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It’s official: OutKast’s Speakerboxx/The Love Below has become the best-selling rap album of all time.
The record, released in 2003, has become the first rap album in the US to reach certified 13x platinum, meaning it has sold over 13 million copies, according to HipHopDX.
I mean, pretty impressive feat, even more impressive when compared to other rap albums.
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Just to put things in perspective, that means the fifth studio album by the hip-hop duo has sold even more copies than The Eminem Show, which officially became certified 12x platinum last year.
Big Boi, who is one-half of Outkast, took to Instagram to celebrate the enormous milestone.
“Special delivery just in time for the 20th anniversary 9/23/03 … #speakerboxxxthelovebelow Over 13 Million albums sold. ( Diamond & a 3.5 ) What Are Your Jams ? @ outkast is everlasting. Stank You Smelly Much …To All Y’all,” he wrote.
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OutKast garnered success with the release of their first four studio albums, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994), ATLiens (1996), Aquemini (1998) and Stankonia (2000).
However, no one could’ve predicted what would come with their fifth LP's release.
In its first week, it debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200 chart, selling over 500,000 copies, with its song ‘Hey Ya’ putting this album on the map.
During an interview with XXL, Big Boi revealed that recording the album was the most creative control he'd had in his career at that stage.
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“I had a complete vision of what an album could be that was entirely me, and the idea was just to keep it funky, keep it jamming, it’s always bass-heavy. And lyricism, it’s all about lyrics, taking pride in your pen and your pad,” he told the outlet.
He added that the album offers two sides of the coin, offering both his and Andre 3000's perspectives.
Two for the price of one, you might say, which explains the album's dual name.
While the duo had high hopes for the album, Andrew 3000 admitted that he never expected it to receive as much critical and commercial acclaim as it did.
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“[I] remember, it wasn’t even going to be a real thing—it was different than all we had built. I didn’t expect people to view it on its own; the music was going to be support for a film,” he said.
And still, today, the album is a banger.
“It still stands up, and people still get enjoyment out of it,” he added.
Charisa Bossinakis