Speakerboxx And The Love Below turned 20 years old on September 23rd 2023.
Thats Today!
Speakerboxx/The Love Below is probably one of my favorite albums from the 2000s, and has some of the best songs of the decade. It came out of a frankly strange situtation.
The reason why the album is split into 2 sections stems from both Andre and Big Boi producing what was initially gonna be their big studio solo debuts. Andre had taken a short break from producing, moving to Los Angeles doing a couple small gigs in a few shows and a movie before starting a solo album that was more funky and jazz influenced compared to his previous work. This was when Andre contacted Big Boi and began to share music. Big Boi was already working a few songs at this time in Atlanta while Andre was in Hollywood. Big Boi's output was more in line with his Southern Style Hip Hop in line with Stankonia. This was when the duo, still working on both of their solo albums, began to share and critique both of their music. Andre even ended up returning to Atlanta to get closer to Big Boi and got together in the studio. However, it became clear that both artists were not treating this as a collaboration, as both would still mostly work independently on their albums. Andre ended up working at 4 different studios to produce his solo album while Big Boi was working on his solo album. Both albums were nearing completion, with the hype for both projects being reported heavily, with the media mainly noting the strange working relationship the duo had each other. However, the record company Arista Records began to fear both solo albums would flop. In an attempt to garner more attention, the studio decided to combine the 2 albums into one, with Big Boi's Album Speakerboxx being the A side while Andre 3000's album The Love Below being the B Side.
Despite not initially being a Outkast album, Big Boi and Andre 3000 still decided to play with the unintentional collaboration, treating the album as a soundtrack to a planned movie that didnt go anywhere(but still sorta did, I'll get to that)
Regardless of how this album came out, despite its frankly kinda strange and disjointed nature, its genuinely one of the best albums to come out, with loads of neat details and samples. So lets take a look at one of the songs, one of my favorites from The Love Below side.
Not a sample but one of the things Id like to point out is Rosario Dawson on the track. She only says a few lines but she adds SOOOOO much to the song. She weirdly ties the song's whole idea together, a couple's mutual fear of commitment to each other. Lover's one day, friends with benefits the next and maybe married in the future. The laugh in the begining of the song still gets me teary eyed at times.
Also not really a sample but still worth noting: The Interpolation of the Prince song, She's Always In My Hair, which Andre 3000 directly stated the Purple One as an influence on the album. Its probably not a coincidence both songs share a similar theme. You can mainly hear the interpolation on the chorus of both songs.
The first actual sample you hear comes in at the outro of the song. Mind Playing Tricks On Me by Geto Boys is the sample, using Scarface's second verse. Its kinda strange that this verse comes from a very dark song but its a beautiful use of it. It comes across as somber, giving a feeling that its too late to go back.
The second sample comes right after. It originates from the fairly obscure rapper Volume 10, Pistol Grip Pump. If the name of the song sounds familar, its because its probably more well known for being covered by Rage Against The Machine on Renegades. On My Lap At All Times Indeed.
I really recommend listening to the song in its entirity. Its an oddly romantic and heartbreaking song. While Im here, remember the movie thing I mentioned? Outkast did eventually produce a different movie project, Idlewild, which features She Lives In My Lap with a different production. Its kinda neat!