Benjamin and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, of the Hip-Hop duo Outkast, stopped by AOL Live. They chatted and answered questions about their amazing year; and why their poignant lyrics tackle such issues as emancipation, drug addiction and more. Get the lowdown on what they said below!

OUTKAST

*****************************************************

AOLiveMC9: Put your hands up in the air for the duo of Andre "Dre" Benjamin and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton -- known to you all as Outkast! Welcome to AOL!

Outkast: Fresh out of the bed, ready to get into y’all’s head!

AOLiveMC9: Here's our first question of the evening:

Question: Outkast, what rappers do you like to interact with onstage?

Outkast: Listen to some of everything. From NWA to the Tribe Called Quest, Run DMC and back even farther. We listen to a little bit of everything.

AOLiveMC9: Tony55ny has a question about the future:

Question: Hey, Big Boi and Dre, what's up? You got any plans for the next album?

Outkast: Yep, the next album is going to be a compilation of our last four albums. It is going to be like a grassroots album. We are going to put on four new songs.

AOLiveMC9: Possibly when should we expect this new album?

Outkast: November of this year.

AOLiveMC9: Natorious2001 has a question about your roots and your supporters:

Question: Hey, how did y’all get in the game? Who is y’all’s producer?

Outkast: We got into the game, started out with Organized Noize. They produced the first album, 'ATLeins.' After that, we started producing. We did almost all the tracks on the last album.

AOLiveMC9: HottiePrincess64 wants to know:

Question: Hey, what's up? Y’all are like the best rapperz out there right now and are so famous but still seem so down-to-earth. Is that hard to do? And Dre, you got a girlfriend? 'Cause I think you are SOOO fine!

Outkast: Dre don't have no girlfriend. Staying grounded means never forgetting where you come from.

AOLiveMC9: Tattoo27 poses this question:

Question: Of the four albums, which do you think is the most inspiring?

Outkast: All of them are. It is almost like each album is like a kid. If you had children, you wouldn't love one child more than the other. All of them were inspiring from the time that they were made, from that time in our lives.

AOLiveMC9: Brutman90 wants to know the lowdown on the recent tour:

Question: What is the best part about touring for the Stanklove tour?

Outkast: Performing for the fans, watching their reactions. Looks like the fans are more receptive than ever. Without all the smoke and mirrors, seeing the fans' reactions and feeling like, man, that was the best concert ever!

AOLiveMC9: Dondre parker is curious to find out about this:

Question: First off, big ups to the family. I've been peeping and appreciating what y’all been doing from the door. Big Boi, your crib is phat, got to get one one day. But on the real, where would I send my family's music to be heard by Stankonia?

Outkast: You can send it to the address that is on the album cover. When you send it in, we get a box of pizza and listen to everything that gets sent in!

AOLiveMC9: XsExYgReEnEyZxX wants to know the meaning behind the song:

Question: What's behind 'So Fresh, So Clean'? I love that song, as well as others.

Outkast: About is confidence. It is about that attitude, fresh and clean. Like pumpin' your chest out with that attitude! Matter of fact, we got a remix that you should be seeing a video for it, featuring Snoop Dogg and Sleepy Brown! That is a remix of 'So Fresh, So Clean.'

AOLiveMC9: FIRE IT UP01 wants to know about your cool threads:

Question: Where did you get your cool, unique sense of fashion, like the MC Hammer outfit?

Outkast: MC Hammer outfit, I don't know... about that! Fashion is a big part of what we do. We like to look like new. We switch it up all the time -- anything can happen. You might see us in leather shorts or fur pants. Anything could happen!

AOLiveMC9: Alp724 has a question about inspiration:

Question: Who inspired you to follow your dreams?

Outkast: The Most High.

AOLiveMC9: SwEeTkIsSe4Aj wants to know:

Question: Big Boi, how's about you and me hookin' up? Just playin'. I hear that you guyz mixed a BSB song; is that true?

Outkast: Yeah, we did a Backstreet Boys remake... remix. Someone at the record label bumped their head.

AOLiveMC9: Medaprincess89 asks about fame and fortune:

Question: What is it like being famous?

Outkast: Uhhh really, it is work.

AOLiveMC9: I JAWZZESQUIRE I sends this question in:

Question: This question is for Big Boi: What is the message or concept that you focus on when making track?

Outkast: It depends on what the song is about. We touch on a lot of different subjects in one verse. Once you focus on a subject, your thoughts are moving so fast.

AOLiveMC9: Bdls255 wants to know the opinion on a fellow rapper:

Question: What do y’all think of all the controversy behind Eminem's lyrics?

Outkast: That's something for the media to blow up, all the hype. There were others saying that before Eminem was saying it. It's real.

AOLiveMC9: Wendy9878 wants to know:

Question: What kind of message do you think you send to our young kids?

Outkast: Don't smoke crack!!!

AOLiveMC9: Ellyse54 poses this question:

Question: What is the meaning behind the song 'Babylon' from your 'ATLiens' album?

Outkast: ‘Babylon’ is like... was basically from the Bible. Our world at that time had a lot of things going on, negative. My aunt passed at that time, and that was on my mind, along with a lot of other negativity at that time, so that it is there, negativity, but you are still pushin'.

AOLiveMC9: Keke1202 asks about any future productions:

Question: Are you guys producing any up-and-coming acts?

Outkast: Yes, Slimm Calhoun is our first artist. We executive produced the album. First song is 'Cut Song,' and the album is in the stores now. The first *single* is 'Cut Song.'

AOLiveMC9: Luvlanai wants to know about this:

Question: What do you think about giving back to the community?

Outkast: I think it is about to go back and show to the young kids coming up that you don't have to be stuck in one avenue. So we go back and donate to kids and such. We are trying to open a school like "Fame" almost, a creative arts school where they can come after school and learn different things. We are trying to get the school open for next year.

AOLiveMC9: O0pRaDaMoMmiE0o has our final question for the evening:

Question: I'm your #1 fan from Virginia, and I wanna ask, what influenced the song 'Jazzybell'? Was it a true story of a girl y’all knew or what?

Outkast: It was a true story of a couple of girls. It was a song about women in general, different views and life, how different people relate to different things.

AOLiveMC9: Outkast, thanks for spending time out of your day to be here on AOL. Any final words?

Outkast: Big announcement: Outkast Clothing will be in stores starting next week nationwide! We got something for everybody, and we are gonna have you fresh and clean from here on out! Peaceky-weaceky! We love each and every one of ya and are gonna keep it coming. And see you in November!

AOLiveMC9: Thanks again to Outkast for shooting the breeze with us. Peace and love to the audience as well. Until next time...

Copyright 2001 America Online, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Portions of this transcript may be edited by AOL to correct spelling, punctuation and/or remove any material that violates AOL's Terms of Service.