I was in the 5th grade when I heard OutKast for the first time.
Their album “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” had come out earlier that school year, and it was hands down one of the coolest things I had ever heard in my life. From the funky fresh sounds of “The Way You Move” to the eclectic energy of “Hey Ya!”, the ambitious album – or albums, rather – remains one of my favorite musical experiences to this day.
Fast forward to the present: eight years after they went their separate ways, Big Boi and Andre 3000 reunited as OutKast during the Coachella Music Festival on April 11.
Naturally, when I heard the news that the pair was reuniting, I responded by fan-girling as hard as I possibly could. It has been years since anyone had seen or heard anything from the two of them together since the utterly forgettable “Idlewild”.
An OutKast comeback was long overdue, and it was bound to be nothing but incredible.
However, as their April 11 performance would show, the duo, who had been renowned for their chemistry and masterful flow, was a bit rusty. The performance was plagued with various technical glitches, awkward moments and an audience that was completely devoid of energy.
Critics were quick to say that OutKast was done and it didn’t have that same “it factor” that brought them so much success in the past. Twitter was aflutter with concerned fans wondering what happened to the OutKast of old and who were these two out-of-sync dudes that took their place.
As I read through all of the negativity on the Internet, the only thing that came to my mind was that everyone needs to take a breath and chill out. Coachella is a live festival, so technical difficulties are bound to happen.
As for the broken chemistry set, it’s been eight years, people! Of course they’re not the OutKast we remember … at least not at this moment.
It is going to take time for the two to gel and regain a semblance of their former glory. The Coachella show was only the first stop in their 2014 tour, which will take them to various destinations throughout the country.
Maybe after a little more time on the road reminiscing about their baby mama’s mama, the cohesiveness and unmatched style that made OutKast the legend we remember them as will begin to develop right before our very eyes.
The Coachella performance wasn’t perfect in any way, but it was a very welcome return for one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time. It feels good to have them back.
