? McScootikins I was born with the drip, son. I come from a long line of pimps, hustlers, now-and-later gators, exquisite fabrics and designers. That is all part of it. I always thought that Outkast’s production had drum’n’bass and other electronic music influences in it way before that was a thing in hip-hop. Where did that come from? Donkeyhorsegoat What really got us into drum’n’bass was when we went to London and we was going to all the clubs. Seeing and hearing these sounds. 808s have always been in our music, but the whole drum’n’bass thing, and matching that tempo, well, it was a crazy challenge. That influence was just from being overseas and in Europe and just seeing the different atmospheres and the way people moved to this music. We wanted to bring some of it back to Atlanta with us. I might have to be hypnotised to remember what the name of those clubs were, though. Hmmm. We were smoking so good back then. Do you miss the 90s? ManofStone17 I miss the creative bubble. Where, like, you could have 10 artists come out and nine of them will sound completely different. Now you’ve got 10 artists and 10 of them sound the same. You gotta switch it up and evolve. That is what is gonna stabilise you and give you longevity. You cannot stay in that one spot as they’re gonna catch up with you and they’re gonna mimic. You gotta carve another path in the grass, you know? If you built a Big Boi’s Atlanta-themed miniature golf, what Atlanta landmarks would you choose as obstacles? robotdoggy Def gotta use the Dungeon, the original house. Maybe Stone Mountain. [Strip clubs] Magic City and the Blue Flame. The new ferris wheel at Centennial Park, throw that in there, as that is some new shit. Maybe Stankonia studios? Places like Magic City are more than just a strip club. That’s where the next sound plays. The strip club DJ is gonna set the tempo of what is happening in the city as everyone is in that motherfucker! If it rings off there, you’ve got a hit. What do you think is the future of hip-hop? Giantfunkymonkey It depends what these labels are doing. Right now, the artists have more control, ’cos of social media. There’s more direct access to your fanbase. That is the future. Peer-to-peer. Give it straight to them. Get rid of the middleman. I saw you at a Burger King with Terry Riley at an ATP festival once – what did you talk about? Rubberechoes What’s crazy is I didn’t even know who Terry Riley was at first. That is the only time you might catch me at a Burger King or McDonald’s … when we are in Europe and can’t get a chef cooked meal. People were like holy shit, it is Terry Riley! Honestly, the dude’s beard was majestic. Real life Lord of the Rings. Gandalf type-shit. What was it like to work with the Atlanta ballet? ericah I was the first rapper to rap with the ballet and have four sold-out shows. I did something different; it was one hell of an experience. It is something I am thinking of bringing back – I am actually thinking of taking it to Las Vegas. To create a musical and play those classic trap songs would be beautiful. How many Outkast songs/albums do you and Andre 3000 have in the vault? MaximFlath [Smiles from ear to ear and nods enthusiastically] Yeah, boy! There is a lot of unreleased music around here, man. Will OutKast reunite for a new album? Manicm You would have to talk to the Lord Jesus. Only he knows. Big Boi and Sleepy Brown’s album The Big Sleepover is released on 10 December