The ATLiens have officially landed in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame conversation. Hip-hop’s legendary duo, OutKast, has been nominated for induction into the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, marking their first-ever nomination.
On Wednesday, February 12, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced its 14 nominees for the 2025 class, including the dynamic Southern rap duo André 3000 and Big Boi, as well as Mariah Carey. OutKast is the only rap act in this year’s pool of potential inductees.
An artist’s first commercial recording must have been released at least 25 years ago to be eligible for nomination. OutKast meets that mark, dropping their debut single Player’s Ball in 1993, followed by their breakout album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik in 1994.
Rock Hall nominees are voted on by a panel of over 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals. The criteria for induction include an artist’s impact on music culture, influence on future musicians, and the scope and longevity of their career.
Final inductees will be announced in late April, with additional honorees selected under special committee categories, including Musical Influence, Musical Excellence, and the Ahmet Ertegun Non-Performer Award.
“These remarkable nominees have each created their own musical style and attitude, impacting generations of music lovers and contributing to the ever-evolving sounds and continued growth of rock & roll,” said John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.
Throughout their career, André 3000 and Big Boi released six studio albums, including the Grammy-winning classics.
If inducted, OutKast will join an elite list of hip-hop legends who have earned a place in the Rock Hall, including:
- Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (2007)
- Run-D.M.C. (2009)
- Public Enemy (2013)
- N.W.A. (2016)
- Tupac Shakur (2017)
- The Notorious B.I.G. (2020)
- Jay-Z (2021)
- Missy Elliott (2023)
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is set to take place in Los Angeles this fall, with the official date to be announced.
