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. Jamie
    Nov 2, 2004
    1
    They could've fit all the good songs onto one EP (Hey Ya, Roses and Good Day Good Sir)
  2. Jamie
    Nov 2, 2004
    1
    They could've fit all the good songs onto one EP (Hey Ya, Roses and Good Day Good Sir)
  3. GordonS
    Oct 17, 2004
    7
    Speakerboxxx is a classic Outkast album in style, while The Love Below is a 360 Degree turn. At first I felt like Andre simply wanted to see how crazy he could make an album and still recieve fan support. However, it has grown on me. I like the "Who's on First"-like "Good Day, Good Sir." The rest seems like it is just Andre having a good time. I would not call it rap, but it is an Speakerboxxx is a classic Outkast album in style, while The Love Below is a 360 Degree turn. At first I felt like Andre simply wanted to see how crazy he could make an album and still recieve fan support. However, it has grown on me. I like the "Who's on First"-like "Good Day, Good Sir." The rest seems like it is just Andre having a good time. I would not call it rap, but it is an entertaining work.… Expand
  4. JelaniT
    Jan 30, 2004
    10
    One of the most innovative solo / group productions ever made. Dre's set grabs your attention with Hey Ya and Pink and Blue. Big Boi keeps said attention and earns your respect for both artists' talent and overall musicianship; which ranges from the way, Way, WAY out there funk and pop (Dre) to down home, deep fried, beat laden hip hop sensibilities (Boi). Its good all around!
  5. JesusQ
    Jan 5, 2004
    9
    Close to 10. Great record. Loved every minute of it except the weird talking skits between tracks. All hip-hop albums do that now. Makes it hard to listen to...having to skip bs stuff. I cannot get enough of this right now. Dre is awesome. And all of you who say he is going too far from hip hop remember another man who was good but went too far away from his roots....he went on to do some Close to 10. Great record. Loved every minute of it except the weird talking skits between tracks. All hip-hop albums do that now. Makes it hard to listen to...having to skip bs stuff. I cannot get enough of this right now. Dre is awesome. And all of you who say he is going too far from hip hop remember another man who was good but went too far away from his roots....he went on to do some good things. His name os Jesus. … Expand
  6. HK
    Jan 6, 2004
    10
    Speakerboxxx - SIC!!! The love below - SUXXX!!!
  7. DanC
    Feb 1, 2004
    10
    If these two CDs are not the greatest hip hop CDs ever, they are seriously close!
  8. chris
    Feb 13, 2004
    6
    number 1 problem with most double albums? bloatedness. while this album will surely become a pop culture artifact, i have quite a few qualms with it. speakerboxxx: has quite a few great hip hop tracks and a few incredible ones. the love below: has a few comedy routines (boooo!) and lots of (almost 80 minutes worth) jazz/r&b endeavors that don't have staying power. this album probably number 1 problem with most double albums? bloatedness. while this album will surely become a pop culture artifact, i have quite a few qualms with it. speakerboxxx: has quite a few great hip hop tracks and a few incredible ones. the love below: has a few comedy routines (boooo!) and lots of (almost 80 minutes worth) jazz/r&b endeavors that don't have staying power. this album probably would have been brilliant as a collaborative single effort. BUT.. in deserved recognition of their avant-garde credo, i recommend any of their previous 4 albums.… Expand
  9. Melo
    Mar 30, 2004
    10
    this has to be one of the most original albums ever mostly on andre's part this album has everything going for it if it've been seperate albums i would've given speakerboxx an 8 cause it's better than average hip hop and i would've given the love below a 9 cause andre "ice cold" 3000 just took it to another level andre is no longer a rap or hip hop artist he is this has to be one of the most original albums ever mostly on andre's part this album has everything going for it if it've been seperate albums i would've given speakerboxx an 8 cause it's better than average hip hop and i would've given the love below a 9 cause andre "ice cold" 3000 just took it to another level andre is no longer a rap or hip hop artist he is now a music artist cause his album is for people of different taste in music and "prototype" is one of the most beautiful songs i've ever heard even if the man can't sing it's still beautiful so since this is one album i can't give it no less than a ten… Expand
  10. KennyB
    Mar 5, 2004
    10
    I apolgize for grabing it so late. Big Boi did his thisle(as usual) and 3000 dropped the best record (sleeper) since " Here My Dear",Marvin Gaye...Thank yall Peace..
  11. claireg
    Jun 10, 2004
    10
    its wiked
  12. JuliusD
    Jul 13, 2004
    10
    The Love Below is the best album I have ever owned. Of course, number #2 is Stankonia. Speakerboxx is completely off the hook! These cats are funky!!!
  13. KyleighH
    Feb 11, 2006
    10
    This album is also cool. I love the song "Roses" and I even saw the music video for it on MTV and thought it was terrific. I give this album two thumbs up.
  14. James
    Nov 1, 2007
    10
    Outkast is the greatest hip hop group out there today!
  15. DavidH
    Apr 25, 2007
    10
    absolutely incredibly orginal, outkast continue to redefine hip hop and r'n'b, while pushing the envelope to create an album that is jam-packed with weird, unpredictable, thoroughly exciting tracks, like nothing you've heard before. I think it is impossible to compare the two discs, while both are beautifully flawed, they both contain so many different strengths. While the absolutely incredibly orginal, outkast continue to redefine hip hop and r'n'b, while pushing the envelope to create an album that is jam-packed with weird, unpredictable, thoroughly exciting tracks, like nothing you've heard before. I think it is impossible to compare the two discs, while both are beautifully flawed, they both contain so many different strengths. While the love below is sexier, more soulful, with wildly bizzare hooks and some softer chilled songs, it is perfectly clear that the love below is a redefining r'n'b album, speakerboxxx redefines hip hop, containing very lively catchy jazzy songs, and then becoming very dark, more street and urban, still containing wildly catchy hooks, and both are emotionally resonant. while it is impossible to rule out one as better, everyone will have their favourite, depending on their preference to either r'n'b or hip hop. overall, one of the most successful albums ever, and my favourite album ever!… Expand
  16. RabZ
    Nov 2, 2003
    10
    Hey ya! 2 for 1....Great. What kan be better then this.
  17. BoydB
    Oct 14, 2003
    10
    this album is there 2nd best next to there 1st one.... i did not think it could be done and they did it.....
  18. jorman
    Oct 15, 2003
    10
    Can somebody suck the underwear out of my ass cheeks? I mean, seriously, I feel like a Banana-Mör bar. Robin Williams is on the PHONE. THE PHONE.
  19. BrandonR
    Oct 17, 2003
    10
    This is one of the best Outkast albums. A lot of people do not understand the statements that Andre is to make, but that why he added 3000, because he is ahead of his time. To all the critics of 3000, close your mouth and open your mind. Stop looking at the way he dresses and listen to the music.
  20. BennieJ
    Oct 19, 2003
    9
    If there was ever a doubt about who is #1 - ERASE IT! Funky, complex, brilliance!
  21. diggerdig
    Dec 11, 2003
    9
    I like every song on The Love Below. I really think "Hey Ya" is the best song. Andre 3000 was a genius when creating this song. I especially like the line"give me some surgar, i am your neighbor ahh" and "shake it like a poloroid picture". Those lines are just genius.
  22. deucejake
    Dec 12, 2003
    9
    Anybody who doesn't like this album should be ripped apart by wild dogs and then slowly fed into the incinerator of darkest hell. If you don't like Outkast you don't like music. And you're an un-American terrorist (just like King George II).
  23. Adonis
    Oct 22, 2003
    5
    I give it a 5 because only half of the cd is even worth hearing. How can you call youself an hip hop artist, when u sing (very badly at that) the entire album.
  24. TerrencW
    Oct 23, 2003
    10
    Perfection of one's art has been attained. If perfection is attainable. OUTKAST has found it and went miles beyond it.
  25. ThaGMannn
    Oct 23, 2003
    1
    ok...so i pop in The Love Below in to my anxious cd player; my face radiating with an enormous grin, sweat drips down my face in anticipation of the album's ultimate billiance and magnificence. i press the play button--my heart stops and my eyes expand.........the music starts and i don't know what to think, all i know to do is to listen....to listen...to......"What DA (*insert ok...so i pop in The Love Below in to my anxious cd player; my face radiating with an enormous grin, sweat drips down my face in anticipation of the album's ultimate billiance and magnificence. i press the play button--my heart stops and my eyes expand.........the music starts and i don't know what to think, all i know to do is to listen....to listen...to......"What DA (*insert here*)!!!!!" This album was a complete mess, both of them. The love below is not worthy of being...period. I admit that i could have made up a whole bunch of random sayings and put them into a prince song; I definately don't need to pay $18.95 to do so either. The love below just made absolutely no sense whatsoever and i expected, and demanded (with what i just payed!), a LOT more from these albums. The lyrics in Dre's cd were completely oblivious to any meaning whatsoever and totally lowered his potential and actual skill to that of a sex-happy version of the butler from the fresh prince of bel-air. In addition to this utter nonesense, the songs on The Love below were way too short (in relevance to lyrics)--some only lasting a couple minutes (ex. Dracula's Wedding, Take your cool (or whatever its called)). And still those songs managed to have no real meaning. What i did like about it was the last track (or any part...not song...where dre actually rapped...which was about maybe 2 min collectively). I mean that was basically the reason y i got this album--i know big boi and dre can rap...especially when they do it together...though i'm not saying that they NEED each other. That's also y i thought that this album would have been a good investment--seeing the two different styles of rap (and yes i like both). The Love Below holds no bearing in the musical world--only a host of great, great beats put to a shameful waste. Speakerboxxx...well lets just say i was a lot happier when i took the love below out of my saddened and on-the-brink-of-suicide (or homiside...i'm not really sure at the moment), stompped on it a little, cursed it out, then gently placed the Speakerboxxx cd into my player. I knew it couldn't be nearly as bad as dre's cd, so i was able to listen with a lenient ear. To tell u the truth, i actually enjoyed the cd...or at least the first 5 or 6 songs. I mean...great beats, hot lyrics (i love how big boi flows...even if what he says doesn't really make sense anyways). Everything that i wanted outta $18.95 (i'm still kinda mad about that). But despite these qualities, i found that most of the songs were too short and didn't have enough lyrical content to be labeled a song...more like a really cool beat with a couple of words in it (aka...techno...). The funny thing about these cds (don't mind me talking out of place) is that what one had...the other one lacked. This saddened me because it just makes me imagine if they had done one, excellent quality, calibur album. i swear it would have been spectacular (even more so than bentley fondsworth...and yes i actually listened to that absolutely pointless and gay skit). Then, and only then, would i say that this album would have been worthy of being the album of the year. Anyways, back to Speakerboxxx, i also think it was too short as a whole album, due to little skits in between songs and that annoying "speakerboxxx" techno sounding whatever-it-was thing. A lot, (i'd say every song maybe except 2 or 3) of the songs were missing one vital thing--a good hook (where dre should have been). And even though the raps were pretty good on big boi's behalf, it would have been nice in some of the songs to have dre do a little rap...i mean that's y outkast is called outkast right? On the positive, i can't seem to stop listening to "Bowtie" (just cuz i'm a p.i.m.p./ and these things just come natural to me ;-) ). Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (as i aforemention)...was a piece of crap...constantly banging on a drum to be called music. Well...actually more like The Love Below was like that. But, to be absolutely honest i did enjoy two songs from that album--Behold a lady and Spread (kinda took it back old school a little) Speakerboxxx...there was something missing that just didn't make it a good album overall. And for reality purposes, it definately wasn't worth no $18.95! (i still can't get over that...i mean i don't make a lot of money to begin with so this really hurt me financially in addition to emotionally). I really wish that Outkast would have really listened to this cd themselves before exposing it to the innocent public...and get a little taste of their own poison--realize that this album was a waste of money ($18.95!!!! ahhh!!!) and time. I give this cd a 2 just because of the shear effort for trying to be original... there were instances of good music through both cds (i'd say about 15 secs every 30 min for The Love Below), this album was still a complete failure and did not live up to the expectations and true ability of Outkast. Wait...oh crap i gave them a 1!!...well its not like they deserved it anyways :-).… Expand
  26. omega374
    Oct 25, 2003
    10
    i haven't heard it yet, but i think since big boi and andre 3000 are hot they deserve a ten. Detroit WHAT
  27. jeremiahm
    Oct 25, 2003
    5
    Big Boi's album was decent. I dont know what is on the mind of andre. He loosing it more and more every year outkast comes out with a new cd.
  28. zachdogg
    Oct 28, 2003
    10
    pure genius... adrenaline rush on both sides.. Outer Space meets parts unknown.. great job to both.. Speakerboxx the slightly better cd though..
  29. NealS
    Sep 12, 2003
    10
    Great album, the first disk continues the 'outkast' feeling. The 2nd CD is excellent in it's own way. It explores a lot of untouched areas by hip-hop artist. When i noticed the track with Norah Jones (Take Off Your Cool), I was shocked. Great purchase.
  30. AbramB
    Sep 18, 2003
    10
    This album is weird as hell at first...keep listening. PLEASE. This albums takes a keen year to understand it. Keep listening to it over and over again. It may be too overwhelming at first, but once you listen through it a few times you'll love it.
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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 »