Undoubtedly one of the most successful hip-hop acts of the '90s and '00s, OutKast has push the boundaries of what hip-hop can be in a pop context, cherry picking from a broad range of musical influences to create an altogether unique blend of dance music, funk, rap and the Dirty South style that they pioneered. Ironically, Dirty South is often synonymous with hard-living, ultra-violent rap that often puts street cred before talent; OutKast's music is lighter, more about getting your groove on and providing plenty of party fodder.

The duo consists of Andre "Andre 3000" Benjamin and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. The two met in high school, where they earned reputations as epic rhyme-spitters. They grew up Atlanta, and that comes through in their music, often through colorful imagery. "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik," one of their first big hits, made it clear they were from the south, with references to "that old Southern slouch" and stating that "catfish and grits is how my flow flow."

"Player's Ball" is the single that really launched them into the mainstream, rising quickly up the rap charts and virtually announcing the next big thing in hip-hop. Their debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, featured soul and funk influences that hadn't been heard in hip-hop before.

Several releases later, and OutKast had gone from being virtual unknowns to the biggest group in modern hip-hop. Stankonia, their fourth record, scored a major hit with "Ms. Jackson." Then in 2003, OutKast released a double-disc album entitled SpeakerBoxxx/The Love Below. It was hailed as a major landmark in hip-hop and pop music, with the electronic-influenced single "Hey Ya" ubiquitous on the radio for months after its release.

In 2006, the group released Idlewild, the soundtrack to a film of the same name. The film explored a heavily romanticized version of the 1930's speakeasy culture, with anachronistic hip-hop standing in for the period's jazz.