organized noize ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Rico Wade Of Organized Noize Has Passed Away

Rico Wade, a co-creator of Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family, has passed away. Killer Mike, a member of D.F. and somebody who worked with Rico as recently as last year's Grammy-winning MICHAEL album, confirmed the news online. "I don't have the words to express my deep and profound sense... Read more

April 13, 2024 News

Killer Mike Is Grammy-Nominated For “Best Rap Album”

The nominations for the 2024 Grammy Awards announced this weekend (November 10). As the symbolic 50th year for Hip-Hop marches towards its close, there are several nominated albums and songs that exemplify the benchmark year and the culture. Killer Mike’s album, MICHAEL, is a noteworthy inclusion in the “Best Rap... Read more

November 11, 2023 News, Trending Stories

The 25 Most Important Rap Albums Of Hip-Hop’s First 50 Years

Over the years, countless music lists have laid out the "Greatest" of a particular category–album, artist, song, etc. These lists often cite vague criteria and then lay out what they claim to be objective rankings. But, they are subjective. At Ambrosia For Heads, we have generally provided opportunities for the people... Read more

August 17, 2023 Exclusive, Food for Thought, Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

So So Def vs. Dungeon Family: The Greatest Rap Crew Competition

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all-time, this is your opportunity to collectively make that... Read more

May 16, 2023 Greatest Rap Crew

Lil Wayne Names His Top 5 & Missy Heads The Pack

Lil Wayne was a recent guest on What's Wright? With Nick Wright. There, the FOX Sports commenter and the New Orleans, Louisiana Rap superstar discussed the Green Bay Packers, Rap peers, and more. For Hip-Hop Heads, Wayne was asked to offer his Top 5 rappers list. “I got...for me, first:... Read more

May 7, 2022 Video

Andre 3000 Speaks On Not Having The Confidence To Make New Music (Audio)

Andre 3000 has not released an album in more than 13 years. While Outkast co-founder Big Boi has enjoyed a successful solo career with four titles of his own, "3 Stacks" has pursued work in film and fashion. In recent years, Andre's music is often a departure from Rap, venturing... Read more

December 17, 2019 Audio, Fresh

Big Boi Announces Dungeon Family Tour With Goodie Mob & Organized Noize

Big Boi recently purchased the home that included The Dungeon Studio. In the basement of Rico Wade's family's house back in the early 1990s, OutKast, Goodie Mob, and other artists recorded some of their earliest music. Wade's Organized Noize, with Sleepy Brown and Ray Murray, was at the helm, mentoring... Read more

March 4, 2019 Fresh

Big Boi Buys The Dungeon Studio That Birthed Early OutKast Albums

D&D, Can-Am, Chung King. Hip-Hop has its fair share of famous recording studios. In Atlanta, few labs rival the notoriety of The Dungeon. This grimy, no-frills lair in Rico Wade's mother's basement in Lakewood Heights section of East Atlanta, Georgia would be a meeting place and breeding ground for some... Read more

January 16, 2019 News

How OutKast Begrudgingly Made One Of The Best Christmas Rap Records Of All-Time

Twenty-five years ago this season, OutKast released their first single, "Player's Ball." Big Boi and André 3000 had appeared on TLC's remix to "What About Your Friends" as teenagers in 1992. Like that opportunity, "Player's Ball" was birthed out of LaFace Records trying to cross-promote its fledgling Rap duo. For... Read more

December 20, 2018 Do Remember

Big Boi’s Tiny Desk Performance Is So Fresh & So Clean (Video)

From the nearly flawless catalog he put together as half of OutKast to his celebrated solo catalog, Big Boi is a 25-year-legend in Hip-Hop. NPR released their latest Tiny Desk concert series episode, and it includes Big Boi and his Dungeon Family associate Sleepy Brown. The Organized Noize producer/singer performs... Read more

October 9, 2018 Video

OutKast’s Aquemini Turns 20. This 1998 Interview Shows They Saw The Future (Video)

OutKast has one of the most consistent catalogs in all of music. Their first four albums, in particular, are revered as some of the best Rap music released between 1994 and Y2K. However, during that legendary run, André 3000 and Big Boi turned on the turbo jets 20 years ago... Read more

September 28, 2018 Do Remember

Finding The GOAT Group: OutKast vs. Gang Starr. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility... Read more

September 14, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Finding The GOAT Group: OutKast vs. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility for... Read more

August 27, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Finding The GOAT Group: OutKast vs. Migos. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility... Read more

July 18, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Finding The GOAT Group: OutKast vs. 8Ball & MJG. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

April 30, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

J. Period’s New Mix Blends Verses From OutKast With The Sounds Of Wakanda (Audio)

J. Period has made some of the best, most conceptual, and musically-moving mixtapes of the last 15 years. That gift has led the New York City-based California native to work up close and personal with Black Thought, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Nas, Q-Tip, and others. Having now earned a #1 album... Read more

April 19, 2018 Audio, Mixes

OutKast Has Forgotten Songs On Soundtracks That Are Better Than Most MCs’ Catalogs (Audio)

"Imagine being able to control your own destiny. Shape your own future. And then, one mistake take all that away. The reality of it is, you do control your own destiny and future, and one mistake will take all that away. Think about it." - Big Rube, "Benz or Beamer." In... Read more

February 22, 2018 Do Remember

Big Boi, CeeLo & Organized Noize Unite For A Dungeon Family Reunion (Audio)

UPDATE: The official music video for "We The Ones": ORIGINAL MAY 6 POST: Last week, Hip-Hop celebrated Outkast and Organized Noize with the 23rd anniversary of Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. That LaFace Records classic was a true collaboration between Andre 3000, Big Boi, and the production trio of Sleepy Brown, Ray Murray, as... Read more

May 6, 2017 Audio, Video

Finding The GOAT Producer: Organized Noize vs. Erick Sermon. Who Is Better?

UPDATE: The original vote was within 1%, so a tie-breaker was held to determine the winner. Erick Sermon won that vote by 6%. “Finding the GOAT Producer” begins. The third installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest producers vying for the #1 spot. Thirty producers were... Read more

January 11, 2017 Finding the GOAT

OutKast Warned About The Dangers Of Phobia 20 Years Ago…They Were Right (Audio)

To follow up Poetic Justice, John Singleton’s 1993 romantic drama starring Tupac and Janet Jackson, the Boyz n the Hood director released his third movie two years later, in 1995. Higher Learning confronted issues like racism and sexual assault through the lens of students on a fabricated multicultural college campus.... Read more

November 17, 2016 Do Remember

Outkast, Goodie Mob & Killer Mike Prove Its Still Family In The Dungeon (Video)

Last night (September 10), Atlanta, Georgia played host to the One Musicfest at Lakewood Amphitheater. As announced leading up to the event, the concert included a Dungeon Family reunion including Outkast, Goodie Mob, Killer Mike, and others. From those three entities, only Khujo Goodie was not in attendance. However the... Read more

September 11, 2016 Video

20 Years Later, OutKast’s ATLiens Is A Masterpiece Of Space & Time

True to its extraterrestrial theme, OutKast's 1996 sophomore album ATLiens was of another world. Like the "Paid In Full" vocal sample proclaimed, André 3000 and Big Boi added "new color, new dimension, and new value" to the mid-'90s Hip-Hop ethos. Arguably, this came at a time when Hip-Hop's soul needed... Read more

August 25, 2016 Food for Thought

Eric B. & Rakim’s Paid In Full vs. Outkast’s Aquemini. Which Is Better?

Last September, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: what is the greatest Rap Album Of All-Time? “Finding The GOAT Album” has considered more than 120 albums from the 80s, 90s and 2000s (40 in each), with options for... Read more

March 18, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Finding The GOAT: Dr. Dre’s The Chronic vs. Outkast’s Stankonia. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

March 7, 2016 Finding the GOAT

A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders vs. Outkast’s ATLiens. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

March 4, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Outkast’s Aquemini vs. Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

February 23, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Outkast & Goodie Mob Had Some Great Collabos But 1 Of The Best Was Pure Soul Food (Video)

In 1997, Outkast were riding high. Big Boi and Andre 3000 had taken not only the South, but the entire Hip-Hop world by storm, in 1994, with their debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, and had avoided the dreaded sophomore slump with their acclaimed album Atliens. Their success propelled not only themselves, but... Read more

February 18, 2016 Do Remember

A Documentary On Organized Noize Looks At The Genius & Drama In The Dungeon (Video)

Organized Noize is one of the most impactful musical groups of the last 25 years. The Atlanta, Georgia-based trio of Sleepy Brown, Rico Wade, and Ray Murray would be deeply responsible for the mainstream (and critical) success of Outkast, TLC, Goodie Mob, and a litany of other acts, ranging from... Read more

February 9, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Outkast’s Aquemini vs. Mos Def’s Black On Both Sides. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

December 2, 2015 Finding the GOAT

Goodie Mob’s “Soul Food” Introduced the Dirty South. 20 Years Later, It’s Still Got the Recipe.

On November 7, 1995, Atlanta Hip-Hop group Goodie Mob released its debut album, Soul Food. Cee Lo Green, Big Gipp, Khujo, and T-Mo blended conscientious lyrics with Southern sensibilities, and many Heads claim the LP featured the first use of the term "Dirty South" in a Rap lyric. The album... Read more

November 10, 2015 Throwback

Outkast’s Stankonia Showed Miss Jackson & The World They Were For Real

Year 2000 was forced to be big in Hip-Hop. As the whole world saw the changes that came with a new millennium, the culture used the newness of things to seemingly reset from the troubling actions, tones, and violent mistakes of the late 1990s. Hip-Hop as a whole seemed to... Read more

October 31, 2015 Food for Thought

Organized Noize Show Just How They Made That Outkast & Goodie Mob Magic on Rhythm Roulette (Video)

From Outkast to Goodie Mob to Future, Organized Noize have been essential creators to the last 25 years of Hip-Hop. The Atlanta, Georgia-based trio of Sleepy Brown, Ray Murray, and Rico Wade are stellar samplers, as well as amazing musicians. So the latest guests to play Mass Appeal's Rhythm Roulette... Read more

October 29, 2015 Video

Outkast’s Aquemini vs. The Pharcyde’s Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

October 29, 2015 Finding the GOAT

Dungeon Family Was At Full Strength On This Outkast, Goodie Mob & Cool Breeze Collabo

At the end of the 1990s, the Dungeon Family's meteoric rise was fully in stride. Outkast had three platinum, critically-acclaimed albums. Goodie Mob was close behind, with two gold LPs of a similar pedigree, and late '99's World Party closely in tow. Labels wanted in on the magic happening in... Read more

October 22, 2015 Do Remember

Organized Noize Define “Soul,” Recall Moving From Sampling To Instrumentation (Audio)

In the same week that host Frannie Kelley interviewed her co-host Ali Shaheed Muhammad, NPR Microphone Check sat down with Atlanta, Georgia production trio Organized Noize. Interviewed before a live New York City audience, the moment included appearances from Big Rube, Big Boi, and other members of the Dungeon Family.... Read more

June 4, 2015 Audio

Salute to OutKast for 20 Years of Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (Video)

Salute to OutKast on the 20th anniversary of their classic debut Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. Here's a look back at their appearance on Yo! MTV Raps from that storied era. Fab 5 Freddy joins Big Boi, Andre and Organized Noize (the production collective behind the album) in Atlanta at the famed Dungeon studio.... Read more

April 26, 2014 Throwback

Two Generations Of Dungeon Family Come Together: Future & Andre 3000’s Benz Friendz (Audio)

Almost 25 years ago, Positive K made "I Got A Man," an anthem about the road blocks in trying to step to an object of your desire. Off of Honest, Future and Andre 3000 take that same idea and update the language and aesthetic on "Benz Friendz (Whatchutola)." Future, although... Read more

April 17, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Outkast Reunites On The Coachella Stage After A Decade Concert Absence (Video)

So you didn't have the money, or maybe the time, or maybe even the energy for Coachella. In the digital age, you can still dive in without paying 10 bills for water, or getting your shoes scuffed up. Outkast took the stage Friday night (April 11). The reunion of Big... Read more

April 12, 2014 Fresh, Video

There is often a lot of backlash when R&B infiltrates hip-hop but what about when hip-hop infiltrates R&B (and not just featured verses)? Here’s a playlist of some dope R&B and soul (Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, TLC, Aaliyah and more) made by some of hip-hop’s finest producers. You’ll hear music produced by Madlib, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Dr. Dre, J Dilla, The Ummah, Kay Gee, Organized Noize, The Neptunes, Kanye West and more. Click below to listen.

Tracklist and production credits are below. Hip-Hop and R&B by Parfit on Grooveshark Here's the tracklist: My Soul Ain't For Sale - Raheem Devaughn (Prod. DJ Jazzy Jeff) The Healer - Erykah Badu (Prod. Madlib) Devil's Pie - D'Angelo(Prod. DJ Premier) Waterfalls - TLC (Prod. Organized Noize) Bullshittin' (Remix) -... Read more

March 3, 2012 Audio, Playlists

Organized Noize Tells All: The Stories Behind Their Classic Records

Complex has been doing an incredible series where they interview legendary producers and have them break down their classic songs track for track. In the past, they've done DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Diamond D and others. The latest is Organized Noize, the production team behind some of best joints by... Read more

February 2, 2012 Audio, Food for Thought, Playlists, Throwback

OutKast regularly get their props for being one of the greatest artists (of any genre) of all time, and rightfully so.

It's seldom, however, that you hear about Organized Noize, the production team that played a key role in architecting the sonic foundation of OutKast's early music, and that of other influential artists coming out of Atlanta in the 90's. The latest playlist in our producer series is dedicated to Organized... Read more

April 1, 2011 Audio, Playlists, Throwback