Confessions of an OutKast Stan on the Verge of Tears

Hello, my name is Fresh and I’m a recovering OutKast Stan.

I kept chanting the chorus to “Aquemini” in my head when I would read online stories about their break up. I can’t continue to lie to myself. I’ve finally come to accept that the sun is about to set on my favorite group of all time. It hurts no doubt but I can’t say that I didn’t see this one coming. Rumors have been circulating down here about their split for years.

Last night while I was doing some much needed housework I came across a box full of old ‘Kast memorabilia that was once displayed on my walls. I shook my head and cursed to myself a little before shoving the box in a spare closet. I’m still trying to keep hope alive like Jesse Jackson.

My resume as a fan is pretty damn impressive if I must say so myself. From 1994 to 2003 I’ve stayed on the muthafuckin’ job. Its damn near sickening. I’ve collected almost all of the magazines they have appeared in, stayed home from school so I wouldn‘t miss the premiere of a new video, recorded hours of television appearances, and spent my first entire paycheck on buying shirts from the clothing line. Hell, even after wrecking my first car I had my Dad make sure that my OutKast license plate was still okay. And it was.

If that’s not a Stan I don’t know what is.

I’ve been a fan since their first album dropped during my 4^th grade year (Sickamore isn’t the only 80’s baby you know). The first time I heard their voices echo the walls of my house I was immediately intrigued. I fell in love within a matter of minutes. Later on that night I snuck into my unsuspecting brother’s room and grabbed his Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik cassette tape (remember those?) and dubbed myself a copy. Since both of my parents were bona fied holy rollers at the time, I had to put up the front that I was listening to the DC Talk album that they brought for Christmas in my Minnie Mouse walkman.

To make a long story short everything in my world changed that night. I eventually tossed all my “booty music” out and started to listen to my older brother’s music collection. From then on out I was hooked on hip hop.

I guess I was too deep in my Georgia pride to pay the rumors any mind. Besides, people grow up and grow apart everyday. Do I actually think they’re going to break up? I can’t say. Until then I’ll just have to be content with my mp3 of “The Mighty O” and hope that Idlewind isn’t the first brick they catch.