When people ask me which genres of music I like, my response is always, “alternative rock,… When people ask me which genres of music I like, my response is always, “alternative rock, classical, avant-garde and Outkast.” Outkast is something special. It has been nearly 10 years since the release of the group’s debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, and they are still releasing music that is both accessible and innovative at the same time. Outkast has also been able to attain a substantial level of commercial and critical success since the duo’s inception, with hits such as “Ms. Jackson,” “Rosa Parks” and “So Fresh, So Clean.” This is relatively unheard of in rap music, a genre in which achieving staying power is extremely difficult.

On their new album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Andre 3000 and Big Boi of Outkast each appear on their own separate disc. Big Boi’s Speakerboxxx is the more mainstream rap album. Although it provides only one standout radio track, “The Way You Move,” it maintains a consistent brilliance throughout. The songs are combinations of bass and funk that are reminiscent of past hits such as “So Fresh, So Clean” and “B.O.B.”

Andre 3000’s The Love Below proves to be the standout disc in this set, and it’s the melodies and innovation that set it apart. Andre touches on genres such as rap, jazz, rock, classical music and even techno on his disc. Every track works, because each song is laced with great vocal melodies. The Love Below reaches its apex with the first single, “Hey Ya!,” which is the perfect pop-rap song. “Hey Ya!” is comprised of 4 chords, a good beat, a great melody, and an even better hook.

Listening to each album independently begs you to look back at past albums and question the origin of older material. Andre 3000 definitely wrote the hook to “The Whole World,” while Big Boi obviously had much to do with “So Fresh, So Clean.”

While these two artists are both exceptional recording solo, they are even better together. If there is one thing missing from The Love Below, it’s Big Boi, and if there is one thing missing from Speakerboxxx, it’s Andre 3000: Andre 3000 provides the innovation and experimentation and Big Boi provides the mainstream rap brilliance. Let’s hope that Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is the farthest that Big Boi and Andre 3000 ever part from each other.