OutKast celebrates 25th anniversary of “ATLiens” with deluxe album, custom collections and more
On Aug. 27, 1996, OutKast hit mainstream airwaves with their second studio album “ATLiens.”
With nearly 2 million copies sold nationwide and double-platinum certification, OutKast generated Billboard charting hits — “Elevators (Me & You),” “ATLiens” and “Jazzy Belle” — that elevated the hip-hop duo from Atlanta’s underground music scene.
On Aug. 27, 2021, the 25th anniversary of that sophomore breakthrough will be celebrated with a deluxe version of the original album, including a full-length collection of 14 previously unreleased instrumental tracks. The deluxe album will contain the album’s most popular singles, “Elevators (Me & You),” “ATLiens” and “Jazzy Belle,” accompanied with upgraded high-definition videos.
The single “Elevators (Me & You)” was recently certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, joining the gold single “ATLiens” and double-platinum album “ATLiens.”
A limited four-album 12″ vinyl version of “ATLiens” will be available with both the original release and the previously unavailable instrumental album on two LPs each.
Additionally, the anniversary edition of “ATLiens” will be featured as membership record club Vinyl Me, Please’s (vinylmeplease.com) hip-hop record of the month for August 2021.
A two-LP neon green and blue galaxy vinyl, which is mastered at half-speed and includes an exclusive listening experience with a listening notes booklet, will be available to members of Vinyl Me, Please.
Also on Aug. 27, an exclusive bundle with a four-LP set housed in a custom gatefold jacket with printed inner bags and pressed on standard black vinyl will be available from Get On Down online boutique (getondown.com). That set includes the “ATLiens” original vocal album and the full-length instrumental album.
Get On Down will exclusively house the hit singles “Elevators” and “ATLiens” in a custom printed inner sleeve and miniature outer jacket duplicate of the commercial 12″ release.
E-commerce site Merch Traffic (merchtraffic.com) will offer custom-made pieces, hand-drawn artwork and a variety of novelty items specifically made for the album’s anniversary.
50 Years of Hip-Hop: Celebrating Atlanta’s influence
This year marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. Read our coverage on how Atlanta impacted the genre:
AJC Film: “The South Got Something To Say,” a new feature documentary from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution chronicles the rise of Atlanta hip-hop and its journey to dominance. Watch the film at ajc.com/hiphop, where it is streaming for a limited time.
Learn more about the film’s backstory: AJC hip-hop doc chronicles evolution of Atlanta’s cultural dominance
Read the oral history of ‘the South got something to say’ by Ernie Suggs and DeAsia Paige, tracing the lasting effects from André 3000′s famous declaration at the 1995 Source Awards
Take a look at our list of the 50 greatest Atlanta hip-hop hitmakers and our round-up of the 50 songs that define Atlanta hip-hop. By a passionate crew of hip-hop fans at the AJC.
How exactly did Atlanta become the nation’s rap capital? Here’s a brief history of Atlanta’s rise in hip-hop. By Najja Parker.
Remember Atlanta pioneers Silk Tymes Leather? One member of the female rap group doesn’t want people to forget their legacy. By DeAsia Paige.
Read more of our coverage on how Atlanta influenced hip-hop.
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