It’s been two decades since hit Atlanta hip-hop duo OutKast released their last song. “Hollywood Divorce” was released one month shy of 20 years ago, the group’s last official single.
But by 10:30 a.m. on Friday, fans lined the street outside a downtown Atlanta Waffle House for a chance to buy the band’s limited edition collaboration merchandise.
Fans started to line up hours before the 11 a.m. launch time, with some showing up before 9 a.m. to secure their spot in line.
Many wore OutKast merchandise from previous tours, or were singing along as OutKast songs played over a speaker coming from the Waffle House garage.
For a group like OutKast, so intrinsically connected to the city of Atlanta, its music scene and culture, it wouldn’t matter if they
took a five year break or a 50 year break — their fans were going to show up.
Two Atlanta institutions come together
OutKast teamed up with Waffle House, another iconic brand name in the South, to bring "special, limited edition" merchandise, souvenir menus and complimentary coupons both online and at the Centennial Park pop-up shop. The pop-up was open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday.
The merch included t-shirts, hoodies, bomber jackets, bucket hats, socks and coffee mugs, among other items. Free souvenir menus were also given out inside the Waffle House and the pop-up served limited-edition André 3000 and Big Boi meals.
Fans who would still like to participate in the collaboration but either missed the pop-up or didn't get to the front of the line can still purchase the limited-edition items online on the duo's website, Outkast.com.
The duo had posted teasers about the collaboration in the days leading up to the pop-up, but didn't ultimately make an appearance in Atlanta. The announcement was also limited to a merch drop, with no indication new OutKast music is on the way.
'The South got something to say,' and fans still listen
"They represent Atlanta. They represent like kind of that transitional period of music. Like they said, the South had something to say, and they proved that time and time again," Melanie Elam, 30, told USA TODAY while standing in line. "And not only just with their musicality in the city of Atlanta, like the expansion, the culture, the fashion, I think they encapsulate that so well and continue to show that love and outpouring for the city all the time."
André 3000 (Andre Benjamin) and Big Boi (Antwan Patton) came together to form OutKast after meeting in high school in the East Point area of Atlanta. They released their first song in 1993, and by 1995 the duo won Best New Rap Group at the Source Awards. They became one of the most influential hip-hop acts not just of the 1990s, but ever. Songs like "Hey Ya!", "Ms. Jackson" and "So Fresh, So Clean" were the soundtrack of the turn of the century in Atlanta.
Michael, another fan who asked USA TODAY not to use his last name, said he mostly came down to Waffle House "for the vibes though, and to support OutKast, obviously."
"When I think about what OutKast did for the music industry, they not only helped it grow by bringing more visibility to southern rappers, but they also innovated by bringing in their own flavor, their own style, which then made more people everywhere feel like that they could embrace more of their authentic selves in the rap industry," Michael said.
Both Michael and Elam grew up with the artists, listening to OutKast at key parts of their lives.
So, do fans want more music to come in the future? Or, is the nostalgia now part of the essence of OutKast?
"They've given so much to Atlanta that I feel like sometimes it's selfish to be like, give us more," Elam said. "Do what y'all need to do. Do what's right for your artistic journey. And who am I? I'm just a fan. But they've given us so much, they have the right to do whatever they want in my eyes."
Michael said they shouldn't come back unless they were ready to go big.
"I think if OutKast did something like that, the world is gonna ask them for a world tour, and they gotta be ready for that. And if OutKast, if y'all ain't ready for a world tour, don't even drop the album," Michael said. "But at the end of the day, it's up to you."
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Two Atlanta icons come together. What OutKast still means to fans
