Outkast’s Stankonia Turns 25: Look Back on Grammy Winning Album

Outkast proved they were “for real” when Stankonia became a sensation 25 years ago.

Composed of André 3000 and Big Boi , the Atlanta-based hip-hop duo previously hit No. 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart with both 1996’s ATLiens and 1998’s Aquemini . Ray Murray, whose long relationship with Outkast began with their 1994 debut studio album as part of producing group Organized Noize, recalls the two rappers as preternaturally talented but benefiting from structure.

“They were great MCs [but] just rapped forever and didn’t have the thought-out hooks,” Murray tells The Hollywood Reporter about those early days.

Outkast proved they were “for real” when Stankonia became a sensation 25 years ago.

Composed of André 3000 and Big Boi , the Atlanta-based hip-hop duo previ