Outkast was inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame on November 8. The ever-elusive André 3000, who was spotted on Venice Beach earlier in the day, wound up making the trip to the Peacock Theater to accept the prestigious honor.
After a quick game of rock, paper, scissors, Big Boi decided to take podium first and do a roll call of everyone he was thankful for along Outkast’s journey, including executive L.A. Reid. André followed with an emotional trip down memory lane. As he reflected on Outkast’s humble beginnings, he choked up while talking about the late Organized Noize producer Rico Wade, who died unexpectedly in April 2024.
“Right out of high school, me, Big and CeeLo were the youngest people in the Dungeon,” he said. “It just so happened Rico Wade saw something in us and gave us the opportunity to come […] like Rico Wade, he’s not here right now. I wish he could be here to see this. These people had to sacrifice their home. Ms. Beatrice had to sacrifice their home for us to make music.
“This was the place called The Dungeon, where we were all making music and doing nefarious things as well. They had to go to school the next morning and we up bumping until like 6 in the morning and we smoking weed and it’s going through the vents […] From Busta Rhymes to Nas to Wu-Tang and even before, we had Raheem the Dream, these were our heroes.”
Shortly after, André teared up and said, “Great things start in little rooms,” a reference to The Dungeon. He was quickly comforted by all of his loved ones and peers, who’d gathered on stage in support of the legendary Atlanta Hip-Hop duo.
Big Boi soon lightened the mood with, “We bout to burn this b#### down!” From there, the stage lit up with a full band, with Tyler, The Creator doing vocal duties on “B.o.B.,” Organized Noize producer Sleepy Brown joining Big Boi for “The Way You Move” and Janelle Monaé taking the mic for “Hey Ya.”
The ceremony marked a monumental achievement for the Southern Hip-Hop pioneers, who were inducted by actor and musician Donald Glover. Glover praised the duo’s revolutionary impact on the genre, crediting them with redefining Hip-Hop’s geographical boundaries and artistic possibilities.
Notably absent from the evening was any musical performance by Three Stacks, who has stepped away from traditional rap in recent years to focus on experimental flute and piano music. The artist’s reluctance to perform Outkast classics has become a recurring theme at public appearances, leaving fans yearning for the duo’s legendary catalog.
Outkast’s recognition comes decades after their groundbreaking debut, 1994’s Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, validating their influence on multiple generations of artists across genres. The ceremony celebrated not just their commercial success but also their cultural impact on American music—and they did it in style.
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