“She’s Alive” praises a single mom for pressing on. Isolated lines thank God for faithful parents (“Hey Ya!”) and recognize the futility of stubborn, hot-tempered conflict (“The Rooster”).
“Tomb of the Boom” alludes to marijuana use. That track and three others feature alcohol, sometimes to the point of intoxication and usually connected with sex. Teens get hammered with explicit sexual references on “The Way You Move,” “Tomb of the Boom” and OutKast’s ode to masturbation, “Vibrate.” Song titles such as “Where Are My Panties” and “Spread” need no further explanation. Liner images include bikini-clad and bare-breasted women. A photo of a rapper holding a smoking gun captures the thug posturing on several tracks. “War” uses obscenities to rail against the Bush administration. Wrapping unconscionable behavior in religious robes, “Reset” quotes Ephesians 6:12, then adds with gangsta bravado, “I’ll be bringing God to the gunfight.” “God (Interlude)” assumes the Lord is a female deity quick to understand and forgive the rapper’s sexual indiscretions. Similarly confused, “Church” talks of evil, the devil and repentance, yet winks at casual sex and using pot.
Two discs. A vile 135 minutes of material. How irresponsible is this project? Laughter erupts when Big Boi’s 3-year-old says “muthaf—er.” If he and his partner, Dre, are that lax about corrupting one of their own kids, just imagine how willing they are to corrupt yours.
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