Hey YA!: The Unauthorized Biography of Outkast

by Chris Nickson

Book Overview

Since 1994 OutKast have been reinventing the rules of hip-hop, blending different styles of music into a Southern style that is wholly their own, soulful, outrageous, and addictive. They've captured the hearts of fans and music critics alike, and have achieved records and scaled heights in the music world that most artists can only dream of. The full story of OutKast has never before been told. Now in "Hey Ya " you'll go behind the scenes into the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312337353
• ISBN13: 9780312337353
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

U gotta have this if you luv Outkast!!!

I always been a fan to Outkast since I first got introduced to them back in '01 (now makes my 4th yr. as a Outkast fan), I know they had albums put out back then be4 the 2 big breaktroughs of STANKONIA and SPEAKERBOXXX (2 of my best favorites to incl. along in my CD collection or music collection for example). They were the 1st rap songs to bring a lotta songs that deals w/ the cities of Atlanta and Jonesboro for example. I once dubbed them as the Steely Dan of Hip-Hop b/c of the rock group back in the '70s (alongside Donald Fagen and Walter Becker). They a varied mix of jazz, R & B, funk, gospel, blues, funk, Latin, electronic, etc. They can do it all kinds. Believe I'm a real fan of music of all kinds myself. This will get you in the groove if u grab this if u're a fan to rap, R & B/old school, jazz, and/or other types of music. If u're a fan to Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Barry White, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Charlie Parker, Steely Dan, John Mayer, The Roots, Tribe Called Quest, The Neptunes, Jay-Z, Goodie Mob, Kanye West, Nelly, Alicia Keys, Patti Labelle, Prince, Jimi Hendrix, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, N.W.A., Twista, Cee-Lo, R. Kelly, among others, u must-have this book if u're truly a fan to this group. They both took home Grammys for Best Rap Album and Record of the Year from their multi-platinum best-selling double CD SPEAKERBOXXX/THE LOVE BELOW, which means they taking on a new level in the world of music (black and white). I'll love to checkout their latest movie which I been awaiting on "A Life an Idlewild" premiering on HBO ASAP. They probably had that change. Maybe not, we'll have to see about it. Well big up to my group Outkast for doing such a good job.

Good initial look inside one of music's legendary acts

Don't be deceived by the subtitle which says that "Hey Ya!..." is the `unauthorized' biography of the visionary Atlanta Hip-Hop group, OutKast. Don't expect any Kitty Kelley-style revelations. This is only unauthorized because it wasn't written in direct cooperation with the band and to attract buyers with enticing `unauthorized' label. In truth, "Hey Ya!" is nothing more than a 190 page glowing review of OutKast. None of this, however, is a knock against the book because, at its core, it's a fascinating look at the beginnings and evolution of one of the true landmark groups in music today. From their earliest days after meeting in high school, Andre Benjamin (Andre 3000) and Antwan Patton (Big Boi) set out to make music on their own terms, seeking to be evolutionary and revolutionary. Whereas most hip hop acts were sticking to tired formulas and unoriginal beats and techniques, this duo (which quickly adopted the appropriately title name, OutKast) kept pushing the envelope and trying create something new. This biography deconstructs the group by showing some of their earliest musical influences like, understandably, Run-DMC and George Clinton and the more unlikely Kate Bush (a personal favorite of Big Boi's). It reveals how the two principles disparate styles didn't disrupt the music, but rather enhanced. It gives a nod a to OutKast's earlier supports like Atlanta's Dungeon Family studios and the Organized Noise studios. Most importantly, the author, Chris Nickson, spends most of his effort analyzing how OutKast evolved musically (and stylistically) with each progressive album. Instead of resting on what worked before, OutKast kept taking risks and it made a difference in how they were viewed and in their legacy. While "Hey Ya!..." may not be a packed with amazing revelations, it still gives fans a good opportunity to get inside this seminal hip hop act. The information is strong and gives fans a stronger connection with this OutKast.