If any recording artists in today’s music industry know anything about taking risks, it would be Atlanta’s hip-hop geniuses Outkast.

In their new album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Andre “Andre 3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Bio” Patton divide their talents onto two solo discs, each attempting their own innovative styles.

The Outkast musical sensation hit the hip-hop scene in 1994 with Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, which forever changed the face of hip-hop music. Outkast had an original sound quality that no recording artist had ever generated. The releases of Stankonia and Aquemini, two of the most intuitive hip-hop albums created, gave Outkast a flawless reputation and expectations that no rap artist has lived up to.

Whether listeners were a fan at Stankonia or have been riding with them on the bus since “Rosa Parks,” the new CD gives the duo a chance to take separate paths with their funky styles.

In Speakerboxxx, Big Boi ventures into a groovy, euphoric sound with a futuristic twang. The CD contains funky tracks that have sound effects that resemble the Beastie Boys’ Intergalactic and George Clinton of P-Funk. Big Boi also takes risks when he connects the latest ska craze with hip-hop.

Many of the tracks, such as “Rooster,” have the clear ska influence mixed in with the traditional rap of Outkast. The first single off of Big Boi’s half of the masterpiece is “The Way You Move,” which intertwines a slick beat with the ska consistency seen throughout Speakerboxxx.

On the other hand, Andre’s The Love Below examines the hurdles of love, whereas Bio Boi’s CD could be described as more random. Like Speakerboxxx, The Love Below also combines a new style with hip hop.

It seems as though Andre now loves the guitar. Andre also seems to diverge from a “rap” label because in many of his tracks he does not even rap. His tracks seem to be more along the lines of soulful ballads and interludes than rap hits like “Bombs Over Baghdad,” as seen from Stankonia. Andre’s first single “Hey Ya” also has the funky ska style resembling George Clinton, which strongly links the two albums together and creates a whole new style of music.

There have been rumors circulating that the dynamic duo could be taking separate paths in their careers because they made their own CDs. However, the two deny any allegations of a split. This is also apparent because Andre appears on Big Boi’s record in many tracks as a singer as well as a songwriter.

Whether people believe that Outkast may be taking separate career courses, SpeakerBoxxx/The Love Below still shows that Outkast can create beautiful fresh styles that have forever changed a generation of music.

These two CDs accentuate each other, and as whole define each other as artists. The albums would not be as affective in defining this new style of ska/hip hop if they were independent of each other. Because of Outkast this new genre of music is available, and the bar is raised even higher for other hip-hop artists of the 21st century