OutKast’s ‘Speakerboxxx/The Love Below’ Becomes Highest-Selling Rap Album In History
OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is officially the highest-selling album in rap history.
Big Boi and Andre 3000’s fifth studio album as a duo has sold a total of 13 million units domestically, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as of Sept. 29—dethroning Eminem’s The Eminem Show.
This feat comes on the heels of the Diamond-certified LP celebrating its 20th anniversary. When commemorating the moment, Big Boi flaunted a plaque on Instagram, writing, “Special delivery just in time for the 20th anniversary 9/23/03 … #speakerboxxxthelovebelow Over 13 Million albums sold . (Diamond & a 3.5 ),” he wrote. “What Are Your Jams ? @ outkast is everlasting. Stank You Smelly Much …To All Y’all.”
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below featured hit singles, “Hey Ya!” and “The Way You Move” which both peaked to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It became the second Hip-Hop album to earn the coveted Album of the Year win at the 2004 GRAMMYs, following Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill in 1999. Outkast also took home wins for Best Rap Album, and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for “Hey Ya!” that same year.
The Atlanta-bred pioneers are also reissuing Speakerboxxx/The Love Below and Aquemini on vinyl for their respective 20th and 25th anniversaries. In partnership with Get On Down, both of these classics will be available for fans in limited edition variants.
Aquemini will be pressed on three distinct gold galaxy, cloudy magenta, and cloudy green vinyls, housed in a gold foil jacket. The release will be limited to 2,000 copies.
For the Speakerboxxx/The Love Below release, it will be pressed on a double “Platinum Chain” and double “Pearl” colored vinyl packaged in a gatefold jacket. They will ship in October and November, respectively.
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