Outkast was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on November 8th. The elusive André 3000, who was spotted on Venice Beach earlier in the day, finally made his way to the Peacock Theater to accept the prestigious honor.
After a quick game of rock, paper, scissors, Big Boi decided to take the podium first and named everyone he was thankful for along the way at Outkast, including executive LA Reid. Andre then goes on an emotional trip down memory lane. As he looked back on Outkast’s humble beginnings, he choked up while talking about the late Organized Noize producer Rico Wade, who died unexpectedly in April 2024.
“Just out of high school, Big and CeeLo and I were the youngest guys in the dungeon,” he said. “It just so happened that Rico Wade saw something in us and gave us the opportunity to come […] Like Rico Wade, he’s not here now. I wish he could see that here. These people had to sacrifice their homes. Ms. Beatrice had to sacrifice her home for us to make music.
“It was a place called The Dungeon where we all made music and did nefarious things. The next morning they had to go to school and we stayed up until about 6am, smoking weed and it was coming out of the vents.” […] From Busta Rhymes to Nas to Wu-Tang and even before that, we had “Dream Raheem”, these are our heroes. “
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Soon after, Andre said through tears: “Great things start in small rooms,” referring to “The Dungeon.” He was quickly comforted by all his loved ones and peers who gathered on stage to support the legendary Atlanta hip-hop duo.
Big Boi was quick to lighten the mood with, “We’re gonna burn this b#### down!” From there, the stage was lit up by the entire band, with Tyler, The Creator on vocals on “BoB,” Organized Noize producer Sleepy Brown joining Big Boi on “The Way You Move,” and Janelle Monaé on the mic for “Hey Ya.”
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The ceremony marked a monumental achievement for Southern hip-hop pioneers, who were hosted by actor and musician Donald Glover. Glover praised the pair’s revolutionary impact on the genre, crediting them with redefining hip-hop’s geographical boundaries and artistic possibilities.
It’s worth noting that the night didn’t include any musical performances by the band Three Stacks, who have strayed away from traditional rap in recent years and focused on experimental flute and piano music. The artist’s reluctance to perform Outkast classics has become a recurring theme during public appearances, leaving fans longing for the duo’s legendary work.
Outkast’s recognition comes decades after their groundbreaking 1994 debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, confirming their influence on multiple generations of artists across genres. The awards show not only celebrated their commercial success but also their cultural impact on American music—and they did it in style.
