Outkast

The musical duo known as Outkast were famous the world over for helping define the sound of Southern hip-hop. It all started when two Atlanta natives, André "André 3000" Benjamin and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton met at a Lenox Square shopping mall when they were both 16. The two became friends and musical partners, even competing together in rap battles in their school cafeteria. Before long, they became immersed in the local hip-hop scene, forming the Dungeon Family musical collective with Georgia-based acts Organized Noize and Goodie Mob. By 1992, the two were signed to LaFace Records, where they came up with the name Outkast and set to work on their first single, "Player's Ball," which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart. Next came their debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, which was soon certified Platinum. More successful records would follow, including ATLiens in 1996, Aquemini in 1998, and Stankonia in 2000, before the group broke through to mainstream music listeners with 2003's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. The double album was essentially two solo albums by each of Outkast's members packaged together, and it was a huge success, particularly Benjamin's chart topping single "Hey Ya!" In 2007, the pair tried their hands at film, starring in and producing the soundtrack for the Prohibition-era period film "Idlewild." The group elected to go on hiatus after this period, working on solo projects until 2014, when they reunited for a performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.