The trouble I find with American Rap artists is I’ve got nothing in common with them, so of course I find it hard to relate to what they are trying to say. I don’t have a big screen T.V, a bitch, I don’t drink forties and I definitely don’t have a gun.

Although Outkast still have those underlining tones of black youths bought up in America they seem to have shaken off the need to invent fake gangster lifestyles for themselves. Hailing from Atlanta Georgia, Andre 3000 & Big Boi are the driving force behind Outkast. Now on their fourth album they’ve grown not only as MC’s but as musicians as well. They also had a large hand in the production of Stankonia.

Bombs over Baghdad, the first single from the album, was released last October and was recorded off the back of their highly successful Aquiemini U.S tour. B.O.B is a prime example of Outkast’s desire not to be restricted by the boundaries of Rap and Hip-Hop. Their blend of up tempo beats crossed with subtle rock guitar works wonders along side there style of rap, especially the Zack De La Rocha remix (unfortunately only available on E.P). The rest of the album holds it’s own and isn’t upstaged by B.O.B, unlike numerous other Rap/Hip Hop albums where the released track is the only one you can listen to.

Miss Jackson is a total contrast to B.O.B. and would best be described as a Rap ballad based upon Big Boi’s relationship with his ex-girlfriend’s mother. Miss Jackson is currently doing the rounds on the radio and is out on single now; already their biggest hit to date.

One to look out for Humble Mumble featuring Erykah Badu but my favourite has got to be Xplosion featuring B-Real. All I can say is check out that bass line.

Fortunately I managed to get my hands on two tickets for Outkast’s gig at the Scala in London on January 17th, courtesy of Zane Lowe at XFM, which was undoubtedly the hottest gig in January.

Although a mid week gig was the last thing I needed after the weekend we’d had, the buzz surrounding Outkast ever since the Stankonia Express had pulled into Waterloo had been no short of phenomenal, so I had to go.

The ever present Radio 1 with Tim Westwood kicked of proceedings but it wasn’t long before Outkast took to the stage in an Xplosion of cuts & scratches delivered expertly by the 80’s turntable twisting legend Cut Master Swift.

Andre 3000 dressed in all purple looked like someone out of a blaxplotation movie, crossed with Prince on steroids. I thought he looked great. Big Boi was dressed more conservatively in Rap uniform; gold chain, American footy shirt and baggies.

Three backing singers, a leather clad guitarist (who wouldn’t look out of place in an all black American rock band) and somebody’s granddad on bass made up the rest of the crew. I say somebody’s granddad because he was introduced to us as Pop’s something (I can’t remember what) and he was at least 50.

As it was a music industry do, the typical amount of hanger onners were in full effect. This was blatantly obvious half way through the gig when Andre 3000 and Big Boi did the old “Everybody wave your hands and say oh yeah” warm-up-the-crowd routine. I’m sure even they were shocked at the lack of response they received. I’d regretted it at the time and, with the aid of hindsight, would have borrowed Eminem’s Uzi. People like that don’t even belong in the industry let alone Outkast’s only U.K date.

However they did receive enough love from what fans there were, me included. Unfortunately the sound set up didn’t do them any justice either . They performed 8 or 9 tracks, including Miss Jackson, Rosa Parks, Skew on the Bar-g (both available on Aquiemini) and finally ending off with B.O.B. I couldn’t remember the rest as I was too busy searching for alcohol - the only down point of the night being the bar closing at 11pm and the blatant fact that the V.I.P bar served till 1am.

High point of the night touching Sarah Cox’s tits with my elbow as she passed me on the stairs, immature I know but have you touched them?

ALL ABOARD THE STANKONIA EXPRESS!!!