Southern Hip-Hop Legends Killer Mike, J.I.D. and Sleepy Brown Induct Outkast into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Killer Mike, J.I.D and Sleepy Brown will pay tribute to Outkast by inducting André 3000 and Big Boi into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The event takes place on November 8 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, to honor the Atlanta duo behind a signature hip-hop sound that resonated worldwide.
During the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 rites, the trio—each drawing on ties to the group—will take the stage to formalize André 3000 and Big Boi’s induction.
The induction airs live on Disney+ and highlights Southern hip-hop’s impact on music and culture. It cements the genre’s place in music history.
Outkast will stand as the 13th hip-hop act in the Hall, joining Eminem, JAY-Z, 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Missy Elliott and A Tribe Called Quest.
Sleepy Brown, a longtime member of the Organized Noize team, helped shape the duo’s breakthrough sound across albums like ATLiens and Aquemini.
His voice features on numerous songs and he played a key part in crafting the sound of ATLiens and Aquemini. He lent smooth harmonies and layered textures that became a signature element on their songs.
Killer Mike rose from the Dungeon Family collective with standout verses on Stankonia and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below before founding Run The Jewels.
His bond with the pair goes deep, rooted in both music and culture across decades.
J.I.D, one of Atlanta’s newer voices, credits Outkast as a significant influence on his own work.
He teamed up with Big Boi on Masego’s “Garden Party” in 2021 and has hinted at an André 3000 flute appearance on his deluxe project God Does Like Ugly.
Outkast’s story began in 1992 when André 3000 and Big Boi met as teens at Atlanta’s Lenox Square.
Over the next 20 years they sold more than 25 million records worldwide and propelled Southern rap into the mainstream.
Their genre-blending sound and inventive videos challenged a chart scene once dominated by East and West Coast rappers.
Their influence reached beyond music.
They redefined Southern style with bold fashion, dynamic film roles and thoughtful cultural commentary on a national stage.
Their 2003 double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below earned Album of the Year at the Grammys, a rare honor for a rap act.
The Class of 2025 lineup features The White Stripes, Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, Joe Cocker, Chubby Checker and Bad Company.
