THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

351-OutKast-Ms. Jackson.

2000-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 3.55. It’s the best song in the world ever about groveling to ‘The Mother-In-Law.’

OutKast were formed in 1992, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, by Andre ‘3000’ Benjamin, and Antwan ‘Big Boi’ Patton, they remained active as a duo until 2007, and then collaborated again to tour for over 40 musical festivals in 2014. The duo chose their name based on finding ‘outcast’ as a synonym for ‘misfit’ in a dictionary, since 2007 they have both pursued solo careers. OutKast are one of ‘Hip-Hop’s’ most critically acclaimed acts, having been praised for their experimentation with diverse genres including ‘Funk,’ ‘Psychedelia,’ ‘Jazz,’ and ‘Techno,’ as well as for their lyrical content. Andre ‘3000’ was born on May 27th, 1975, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and Antwan ‘Big Boi’ Patton was born on February 1st, 1975, in Savannah, Georgia, United States. The pair first met in 1992 when they were both 16 years old, where they attended the Tri-Cities High School, they initially both participated in ‘Rap Battles,’ that would take place in the school cafeteria. They were soon signed to the label that would later become ‘LaFace Records,’ becoming the labels first ‘Hip-Hop’ act.

OutKast who have gone on to sell in excess of 25 million records worldwide, have released six studio Albums between 1994-2006, and 32 singles between 1993-2006, there is also one soundtrack Album, and one official compilation Album available. In America their 2003 fifth studio Album ‘Speakerboxxx/The Love Below,’ which was a double Album, reached Number 1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart, with another four of their studio Albums all making the Number 2 spot. On the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, they have reached the top 40 on 10 occasions, with three of those singles including ‘Ms Jackson’ making Number 1. In the UK, OutKast have had six top 40 chart entries, with ‘Ms Jackson’ peaking the highest at Number 2.

Andre ‘3000’ Benjamin, and Antwan ‘Big Boi’ Patton have both released solo material as well. Andre ‘3000’ has issued one solo Album called ‘New Blue Sun,’ in 2023, he has also appeared on three singles as a lead artist, and a further 23 as a featured artist between 2001-2024, with ‘Green Light,’ by John Legend featuring André 3000, charting the highest at Number 24 in 2008, while in the UK, ‘Millionaire,’ by Kelis, featuring André 3000, (2004) and ‘Dedication to My Ex (Miss That,’) by Lloyd, featuring André 3000, (2011) both peaked the highest at Number 3. The solo discography of Antwan ‘Big Boi’ Patton includes three studio Albums released between 2010-2017, and 22 singles released between 2008-2017. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, his only charting single is ‘Girlfight,’ by Brooke Valentine, featuring Lil Jon, and Big Boi, which made Number 23 in 2005, while in the UK he has appeared on four top 40 hit singles, with ‘All n My Grill,’ by Missy Elliott, featuring MC Solaar, or Big Boi, peaking the highest at Number 20 in 1999.

‘Ms. Jackson’ was the second of three singles released from ‘Stankonia,’ the fourth studio Album by OutKast, from October 2000, the Album was far more experimental than previous releases, as they added ‘Techno,’ and ‘Psychedelic Funk’ to their sound. ‘Ms. Jackson’ was co-written, and co-produced by Andre ‘3000’ Benjamin, Antwan ‘Big Boi’ Patton, and David Sheats, who is known professionally as ‘Mr. DJ.’ David Sheats who was born in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, was a long term collaborator with OutKast, working with the duo on their final three studio Albums as ‘Earthtone III.’ David Sheats has won two Grammy Awards, one in 2002 for ‘Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group,’ for “Ms. Jackson,’ and another in 2004 for ‘Rap Album of the Year,’ for his work on Outkast’s ‘Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.’ ‘Ms Jackson.’ cleverly samples The Brothers Johnson’s 1977 cover version of the Shuggie Otis composition ‘Strawberry Letter 23,’ (see also best songs 1022) by adding various audio effects, prominently reversed.

‘Ms. Jackson’s’ lyrics are a message from Andre 3000 to the mother of the singer Eryka Badu, (see also best songs 408) with whom he had a child with, Andre 3000 and Eryka Badu had been in a relationship from 1996 to 1999, but had since split. He wanted Badu’s mother to hear his side of the story, as he felt he was being portrayed as a bad father. Ms. Jackson is a name OutKast made up, Badu’s mother is really named Kolleen Wright. It was reported that Kolleen Wright really liked the song being written about her and said, ‘Where’s my publishing cheque.’ Eryka Badu has said about the song, ‘It hit kind of a sore spot. I didn’t wanna hear that, especially when I heard Big Boi’s verse. When I heard Andre’s verse, I felt very good because his verse was really, really inspiring. He just said how he felt, and it was his honest feelings, and I always respected that ,and listened to what he felt and appreciated it.’ When asked what her mother thought of being the subject of the song, Eryka Badu said, ‘Baby, she bought herself a ‘Ms. Jackson’ license plate. She had the mug, she had the ink pen, she had the headband, everything. That’s who loved it.’

‘Me and yo’ daughter got’s this thing going on. You say it’s puppy love, we say it’s full grown. Hope that we feel this, feel this way forever, you can plan a pretty picnic, but you can’t predict the