Outkast returns to home state for CounterPoint

ROME, Georgia (AP) ― Despite the wet and muddy conditions, the energy was high for Outkast’s performance in their home state at the CounterPoint Music & Arts Festival.

Organizers suspended the festival due to heavy rain and inclement weather, pushing Outkast’s set back more than an hour Sunday night. But the Grammy-winning rap duo still put on an energetic show that kept the crowd jamming in the late hours.

Outkast was one of the final acts to close out the three-day festival in Rome, Georgia, which is about 100 kilometers northwest of downtown Atlanta. The group, which consist of Andre “Andre 3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, grew up in East Point, Georgia.

“I know you’re all muddy and dirty,” said a chuckling Andre 3000, who was wearing a white wig and a black jumpsuit with a white X on the chest. “And I know y’all are going to want to go home and take a shower.”

Outkast kicked off their act with the song “B.O.B.” The duo went on to perform some of their major hits: “Ms. Jackson,” “So Fresh, So Clean,” “Rosa Parks” and “Player’s Ball.”

CounterPoint was the second stop for Outkast, which is currently on a 40-date tour. Big Boi and Andre 3000 reunited onstage for the first time two weeks ago at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, following a near-decade hiatus.

Outkast is celebrating 20 years in music since the release of their 1994 debut, “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.”

“It’s good to be back in the dirty, dirty,” said Big Boi, sporting a red hat with “Atlanta” written in black across the front of it. “ATL you know what it is. We love y’all. ... 20 years and we still here.”

The group often danced alongside each other, then stood and walked behind each other inside a tall see-through box for a couple of songs including “Aquemini.” They showed good chemistry onstage as the two smoothly interchanged into their own solo acts.