“Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”, the fifth studio album by Atlanta rap group Outkast is now the highest selling Hip Hop album in the US. The album became certified 13x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America on Friday September 29, 2023.
Released 20 years ago on September 23, 2003, under Arista Records, the double album has over two hours of music, showcasing solo work from both members Andre 3000 and Big Boi.
After being certified Diamond on December 3, 2004, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” became the first Hip Hop album to sell over 11 million copies a decade into Outkast’s career and was certified 11x Platinum by the RIAA on May 30, 2006.
The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was the No. 2 album on Billboard 200 Year End chart for 2004 going on to spend 56 weeks on the chart.
Overseas the album also topped the U.K. R&B albums chart and peaked at No. 8 on the Official Albums Chart.
The Magnum Opus album is also Certified 3x Platinum in the U.K. (1,800,000) 2× Platinum New Zealand (30,000) and Australia (140,000), Gold in Canada (50,000), Denmark (20,000), Germany (100,000), Hungary (10,000), Japan (100,000), Norway (20,0000), Sweden (30,000),and Switzerland (20,000).
It spawned the Platinum selling hit single “Hey Ya!” which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for 9 weeks after climbing to the top December 13, 2003, two months after it entered the chart (October 18).
The Bryan Barber directed music video has surpassed 600 million views on YouTube and is a concept tribute to Beatles Paul McCartney’s song “Coming Up”, as well as the Beatles’ debut appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964.
This was following “The Way You Move,” which spent one week at the top September 27, 2003. The chart-topping track nearly didn’t make the cut and was supposed to be on co-writer Sleepy Brown’s solo project. Brown penned the infectious hook upon hearing the beat at one of Big Boi’s gatherings. Brown excitedly recalled, “I heard that melody, and I rushed to Big, saying, ‘Yo, I’ve got the craziest hook for this beat.’ I told him to hit the studio that very night.”
Both “Hey Ya!” and “The Way You Move” spent 39 and 32 weeks respectively on the chart.
Barber also directed the music video for “The Way You Move,” again showcasing the Southern rap star as an in demand over the top fly guy. In the video Big Boi owns a car rim shop but performance shots shift to different locations and a flamboyantly dressed Bi Boi attempts to charm various women.
Additionally, the video which has surpassed 76 million views on YouTube has cameos from Fonzworth Bentley and actress Ki Toy Johnson and the scenes from “The Way You Move” are meant to be complementary to “Hey Ya!” music video.
Nominated for six Grammy Awards, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below won Album of the Year, Best Urban/Alternative Performance for “Hey Ya!” and Best Rap Album and the 2005 Grammy awards. OutKast was also nominated for Producer of the Year, and for “Hey Ya!” Best Short-Form Music Video, and Record of the Year, the latter two both for “Hey Ya!”.
