Coming off the enormous success of their double album SPEARBOXXX/THE LOVE BELOW, Outkast continue to prove themselves to be one of the most unusual acts in hip-hop with IDLEWILD, the album companion to the movie-musical of the same name. On this, their seventh full-length release, Andre 3000 and Big Boi break new ground, expanding their repertoire of musical experimentation by putting together 25 unconventional hip-hop tracks with twists of soul, gospel, and ragtime in line with the 1930s era represented in the film. The more traditional playalistic Cadillac-centered rhymes that characterized the duo's debut album make a few appearances here on tracks like "Morris Brown," but overall Big Boi's gangsta lyricism takes a back seat on this one, with Andre's crossover-pop sound dominating with the tracks "Life Is Like A Musical," "Makes No Sense At All," and "When I Look Into Your Eyes." Unfortunately, the most rewarding songs that are able to combine the talents of each member, like "N2U" and "Peaches," are few and far between and perhaps an early indicator of Outkast's last gasps. Guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Li'l Wayne, Sleepy Brown, Scar, Killer Mike, Khujo Goodie, Janelle Mon?e, and Macy Gray help to make IDLEWILD that much more interesting.

• Genre: Rap
• Format: Vinyl
• Released: 09/12/2006