ATLiens

Even thought their debut was a great album, it’s ridiculous how much ATLiens blows it out of the water. Literally everything they showcased on the debut was mastered on this album.

If you somehow mixed the south with space, this is what you get. Andre and Big Boi literally sound like prophets on here, it’s lyrically way stronger and more focused than most albums from its generation. For the most part, the production is pretty stripped back, but that’s not a bad thing because it gives the album such a spacey and almost memorizing sound.

Andre consistently has some of his best verses ever on here, Two Dope Boys, the title track, Wheelz of Steal, Elevators, Millennium, 31th floor, take your pick.

Not only does ATLiens have one of the best hooks that hip-hop has ever seen, but it also has two of the best verses ever (Big Boi’s first verse and Andre’s last). It’s just the definition of a perfect hip-hop song, and one of the best rap songs of the 90s.

There is seriously not a moment when Andre & Big Boi doesn’t have amazing verse, even when the other parts of the songs aren’t too good, like the chorus on Ova Da Wudz which doesn’t work, Andre and Big Boi save it with their amazing verses.

13th Floor/Growing Old is another one of the best hip-hop songs of the 90s decade. The beat is so relaxing and laid back, it almost has a lo-fi feeling with the piano. And the female vocals on here are so beautiful. Such a sentimental moment it feels like growing wiser while drifting through time. The way Andre reflects on morality, change, identity and growing older, it’s just poetic.

At times, the album can be a little sleepy (especially towards the end). The sleepiness doesn’t drag the album down much at all, because it’s still so lyrically focused that if you lock back in on their words, you’ll still be in a trance.

Overall, ATLiens is a fantastic album, one of the best and most unique hip-hop albums from the 90s and it still sounds futuristic today.