Outkast Inducted Into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame With Dungeon Family Reunion and All-Star Tribute
Outkast were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Nov. 8 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, marking a formal acknowledgment of the duo’s long-standing influence on hip-hop and on Atlanta’s cultural identity. The ceremony underscored both their individual achievements and the collaborative ecosystem that shaped their work.
The night began with an introduction from Donald Glover, who spoke about encountering Outkast’s music while growing up in Atlanta and how the group’s creative risk-taking helped define the city’s artistic landscape. Glover linked their presence to a broader shift in how Southern artists were perceived, noting that their success opened space for later generations of musicians and creators.
Onstage, Big Boi and André 3000 settled who would speak first with a brief exchange of rock-paper-scissors. Big Boi delivered a concise opening before André offered a longer, unscripted reflection on the people who contributed to Outkast’s development. As he spoke, members of the Dungeon Family, the collective that included producers Organized Noize and several Atlanta rappers and vocalists, gradually filled the stage. The visual reinforced the idea that Outkast’s work emerged from a community rather than a strictly two-person unit.
André emphasized that their sound was shaped not only by collaborators and producers but by the broader Atlanta scene, from local pioneers such as Kilo Ali and Raheem the Dream to national figures including Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Nas, and Wu-Tang Clan. He framed those influences as part of the foundation the duo built on, alongside personal relationships and early supporters. At one point, André referenced a remark by fellow 2025 inductee Jack White about “little rooms” being the birthplace of meaningful creative work. The comment resonated with him as he reflected on Outkast’s beginnings recording in basements and small studios.
The ceremony’s performance segment assembled one of the evening’s largest and most varied lineups. Big Boi and J.I.D opened with “ATLiens,” followed by Doja Cat, who performed “Ms. Jackson.” Her rendition included elements of André’s vocal phrasing before transitioning into a more stylized delivery of the track’s verse. Tyler, the Creator followed with “B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad),” bringing a high-intensity interpretation of the song’s rapid-fire structure. Janelle Monáe then took the stage for “Hey Ya!,” approaching the track with a theatrical presentation supported by a full dance team.
While André did not join the tribute performances, Big Boi remained onstage for multiple segments. The musical interlude shifted briefly into the horn line from “SpottieOttieDopaliscious,” setting up Big Boi and Sleepy Brown for “The Way You Move,” accompanied by a large live band. The tribute concluded with “The Whole World,” with Killer Mike, Doja Cat, J.I.D, Tyler, Monáe, Sleepy Brown, and Big Boi performing together.
Outkast were appearing on the Rock Hall ballot for the first time, despite being eligible since 2019. Their recorded output, beginning with Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and extending through ATLiens, AqueminiStankonia, and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, remains one of the most critically cited runs in modern hip-hop. Their 2004 Grammy win for Album of the Year for stands as the last time a rap album received that honor.
With their induction, Outkast joined the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2025, which also includes Cyndi Lauper, Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Soundgarden, and the White Stripes.
