Stankonia is the fourth studio album by the American hip hop duo Outkast. It was released on October 31, 2000, by LaFace Records. The album was recorded in the duo's recently purchased Atlanta recording facility Stankonia Studios, which allowed for fewer time and recording constraints, and featured production work from Earthtone III and Organized Noize.
Stankonia
Outkast performing in promotion of Stankonia at the Area Festival in 2001
With the release of Stankonia, OutKast became the first hip hop group to openly acknowledge rave culture as an influence.
Outkast was an American hip hop duo formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1992, consisting of rappers Big Boi and André 3000. The duo achieved both critical and commercial success from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, helping to popularize Southern hip hop with their intricate lyricism, memorable melodies, and positive themes, while experimenting with a diverse range of genres such as funk, psychedelia, jazz, and techno. The duo are widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in hip hop.
Outkast performing in 2001
Big Boi and André 3000 met as teenagers at Atlanta's Lenox Square shopping center (pictured).
Big Boi performing in 2006 in Atlanta
Outkast headlining at Governors Ball Music Festival