Photo: Getty Images
OutKast just achieved what only one other rap artist in the world has managed to accomplish during their expansive career.
As of Friday, September 22, the Atlanta duo's fifth studio album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below has officially gone 13x platinum according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Their newest certification means that Big Boi and Andre 3000's experimental double album is now the best-selling rap album in the country. The last artist to achieve this feat was Eminem, who earned the coveted title after his LP The Eminem Show went 12x platinum last year. Big Boi recently expressed his gratitude in an Instagram post.
"Outchea like the air you breathe," Big Boi wrote. "@outkast is EVERLASTING. 🛸 Blessed and Highly Favored . Praise YahWeh."
The record-breaking certification comes shortly after OutKast celebrated the 20th anniversary of the album's release via Arista Records. The massive LP, which contains both Big Boi and Andre 3000's individual albums, features the duo's biggest hits including "Hey Ya," which reached platinum status in 2006, as well as "The Way You Move" with Sleepy Brown. The double-disc album also features contributions from Ludacris, Jazze Pha, CeeLo Green, Killer Mike, JAY-Z, Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz, Kelis, Rosario Dawson and Norah Jones.
OutKast was honored with the historic certification just days after they celebrated the 25th anniversary of their third studio LP Aquemini. To celebrate that LP, OutKast teamed up with Vevo to release an annotated version of their "Rosa Parks" video as well as an animated music video for their hit “SpottieOttieDopaliscious."
Congratulations OutKast! Watch Big Boi unwrap is new platinum plaque and listen to the album below.