Aquemini
Encyclopedia
Aquemini is the third studio album
by hip hop
duo OutKast
, released September 29, 1998 on LaFace Records
. The title is a portmanteau of the two performers' Zodiac
signs: Aquarius (Big Boi
) and Gemini
(André 3000
). The album was certified platinum in November 1998, only two months after its release, and was certified double platinum
on July 2, 1999 by the Recording Industry Association of America
. Aquemini peaked at #2 on both the Billboard 200
and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop
charts. Four of the album's tracks had already or would later become singles
, although some were limited (promotional) releases and not available commercially. It was ranked as number 500 in the book version of Rolling Stone
's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
, drug addiction and problematic relationships
, while exploring the bleakest aspects of humanity
. In contrast to much of hip hop music in the late 1990s, OutKast did not tone down the regional qualities, like the harmonica
break on "Rosa Parks" and distinctive Atlanta slang and diction throughout. "Rosa Parks" was later nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
. The song led to much controversy with Rosa Parks
filing a defamation suit against OutKast. Aquemini also featured live instrumentation and poetic lyricism, such as the reggae horns on the seven-minute long "SpottieOttieDopaliscious" and wah-wah guitar on the closing track "Chonkyfire". The album also included "West Savannah," which was an outtake from Outkast's debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
. The track was also featured as an intro to the "Benz Or Beamer" video, but was held off Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and not used on the duo's follow-up album ATLiens
, finally to surface on this album. The song is the original version and was not re-recorded for the album. A small intro to the song begins at the end of Slump, with Big Boi referring to the song's history.
by Sleepy Brown
and introspective lyricism by Big Boi and Andre, reciting it in spoken word style.
called it "breathtaking in its ambition [...] makes most rappers seem drab and doltish in comparison". Steve Jones of USA Today
gave the album three-and-a-half out of four stars and commented that the duo's "molasses-smooth raps speak to the stark realities of urban streets. And with the hard-driving, Southern-fried grooves provided by live studio musicians, these songs not only make you dance, they make you sweat". Tony Green of Spin
praised its musical textures and commented that "OutKast understand the power of sound the way, say, Sly
understood it on There's a Riot Goin' On
or P-Funk
did on The Motor-Booty Affair
".
Giving it a five out of five "mic"-rating, Charlie Braxton of The Source
praised its "diverse tapestry of various musical textures" and the duo's "submersion into the baptismal waters of the African American musical continuum, and [...] their superb use of the urban narrative". Braxton called Aquemini "a brilliant record" and commented that it "possesses an uncanny blend of of sonic beauty, poignant lyricism and spirituality that compels without commanding". Los Angeles Times
writer Soren Baker complimented OutKast's "intelligent hip-hop" and commented that "Musically, the collection supplies some of the lushest tracks ever included on a hip-hop record [...] a cohesive mix of mood-enhancing soundscapes".
Some critics appreciated the absence of a materialist focus. Rolling Stone
declared that the album proved "that you don't have to sell out to sell records", while PopMatters
agreed, claiming "(i)n a year where excess was romanticized by nearly everyone, OutKast was one of the few commercial groups concerned with more than just 'the Benjamins
'". The music website Nude as the News called "Rosa Parks" "one of the best rap songs ever crafted." The album was later ranked #21 on Chris Rock
's list of the Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums of all time. In September 2010 "SpottieOttieDopaliscious" was included at number 16 on Pitchfork Media's
Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.
The clean version of the album has all of the skits in between the songs removed. The interlude "Nathaniel" was omitted, as was verse five of "Liberation".
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
duo OutKast
OutKast
Outkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...
, released September 29, 1998 on LaFace Records
LaFace Records
LaFace Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment.-Company history:LaFace was formed in 1989 as a joint venture between the producing duo Antonio "L.A." Reid & Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, and Arista Records. The combined nicknames of the duo's successful...
. The title is a portmanteau of the two performers' Zodiac
Zodiac
In astronomy, the zodiac is a circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude which are centred upon the ecliptic: the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year...
signs: Aquarius (Big Boi
Big Boi
Antwan André Patton , better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an American rapper, song-writer, record producer and actor, best known for being a member of American hip hop duo OutKast alongside André 3000. His work in the duo has produced six studio albums. During the duo's hiatus, he and André...
) and Gemini
Gemini (astrology)
Gemini is the third astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the Zodiac between the 60th and 89th degree of celestial longitude. Generally, the Sun transits this area of the zodiac between May 21 to June 20 each year...
(André 3000
André 3000
André Lauren Benjamin , better known by his stage name André 3000 is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and actor, best known for being part of American hip-hop duo OutKast alongside fellow rapper Big Boi...
). The album was certified platinum in November 1998, only two months after its release, and was certified double platinum
Double Platinum
Double Platinum is a 1999 musical telefilm starring Diana Ross and Brandy.-Plot:The story begins with a scene featuring star singer Olivia King leaving her daughter Kayla, who was an infant at the time. It is revealed that Kayla was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but in her later years, she would move...
on July 2, 1999 by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
. Aquemini peaked at #2 on both the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
charts. Four of the album's tracks had already or would later become singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, although some were limited (promotional) releases and not available commercially. It was ranked as number 500 in the book version of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Content
A vaguely futuristic, synthesizer-drenched album punctuated with anthemic choruses and bluesy beats, Aquemini addresses numerous topics such as emancipationEmancipation
Emancipation means the act of setting an individual or social group free or making equal to citizens in a political society.Emancipation may also refer to:* Emancipation , a champion Australian thoroughbred racehorse foaled in 1979...
, drug addiction and problematic relationships
Interpersonal relationship
An interpersonal relationship is an association between two or more people that may range from fleeting to enduring. This association may be based on limerence, love, solidarity, regular business interactions, or some other type of social commitment. Interpersonal relationships are formed in the...
, while exploring the bleakest aspects of humanity
Human condition
The human condition encompasses the experiences of being human in a social, cultural, and personal context. It can be described as the irreducible part of humanity that is inherent and not connected to gender, race, class, etc. — a search for purpose, sense of curiosity, the inevitability of...
. In contrast to much of hip hop music in the late 1990s, OutKast did not tone down the regional qualities, like the harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
break on "Rosa Parks" and distinctive Atlanta slang and diction throughout. "Rosa Parks" was later nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group was awarded between 1991 and 2011, alongside the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. Previously a single award was presented for Best Rap Performance....
. The song led to much controversy with Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement"....
filing a defamation suit against OutKast. Aquemini also featured live instrumentation and poetic lyricism, such as the reggae horns on the seven-minute long "SpottieOttieDopaliscious" and wah-wah guitar on the closing track "Chonkyfire". The album also included "West Savannah," which was an outtake from Outkast's debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik is the debut album of hip-hop duo OutKast, released April 26, 1994 on LaFace Records. Recorded at D.A.R.P. Studios, Purple Dragon, Bosstown and Doppler Studios in Atlanta, Georgia throughout 1992 to 1994, the album featured production by the Atlanta-area production...
. The track was also featured as an intro to the "Benz Or Beamer" video, but was held off Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and not used on the duo's follow-up album ATLiens
ATLiens
Upon its release, ATLiens received positive reviews from music publications such as The Hartford Courant, Rolling Stone, and The Washington Post...
, finally to surface on this album. The song is the original version and was not re-recorded for the album. A small intro to the song begins at the end of Slump, with Big Boi referring to the song's history.
Lyrics
Delivered with rhythmic vocal styles and distinctive Southern rapping, the main focus of the album seemed to be on morality. With complex metaphors and dirty South slang, Andre addresses his critics in the album opener, "Return of the G". It's the return of the gangsta/Thanks ta' them niggas that think you soft/And say, "Y'all be gospel rappin'" /But they be steady clappin'/When you talk about bitches and switches/And hoes and clothes and weed.... Aqueminis catchy lyrics are a mix of street-wise and common sense. RapReviews.com noted that "Aquemini is full of small moments that make you nod your head and look forward to hearing them again." "SpottieOttieDopaliscious" featured a soulful hookHook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
by Sleepy Brown
Sleepy Brown
Patrick "Sleepy" Brown is an R&B singer-songwriter, and record producer. He is one-third of the successful Atlanta-based production team of Organized Noize, which has created hits for acts such as OutKast, Goodie Mob, and TLC...
and introspective lyricism by Big Boi and Andre, reciting it in spoken word style.
Reception
Upon its release, Aquemini received general acclaim from music critics. QQ (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
called it "breathtaking in its ambition [...] makes most rappers seem drab and doltish in comparison". Steve Jones of USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
gave the album three-and-a-half out of four stars and commented that the duo's "molasses-smooth raps speak to the stark realities of urban streets. And with the hard-driving, Southern-fried grooves provided by live studio musicians, these songs not only make you dance, they make you sweat". Tony Green of Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
praised its musical textures and commented that "OutKast understand the power of sound the way, say, Sly
Sly & the Family Stone
Sly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music...
understood it on There's a Riot Goin' On
There's a Riot Goin' On
There's a Riot Goin' On is the fifth studio album by American funk and soul band Sly & the Family Stone, released November 20, 1971 on Epic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place primarily throughout 1970 to 1971 at Record Plant Studios in Sausalito, California...
or P-Funk
Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic is a funk, soul and rock music collective headed by George Clinton. Their style has been dubbed P-Funk. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums...
did on The Motor-Booty Affair
Motor Booty Affair
Motor Booty Affair is an album by funk band Parliament. Released in late 1978, it contains two of the group's most popular tracks, "Rumpofsteelskin" and "Aqua Boogie " which went to number one on the Billboard Black Singles chart. The album title refers to the music coming out of "Motor town"...
".
Giving it a five out of five "mic"-rating, Charlie Braxton of The Source
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
praised its "diverse tapestry of various musical textures" and the duo's "submersion into the baptismal waters of the African American musical continuum, and [...] their superb use of the urban narrative". Braxton called Aquemini "a brilliant record" and commented that it "possesses an uncanny blend of of sonic beauty, poignant lyricism and spirituality that compels without commanding". Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
writer Soren Baker complimented OutKast's "intelligent hip-hop" and commented that "Musically, the collection supplies some of the lushest tracks ever included on a hip-hop record [...] a cohesive mix of mood-enhancing soundscapes".
Some critics appreciated the absence of a materialist focus. Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
declared that the album proved "that you don't have to sell out to sell records", while PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
agreed, claiming "(i)n a year where excess was romanticized by nearly everyone, OutKast was one of the few commercial groups concerned with more than just 'the Benjamins
United States one hundred-dollar bill
The United States one hundred-dollar bill is a denomination of United States currency. U.S. statesman, inventor and diplomat Benjamin Franklin is currently featured on the obverse of the bill. On the reverse of the banknote is an image of Independence Hall. The time on the clock according to the...
'". The music website Nude as the News called "Rosa Parks" "one of the best rap songs ever crafted." The album was later ranked #21 on Chris Rock
Chris Rock
Christopher Julius "Chris" Rock III is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. He was voted in the US as the 5th greatest stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central...
's list of the Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums of all time. In September 2010 "SpottieOttieDopaliscious" was included at number 16 on Pitchfork Media's
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.
Track listing
| # | Title | Time | Producer(s) | Performers | Samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Hold On, Be Strong" | 1:11 | Donny Mathis, OutKast |
|
|
| 2 | "Return of the 'G'" | 4:49 | Organized Noize Organized Noize Organized Noize is an Atlanta-based American hip hop production company made up of Rico Wade, Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown.-History:Among the hit records they have worked on include TLC's "Waterfalls", En Vogue's "Don't Let Go ", and Ludacris' "Saturday "... |
|
Midnight Express (film) Released on October 6, 1978, the soundtrack to Midnight Express was composed by Italian synth-pioneer Giorgio Moroder. The score won the Academy Award for Best Original Score of 1978.Side A:#Chase – Giorgio Moroder... " by Giorgio Moroder Superfly (song) "Superfly" is a song by Curtis Mayfield, the title track from his 1972 soundtrack album for the film of the same name. It was the second single released from the album, following "Freddie's Dead ", and reached #8 on the Billboard Pop chart. The lyrics celebrate the craftiness and determinaton of... " by Curtis Mayfield Curtis Mayfield Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly... |
| 3 | "Rosa Parks Rosa Parks (song) "Rosa Parks" is a song by the hip hop group OutKast. It was released as the first single from their 1998 album Aquemini, and was that album's most successful single. The song's title comes from the civil rights activist Rosa Parks... " |
5:24 | OutKast |
|
The Sandpipers The Sandpipers were an American easy listening trio/quartet, who carved a niche in 1960s folk rock. They are best remembered for their cover version of "Guantanamera", which became a transatlantic Top 10 hit in 1966, and their Top 20 hit "Come Saturday Morning" from the soundtrack of the film The... |
| 4 | "Skew it on the Bar-B" | 3:15 | Organized Noize |
Raekwon Corey Woods , better known by the stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He released his solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... in 1995, and has since recorded four solo albums, as well as work with Wu-Tang and an extensive amount of guest contributions with... |
Henry Mancini Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995... |
| 5 | "Aquemini" | 5:19 | OutKast |
|
|
| 6 | "Synthesizer" | 5:11 | OutKast |
George Clinton (funk musician) George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost... |
Sly & the Family Stone Sly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music... |
| 7 | "Slump" | 5:09 | OutKast |
Cool Breeze Cool Breeze is a 1st generation Dungeon Family artist, and creator of the hip hop term, and subsequent song "Dirty South". The song is featured on Goodie Mob's 1995 debut LP Soul Food, and the term has become the unofficial name for describing the hip-hop nation's southern US region... |
|
| 8 | "West Savannah" | 4:03 | Organized Noize |
|
|
| 9 | "Da Art of Storytellin' (Part 1)" | 3:43 | Mr. DJ Mr. DJ Mr. DJ, born David Sheats, is a Grammy Award-winning American hip-hop record producer and DJ from Atlanta, Georgia.-Biography:Raised on the southside of College Park, Georgia, Mr. DJ entered the music industry as a DJ for Atlanta-based hip-hop group OutKast. According to Sheats,After touring with... |
|
|
| 10 | "Da Art of Storytellin' (Part 2)" | 2:48 | Mr. DJ |
|
|
| 11 | "Mamacita" | 5:52 | Organized Noize |
|
|
| 12 | "SpottieOttieDopaliscious" | 7:07 | OutKast |
Sleepy Brown Patrick "Sleepy" Brown is an R&B singer-songwriter, and record producer. He is one-third of the successful Atlanta-based production team of Organized Noize, which has created hits for acts such as OutKast, Goodie Mob, and TLC... |
|
| 13 | "Y'All Scared" | 4:50 | Mr. DJ |
Khujo Khujo is an American hip hop musician who was born on March 13, 1972 in Atlanta, Georgia.He has child name NaToya Knight. He is one-fourth of Goodie Mob , and one-half of The Lumberjacks . He is also the only featured guest to appear on every single Outkast album, including Big Boi's solo album... |
|
| 14 | "Nathaniel" | 1:10 |
|
||
| 15 | "Liberation" | 8:46 | OutKast |
Erykah Badu Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical... Big Rube Big Rube is an American rapper and hip-hop producer. He is a first generation member of the Dungeon Family & Society of Soul. He is known for his spoken word intros and interludes for many of the Dungeon Family’s albums including Bubba Sparxxx, Goodie Mob, OutKast, & Witchdoctor... |
|
| 16 | "Chonkyfire" | 6:10 | OutKast |
|
|
The clean version of the album has all of the skits in between the songs removed. The interlude "Nathaniel" was omitted, as was verse five of "Liberation".
Personnel
| Contributors | Producers |
|---|---|
| Producers | OutKast, Organized Noize Organized Noize Organized Noize is an Atlanta-based American hip hop production company made up of Rico Wade, Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown.-History:Among the hit records they have worked on include TLC's "Waterfalls", En Vogue's "Don't Let Go ", and Ludacris' "Saturday "... , Mr. DJ Sheats Mr. DJ Mr. DJ, born David Sheats, is a Grammy Award-winning American hip-hop record producer and DJ from Atlanta, Georgia.-Biography:Raised on the southside of College Park, Georgia, Mr. DJ entered the music industry as a DJ for Atlanta-based hip-hop group OutKast. According to Sheats,After touring with... , Donny Mathis |
| Executive Producers | OutKast, Babyface, Organized Noize |
| Performers | |
| Lead vocals and rapping | Big Boi Big Boi Antwan André Patton , better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an American rapper, song-writer, record producer and actor, best known for being a member of American hip hop duo OutKast alongside André 3000. His work in the duo has produced six studio albums. During the duo's hiatus, he and André... , André Benjamin, Raekwon Raekwon Corey Woods , better known by the stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He released his solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... in 1995, and has since recorded four solo albums, as well as work with Wu-Tang and an extensive amount of guest contributions with... , Erykah Badu Erykah Badu Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical... , Goodie Mob Goodie Mob Goodie Mob is a Hip Hop act based in Atlanta, Georgia that formed in 1991 and currently consists of members Cee-Lo Green, Khujo, T-Mo and Big Gipp.-History:The group's name acts as a double backronym... , Slick Rick Slick Rick Richard Walters , better known by his stage name Slick Rick is a Grammy-nominated English-American rapper... , Whild Peach, Witchdoctor, Khujo Khujo Khujo is an American hip hop musician who was born on March 13, 1972 in Atlanta, Georgia.He has child name NaToya Knight. He is one-fourth of Goodie Mob , and one-half of The Lumberjacks . He is also the only featured guest to appear on every single Outkast album, including Big Boi's solo album... , Joi Gilliam Joi (singer) Joi Elaine Gilliam , better known by her stage name Joi, is an American R&B/Rock singer, songwriter and record producer associated with the Dungeon Family collective based in Atlanta, Georgia, and as such often performs with OutKast, the Organized Noize production team, and Goodie Mob Joi Elaine... , Jamahr "Backbone" Williams, Big Rube Big Rube Big Rube is an American rapper and hip-hop producer. He is a first generation member of the Dungeon Family & Society of Soul. He is known for his spoken word intros and interludes for many of the Dungeon Family’s albums including Bubba Sparxxx, Goodie Mob, OutKast, & Witchdoctor... |
| Background vocals | George Clinton George Clinton (funk musician) George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost... , Debra Killings Debra Killings Debra Killings is an American singer and bass guitarist; notable for an extensive session and background vocal work for LaFace Records & Rowdy Records-based artists such as TLC, Monica and OutKast.... , Jim Smith, Jermaine Smith and Pat "Sleepy" Brown Sleepy Brown Patrick "Sleepy" Brown is an R&B singer-songwriter, and record producer. He is one-third of the successful Atlanta-based production team of Organized Noize, which has created hits for acts such as OutKast, Goodie Mob, and TLC... |
| Guitar Guitar The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... |
Craig Love, Tomi Martin, Martin Terry (electric guitar Electric guitar An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... ) |
| Bass guitar Bass guitar The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... |
Skinny Miracles, George Grier, LaMarquis Mark Jefferson |
| Synthesizer Synthesizer A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... |
Kenneth Wright, Marvin "Chanz" Parkman (also piano Piano The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... , moog bass) |
| Scratching Scratching Scratching is a DJ or turntablist technique used to produce distinctive sounds by moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable while optionally manipulating the crossfader on a DJ mixer. While scratching is most commonly associated with hip hop music, since the late 1980s, it has been used... |
Mr. DJ Mr. DJ Mr. DJ, born David Sheats, is a Grammy Award-winning American hip-hop record producer and DJ from Atlanta, Georgia.-Biography:Raised on the southside of College Park, Georgia, Mr. DJ entered the music industry as a DJ for Atlanta-based hip-hop group OutKast. According to Sheats,After touring with... |
| Strings String instrument A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones... and Woodwinds |
South Central Chamber Orchestra |
| Horn Horn (instrument) The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player .... s |
Darian Emory |
| Percussion Percussion instrument A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... |
Omar Phillips, Victor Alexander (drums) |
| Other performers | 4.0 b.k.a. The Four Phonics |
| Technicians | |
| Programming | Organized Noize |
| Concert Master and Orchestral Arrangements | Charles Veal |
| Engineers | John Frye, Bernasky Wall, Ryan Williams, Jean B. Smit |
| Assistant Engineers | Alberto Perez, Rico Lumpkins, Ralph Cacciurri, Jason Rome, Jason Stokes, Kenny Stallworth, Katy Teasdale |
| Mastering | Brian Gardner |
| Mixing | Josh Butler, Mr. DJ Sheats |
| Mixing Assistant | Claudine Pontier, Shawn Grove |
| Art Direction, Design | D.L. Warfield |
| Design Assistant, Assistant Art Director | Nigel Sawyer |
| Photography | Tom Smugala |
| Coordination | Courtney Taylor |
| Arranger | Mr. DJ Sheats |
Chart performance
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
2 |
| U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | 2 |
| Top Canadian Albums | 17 |
External links
- Aquemini at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Album Review at RapReviews
- Album Review at Yahoo! MusicYahoo! MusicYahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
- Rankings and ratings at Acclaimed Music
- The Making of OutKast's Aquemini at Creative LoafingCreative LoafingCL Inc. is the Tampa, Florida-based publisher of three city newsweeklies and their associated websites. Each of the papers focuses on local news, politics, arts and entertainment, and restaurants...