Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
by Outkast
  • Record Label: La Face
  • Release Date: Sep 23, 2003
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 401 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 356 out of 401
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 401
  3. Negative: 22 out of 401

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  1. MalikM.
    Jul 15, 2007
    10
    This IS THE GREATEST ALBUM I EVER HEARD ANDRE 3000 IS A MUSICAL GENIUS
  2. rickr
    Oct 16, 2003
    10
    holy what? this cd is too funky-fresh to exist. i dont believe its real....i wanna concieve my first child to this album.
  3. AaronH
    May 9, 2007
    8
    Good music is not self indulgent. If you're looking for gangsta, this isn't it. Please, if gangsta is what you're looking for, by all means, buy a 50 Cent album. If you like R&B that borders on jazz, The Love Below has its moments. In fact, it has enough moments that someone like me, who generally avoids hip-hop, bought the album. As for the comparisons to Prince--the Good music is not self indulgent. If you're looking for gangsta, this isn't it. Please, if gangsta is what you're looking for, by all means, buy a 50 Cent album. If you like R&B that borders on jazz, The Love Below has its moments. In fact, it has enough moments that someone like me, who generally avoids hip-hop, bought the album. As for the comparisons to Prince--the resemblance is superficial. Andre 3000 is in his own territory here.… Expand
  4. ChristopheH
    Oct 8, 2003
    9
    Big Boi and André, you guys rule! This is fun from start to end!!!
  5. bigboi
    May 26, 2004
    10
    exelent cd. loved every 39 songs. outkast fan rejoice, they have done it again!!!
  6. richardj
    Aug 10, 2006
    10
    Tell me a better album that crosses over like this record does! I haven't bought a new album since this apart from the follwoing Lina's The Inner Beauty Movement and Guillemots-Through the Windowpane, as everything i have heard pales in comparison, musically. I buy a lot of old-skool records but this contempoary classic keeps Hip-Hop fans satisfied, pop/r & B fans have something Tell me a better album that crosses over like this record does! I haven't bought a new album since this apart from the follwoing Lina's The Inner Beauty Movement and Guillemots-Through the Windowpane, as everything i have heard pales in comparison, musically. I buy a lot of old-skool records but this contempoary classic keeps Hip-Hop fans satisfied, pop/r & B fans have something meaningful for a change, plus old skool fans of Prince/Funkadelic and Sly Stone now have the next artist who can carry on the mantle! THat artist is Andre 3000! if anyone slates this album as far as I'm concerned you can't know much about music writing and quality! (the quality! not dribble like Mariah Carey, James Blunt, Kelly Clarkson) The only album to me what competes in writing to this is Lina's The Inner Beauty Movement!… Expand
  7. DanA
    Jun 24, 2007
    10
    Funking amazing album. Can never stop listening to it. The Love Below is genius, and Speakerboxxx is like an extension to the previously awesome style Outkast has been known for. A classic.
  8. LourdesR
    Oct 10, 2003
    10
    I think im in love again. Stank you, Smelly much.
  9. CJMcIntosh
    Oct 11, 2003
    10
    Awesome. These guys are so cool it's insane.
  10. NathanM
    Nov 2, 2003
    9
    Close To Perfection...The Album Of The Year, Hands Down. Take Off Your Cool!
  11. GeorgeMichael
    Oct 6, 2003
    10
    AMAZING! ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!!
  12. NseE
    Dec 25, 2003
    10
    I thought 'Elephant' by The White Stripes was album of the year, then this came along. Awesome!!! Every track is a classic, and the humerous interludes ('God', 'Where are my panties') are a scream. Standouts include the lyrically superb 'War', 'Hey ya', 'Happy valentine's day', 'Spread', 'Flip flop rock', I thought 'Elephant' by The White Stripes was album of the year, then this came along. Awesome!!! Every track is a classic, and the humerous interludes ('God', 'Where are my panties') are a scream. Standouts include the lyrically superb 'War', 'Hey ya', 'Happy valentine's day', 'Spread', 'Flip flop rock', 'Reset', 'Knowing, the hidden jazzy track, everything. A classic that defies categorisation. Brilliant!!!… Collapse
  13. QuintonB
    Jan 4, 2013
    8
    This is not one album by Outkast, rather, it's two solo albums sold together as a group album. One is by Big Boi and the other is by Andre 3000. Unfortunately for Big Boi, 3000's record is so compelling and overwhelming that no one has time for Big Boi's album. 3000 clearly stands out, releasing an album the completely moves beyond the boundaries of hip-hop into Prince-esque territory,This is not one album by Outkast, rather, it's two solo albums sold together as a group album. One is by Big Boi and the other is by Andre 3000. Unfortunately for Big Boi, 3000's record is so compelling and overwhelming that no one has time for Big Boi's album. 3000 clearly stands out, releasing an album the completely moves beyond the boundaries of hip-hop into Prince-esque territory, combining jazz, funk, soul, pseudo-rock and hip hop into one fascinating album that has left fans thirsty for a new solo album from 3000 since 2003. Overall, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is another astounding Outkast album, yet one could say it started the divide that has left Outkast on a hiatus ever since their mediocre followup record Idlewild was released.… Expand
  14. SuchiB14
    Oct 4, 2018
    10
    Outkast with yet another classic album. This is an awesome project, even Andre's R&B approached CD was better than I would have expected. However, I reckon that Speakerboxx tops The Love Below; Big Boi was on point and had some of the best verses I've heard from himself in his career (nothing will top his verses on Ms. Jackson and ATliens though). This album isn't Outkast's best but ****Outkast with yet another classic album. This is an awesome project, even Andre's R&B approached CD was better than I would have expected. However, I reckon that Speakerboxx tops The Love Below; Big Boi was on point and had some of the best verses I've heard from himself in his career (nothing will top his verses on Ms. Jackson and ATliens though). This album isn't Outkast's best but **** it is good, Big Boi and Andre deserve all the credit they recieve for this classic. 10/10… Expand
  15. ShaanS
    Mar 28, 2007
    7
    Pales in comparison to Stankonia. Not the genre molding album the critics claimed it to be. They must have needed a rap album to their top 10 lists to diversify.
  16. Ravenous
    Nov 21, 2010
    10
    While Speakerboxxx is certainly a strong hip hop record, The Love Below is without a doubt the most innovative r&b album in years, and is perhaps the best album of any style of music for the entire decade 2000-2009. Pure musical genius.
  17. yoshimon3
    Aug 31, 2016
    10
    I don't know how they did it, but they crafted the greatest hip hop double album of all time, and one of the greatest works of art, period. 40 tracks and no filler. Artistry at its finest.
  18. AsafoS
    Oct 12, 2003
    10
    This album is incredible. Both artists continue Outkast's hard-paved legacy. One thing remains evident...they are perfect complements to one another musically, and would be longer lived as a group.
  19. Julian
    Oct 5, 2003
    10
    Wow...the love below is the SHIT!
  20. ShaunP
    Oct 5, 2003
    10
    Pure Hip-Hop!!! Both albums tell the story of Hip-hop and where it's heading. It's a great break from the cookie cutter garbadge out now!!!
  21. ChrisC
    Sep 23, 2003
    10
    This album has got to be tha best of all tha outkast collection. If you've never heard outkast pick this album up... Believe me ya'll thank me latta
  22. DJIght
    Oct 10, 2004
    10
    The Love Below is the greatest album i have ever heard period. If Outkast just released TLB then it would be perfect, but they made it even more perfect by adding a godd album that is titled SpeakerBoxxx
  23. leah
    Oct 14, 2004
    9
    this was a great cd i loved the love below but was not a big fan of speakerboxxxx but was still great
  24. HeatherL.
    May 27, 2004
    10
    Nothing beats it!
  25. GlenC
    Oct 1, 2003
    10
    Both CDs are excelent, they havent even left my cd player since i purchaced them!
  26. DavidCharlesB.
    Oct 12, 2003
    10
    Excellent album by OutKast, Better than Stankonia, but not as good as Atliens, but then again Atliens is the best album ever. Just buy this and enjoy it.
  27. Phily-EagleFan
    Oct 15, 2003
    10
    This double album is on another level and if you can't feel it you don't know what music is!! Just spread for me!!!!
  28. bowwiziefisshel
    Nov 5, 2003
    10
    who ever said this cd sucks something is wrong wit u .my favorite song is prototype.he can really sing fo rell do!!!!! also she lives in my lap is so tite!!! i cant stop listening to his cd spaekerboxx is ok too peace out yyall!!!!
  29. RussW
    Oct 2, 2003
    10
    One of the best albums this year!
  30. JoelB
    Oct 20, 2003
    10
    infuckincredible
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best Album of 2003
5
#5 Most Discussed Album of 2003
8
#8 Most Shared Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Los Angeles Times
    Apr 17, 2012
    100
    OutKast's duo have made a cohesive statement that not only cries at the boundaries of rap music but vaults over them to a place where the music sounds like neon colors and the only rule is that you must free your mind. Your ears will follow.
    Read full review
  2. Mojo
    90
    The genius of past Outkast isn't diluted or diminished across these disks, rather it's doubled, expanded and explored. [Sep 2003, p.99]
  3. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    80
    Speakerboxxx--by itself the album of the year--makes the failings of The Love Below all the more evident.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »