Is There Really a New OutKast Album?

It was August of 2003, and I was in New York City, when I found Outkast's "Ghetto Musick" b/w "She Lives in My Lap" on the shelf at Fat Beats. I took it back to my cousin's apartment, put it on the turntable, and must have played it at least three times in a row. Even with high expectations, the record didn't fail to amaze me - "She Lives..." with its avant garde jazz horns, and "Ghetto Musick" with its video game beat jumping perfectly to a far slower Patti Labelle sample. Even after listening to the brilliant Speakerboxx/The Love Below a month later, nothing could top "Ghetto Musick," proving that there are few things in music as stunning as Big Boi and Andre 3000 together on the mic.

Following the album's release, only Big Boi toured in support of it, while Andre pursued acting, and told magazine's he had no interest in rapping. Despite this, reports soon surfaced that the group was not breaking up, but instead, working on new material. Big Boi promised at least three more OutKast albums, including one called Ten the Hard Way, and the soundtrack to a feature film (Idlewild).

Idlewild has a trailer, and with no doubt, I am certain that footage does exist. I am seriously beginning to wonder, however, if there is a new OutKast album - one that features Andre - that will see the light of day anytime soon. Look at the facts - Idlewild was initially given a December 2005 release date, which was then delayed until February 2006, which has now been delayed until April. There is little reason given for the delays, other than that the group just isn't quite done yet.

Late last year, a track called "Rats and Roaches" leaked on to the internet, with many believing it to be a new song. It was, in fact, an unreleased track from the Speakerboxx/Love Below sessions. One has to wonder - in this day and age - how there could be new OutKast material that has not leaked onto the internet?

According to OutKast manager Blue Williams, the first single is a Big Boi-only number called "The Train." The first single will feature only Big Boi because they want to "get the ball rolling." That is a terrible excues.

OutKast, we deserve the truth.