Taking Sides: Outkast Vs Sly & the Family Stone

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I don't know if anyone listens to Craig Charles Funk Show on BBC Radio 6 (great show) but at the moment he has a sort of Taking Sides debate going on. This week its Outkast Vs Sly & The Family Stone.
So whats the ILX verdict?

― Justin Mooney, Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

hahahahaha you have got to be fucking kidding me

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Even as one of the more ardent Outkast supporters up in this piece I have to say strongo OTM.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.pguy.dircon.co.uk/butler%20and%20cliff.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Is he doing it in his Robot Wars voice?

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

its a weird "contest" anyway. outkast vs. prince or outkast vs. p-funk would at least make some sort of conceptual sense.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Craig Charles' funk show is actually one of the weirdest fucking radio shows ever. It'll be this long stream of perfect, on the dollars funk (he even played Betty Harris once!), and then, all of a sudden, he'll just slap on the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Yes, well done.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe the OK / Sly comparison is hair-based. If so, see strongo's opening comment.

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:43 (twenty-two years ago)

obviously sly.

― jack cole (jackcole), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I love Outkast tons and Andre's been pretty vocal that Sly is a huge influence on him (mostly visually, but musically as well in fairly obvious ways)... but come the fuck ON! Sly no contest.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

If I'm being totally honest I listen to them both about the same amount, Outkast probably a bit more.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Sly. I agree that Sly vs Outkast isn't necessarily the most "apt" comparison (even though that's probably not the point of starting threads like this) - there's a whole religious aspect to SatFS missing from Outkast. P-Funk had a subversive religious aspect too, but definitely shared overt sex-freakisms w/Outkast.

― dleone (dleone), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

P-Funk had a subversive religious aspect too . . .

Robert de Grimston to thread.

― jack cole (jackcole), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I only chose Sly Stone as that was the debate on Craig Charles show. But feel free to include Parliament Funkadelic in this(can the title be changed to include p-funk in the title?)

― Justin Mooney, Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I listen to Speakerboxxx/The Love Below a hell of a lot more than There's a Riot Going On (which I think I listened to all the way through once - it was a good one time though, honest) but I do like both albums. I can't be the only person who listens more to the contemporary band. But, yeah, I don't totally know what the comparison is either.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, but do you listen to Sly's greatest hits or Outkast's greatest hits more. On that front, Sly wins by a double long shot.

― dleone (dleone), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:07 (twenty-two years ago)

whoa whoa wait wait, Dave Lister has a radio show now?

― Nate in ST.P (natedetritus), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Anyone who says Outkast is clearly a smeg head.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Outkast. Really.

― Sym (shmuel), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 22:58 (twenty-two years ago)

P-Funk vs. Outkast or Sly vs. Outkast, it all amounts to the same thing. Outkast loses. Mandrill vs. Outkast might be close. I guess I pick Outkast there.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 23:57 (twenty-two years ago)

what Alex said - they can't really beat out their main sources of inspiration, it's just not possible. I might pick them over, say, Kool and the Gang tho. There's any number of lesser funk acts that they're better than, but Sly? P-Funk? Prince? Those cats can't be touched.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm 24. Outkast. I love Sly, but come on. Is this funkism?

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Sly's catalog is bigger, denser, with a wider variety of material and it all had a lasting impact that is still being felt on bands such as, er, Outkast... Outkast hasn't broken nearly as many boundaries as Sly did. And if it's strictly a "who do I listen to more" question, I've been listening to Sly regularly since I was 16, and to Outkast regularly since I was 25, so uh, Sly still wins.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Funkist!

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:11 (twenty-two years ago)

uh... Rapist!

No wait that didn't come out right...

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

You need to double the 'p'. Drink some water.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

well waitaminit, if all my criteria for judgment are "rockist" criteria, what criteria should we use instead?

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:17 (twenty-two years ago)

the newer-is-automatically-better strawman criteria, apparently

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Beatles vs Radiohead.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean I love both, but put my favorite songs from Sly and Outkast up against each other - say, "Family Affair" vs. "Spottieottiedopalicious" - and there's no doubt in my mind which is the more masterfully constructed, beautifully executed, emotionally and intellectually absorbing tune.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:22 (twenty-two years ago)

"I Want To Take You Higher" vs "BOB".

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:23 (twenty-two years ago)

that's trickier - performed live tho there's no doubt in my mind Sly kills Outkast. I mean, have you seen footage of Sly performing at his peak? It's unbelievable.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Livist!

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Outkast live was one of the best shows I've ever seen.

― Sym (shmuel), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Ist-ist!

I'm onto your routine Mr. Mouthall. I see those posts on that Simon Reynolds thread!

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not sure how to pronounce that. I'd got for "BOB", but it's fucking hard. The way I see it is that Sly (not literally) is someone else's music - it was their turn to get excited about it in 69 or 72, and it's MY turn to get excited by Outkast now (figuratively speaking). I may love stuff from before 'my time', but it's always going to be at that one remove, by-and-large. I can't get excited about rushing to HMV for the new Sly rekkid cos there wont be one.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think it's an altogether unfair comparison, actually, the more I think of it, but I still think Sly wins.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:30 (twenty-two years ago)

"Don't Call Me Nigger Whitey" vs "Rosa Parks".

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:31 (twenty-two years ago)

So Sick Nouthall is a NOWist, is what it really comes down to! Meself, I don't particularly care how/when/where/by who something was recorded. New /= better. I don't feel more connected to today's musicians just cuz they're alive today. I don't emotionally "own" them anymore - it's entirely possible that I feel more alienated from them and their music than from someone who's been dead for 20 years. It has nothing to do with time and everything to do with common emotional ground, POV, etc.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:34 (twenty-two years ago)

and "Don't Call Me Nigger" wins by virtue of that vocal through the organ wah-wah pedal effect. That's a beautiful sound.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Everyday People vs. Hey Ya

― Sym (shmuel), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm an emotionless clown(e).

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:35 (twenty-two years ago)

"People Everyday" vs "Everyday People".

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:36 (twenty-two years ago)

*bleaaargghhh* Arrested Development - those people should be shot. Okay maybe that's a little harsh. Beaten with shoes then. Worst band ever!

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 00:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Sly.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 01:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Sly, but I'll take "Hey Ya" over "Everyday People"

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 01:10 (twenty-two years ago)

OutKast! You people DO realize they've got five albums under their belts.

"Ooh! I'm such a big fan! I've loved you guys since Stankonia!"

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 01:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Number of Sly records in my collection: 9
Number of Outkast records in my collection: 5

Sly wins.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 01:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Number of Sly records in my collection: 10
Number of Outkast records in my collection: 5

Sly wins.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 01:26 (twenty-two years ago)

sorry I miscounted there. Based on quantity alone, Sly is twice as good!

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 10 March 2004 01:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Sly would have probably been more equal with Outkast had he been working during the CD age. Had he been allowed to indulge more I have every reason to believe he would have.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 01:32 (twenty-two years ago)

ha ha Sly indulge more ha ha

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 02:14 (twenty-two years ago)

"What the shit mufucka!?! You call this a mountain of coke? I can still see over it without tippy-toes!"

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 02:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Had he been allowed to indulge more I have every reason to believe he would have.

I dunno, the "Stand!" album is ruined by the indulgence that is "Sex Machine"

― LondonLee (LondonLee), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 02:28 (twenty-two years ago)

outkast. and that's it! but wait...i feel another entry below.

― paulhw (paulhw), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 03:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Why does everyone hate Arrested Development?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 05:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Dre3K v. Speech

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 06:15 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...

i can't find the thread, but why did someone insist that "don't call me nigger, whitey" is only the lyrics in the title? there are verses.

i won't even comment on the thread question. i mean, i adore outkast, but c'mon. there are no albums in popular music better than stand/riot/fresh.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 05:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I dunno, the "Stand!" album is ruined by the indulgence that is "Sex Machine"

er, no.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 05:14 (twenty-two years ago)

thats got to be the worst excuse for a 'battle of the bands'. sly vs. chamber brothers might have been better. or outkast vs. pm dawn. theres going to be a bunch of idiots who now think outkast are like sly stone.

― thesplooge (thesplooge), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 09:01 (twenty-two years ago)

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