OutKast

Released: August 22, 2006

Featuring: Scar Sleepy Brown

Songwriter: Big Boi Marvin “Chanz” Parkman Mike Hartnett Preston Crump Scar Organized Noize

Producer: Organized Noize

[Hook: Scar & Sleepy Brown]
Stages in life no one said that it was right
But I've got to hustle for the kids
God only knows where I've gone and been
Til we reach the end
Just stay strong and be a friend

[Verse 1: Big Boi (Sample)]
I cram to understand why a woman and a man
Make a plan to enter matrimony then he takes her hand
Put that ring on her finger, couple of kids in minivans
Standin' in the stands like a fan, watch her little man
Run ball... And every time you see the family they look happy
Got a mama and a daddy and I think they got a lil' dog
But daddy had a cat on the side
He would hide her from his ride decide not to divide
Kept the yam in the hide the spouse in the house
Boy its cheaper to keep her you fuck around and take a loss
Come up short like Short Dog cuss words flow like
(Motherfucker, shit, goddamn asshole)
Took my shit (Beitch!) FUCK!

[Hook: Scar & Sleepy Brown]
Stages in life no one said that it was right
But I've got to hustle for the kids
God only knows where I've gone and been
Til we reach the end
Just stay strong and be a friend

[Verse 2: Big Boi (Sample)]
It was the night that they done dipped
And all throughout the palace
Death didn't do us part, heart broke or no more marriage (Beitch!)
When it happens you'll be slappin' yourself rememberin'
You coulda remained boyfriend and girlfriend
Now you're sittin' in the courthouse, plaintiff and defendant (Bitch)
Pleadin' to the judge you was in it to win it
In the beginnin' was splendid see she was grinnin' and spendin'
All of her time wit the kids an' in the kitchen she'd cook
She was fierce on the stove it was always great
Covered plates in the microwave when I came home late
But now we just debate like some candidates damn I hate
Friction wishin' I had paperwork on the misses but I didn't
Damn... fuckin' around (Hey baby)

[Hook: Scar & Sleepy Brown]
Stages in life no one said that it was right
But I've got to hustle for the kids
God only knows where I've gone and been
Til we reach the end
Just stay strong and be a friend

[Bridge: Sleepy Brown & Scar (Big Boi)]
Girl you have to remember
I gotta provide for the family and future
So please stay down and please stay around cause you know
That I'm tryna change but its hard cause I've been this way
(Man you already knew that shit)

[Hook: Scar & Sleepy Brown]
Stages in life no one said that it was right
But I've got to hustle for the kids
God only knows where I've gone and been
Til we reach the end
Just stay strong and be a friend

Atlanta, Georgia natives André “André 3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton are OutKast, one of the most successful rap groups of all time. Along with the production crew Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family collective, André and Big Boi helped popularize and expand the sound of rap in the “Dirty South.”

The duo connected at Tri-Cities High School and after the names “2 Shades Deep” or “The Misfits” didn’t work out, they went with OutKast as a synonym of “misfit.” They signed to LaFace Records in 1992 prior to finishing high school and their first official appearance came on a remix to TLC’s hit single “What About Your Friends.” This led into their debut single “Player’s Ball” being released in 1993 and their debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik following in 1994. They had a pivotal moment early in their career as they were named New Artist of the Year at the 1995 Source Awards, leading them to be booed by the New York crowd and André responding with his iconic “The South got somethin' to say.”

Their next two albums, ATLiens (1996) and Aquemini (1998), have sparked debates as to which album is superior. ATLiens saw the duo begin to produce their own music and increase their profile while Aquemini received a perfect “5 Mic” rating from The Source magazine. Their next album, Stankonia (2000), further solidified their superstar status with the hit singles “B.O.B.,” “So Fresh, So Clean” and “Ms. Jackson,” which won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group while Stankonia won a Grammy in the Best Rap Album category.

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