2009: #2 - "Shine Blockas"

Though the members of Outkast have been going for the jugular since the late 90's - they did weird, sprawling psych-funk on the epic album Aquemini, then tried big, noisy yet intricate pop on the equally sprawling but radio-ready epic Stankonia, then threw everything they could on the really really sprawling double album Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below - they can still be counted on for the effortless, laid back Southern rap anthems they used to do so well ("Southerplayalisticadillacmuzik", "ATLiens").

Case in point: Big Boi's latest single from Sir Luscious Left Foot, his first solo album, release date TDB (Seems any label in their right mind would want to put out an album containing this one, and last year's "Royal Flush", but we digress).

It can be difficult to describe why something that's so cool without being clever, so smooth without being obvious about it, and so well-orchestrated without being busy or trying too hard is so great. So, maybe we won't. Just click on the video (which looks like it cost about $700 to make) and listen to a quintessential 00's - lush, dense, and full of pitch-shifted samples - rap masterpiece.