Sonic Connections
A Rock B-Side
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West Coast Anthem
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Ms. Jackson (Clip A)
Outkast
2000
Funk in the family tree
The groove of “Ms. Jackson” centers on a piano riff layered with guitar, organ, and a live funk bassline. Outkast channels the legacy of ’70s funk and psychedelic R&B, echoing the spirit of artists like Shuggie Otis and Quincy Jones.
Strawberry Letter 23
The Brothers Johnson
1977
A Strawberry Letter in ATL ink
The Brothers Johnson’s “Strawberry Letter 23” (1977) is a funk daydream — syncopated guitar, glossy production, and a groove polished by Quincy Jones. Though not an exact sample, similar textures resurface in “Ms. Jackson.”
Ms. Jackson (Clip B)
Outkast
2000
Royalty in the mix
Midway through “Ms. Jackson,” the production swells: layered vocals, atmospheric detail, and rhythmic shifts. The scope and ambition recall an earlier icon who blurred genre lines as fearlessly as Outkast — Prince in the mid-1980s.
Purple Rain
Prince
1984
Prince’s fingerprints on Outkast
Prince’s mid-’80s records folded funk, soul, and orchestral drama into something entirely new. “Ms. Jackson” doesn’t lift directly from him, but the DNA is clear in its lush arrangement and the way it stretches hip-hop’s form.
Ms. Jackson (Clip C)
Outkast
2000
Classical notes in ATL bounce
“Ms. Jackson” opens with a looping piano riff built on rich chords and rhythmic phrasing. Outkast layers quick hip-hop flows over soulful harmonies, blending timeless emotion with Atlanta’s forward-thinking Southern rap sound.
Sonata No. 8 in C Minor,
Op. 13 “Pathétique”:
II. Adagio cantabile
Ludwig van Beethoven
1799
Beethoven’s ghost in Atlanta
The piano in “Ms. Jackson” uses dramatic, classical-style chords and phrasing, giving the track an emotional weight rarely heard in hip-hop at the time.