39 B.O.B.

OUTKAST 2000

The ATLien hip-hop visionaries dropped “B.O.B.” when the world was still reeling from the innovations of Aquemini. But André 3000 and Big Boi were not standing still. “Everybody’s been doing music like they all have the same formula: E = MC2,” Big Boi said at the time. So Outkast made sure nobody could fit “B.O.B.” into any formula — manic drums, headbanging rock guitar, DJ scratches, a gospel chorus. The beat was inspired by the U.K.’s frenetic drum-andbass. “I thought about how to Americanize it,” André said after he and Big Boi heard the tempo at a party in London.