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Here’s an Article of Mine That Was Published Years Ago

12/6/2010

2 Comments

 
The Odd Couple
by Dana Crum

This feature on OutKast was published in The Source in 1998.

Picture
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Healthy thighs and hips sway as honeys prance about in tight shorts. Leaning against cars, fellas lounge in long shorts and vivid jerseys--gold or red or luminous green. They sport matching caps and the latest Nikes and Filas.

Dre, one half of OutKast, strolls through the crowd with his loping gait, wearing cut-off camouflage shorts, black soccer leggings and worn-down white Converse. He sports a football jersey too, but his is nondescript and netted and black. Under it is a white T-shirt. From beneath a tan safari hat he gazes out at the scene around him, his long braids dangling down his neck, the end of each capped with gleaming silver beads.

No one else at the Organized Noize-Bad Boy-sponsored picnic is dressed like him. Does the crowd reject him? Is he an outcast amongst his fellow African-Americans? No. They give him love. Every few seconds another brother reaches out to shake his hand. Every few seconds another smiling sister approaches, holding a camera, asking if he'll take a picture with her.

Not everyone who encounters Dre is so open-minded, though. The next day, at the Smokin' Grooves concert, flocks of fans greet him with homage, but one cat glares at him as though personally offended by his choice of clothes. Dre seems to notice. But he doesn't register a reaction.

Read the entire article.
2 Comments
Sean
1/26/2011 12:29:31 pm

Good article, DC! I liked it back in the day and I still do. I like the way you structured it. Aquemini. Yo, that was a hot album! A classic!

Reply
Dana Crum
1/26/2011 01:05:57 pm

Sean, I’ma have to agree with you. “Aquemini” was a dope album. In some ways, it was transcendent. And it has aged pretty well, too. There simply aren’t any bad songs on “Aquemini.” I still love “Slump,” “Da Art of Storytellin’” parts 1 and 2, “SpottieOttieDopaliscious” and “Y’All Scared.” And a lot of people slept on “Chonkyfire.” Oh, and it was cool interviewing Big Boi and André 3000. But that was back when André 3000 was known simply as “Dre.” Back in the day…

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