One of the doppest albums from Track 1 to done, Outkast delivered something unlike anything else and solidified their place as hip hop legends.
The title ATLiens had different meainings depending on who you asked and when. Many believed ATLiens was a powerful title because it represented the duo so well; “The ATL for Atlanta,” Dre explained in an LA Time interview, "..The aliens for our status in the hip-hop game.” Alien was also much more. "Being an alien is just being yourself when people don't understand you,” Dre went on toe explain, “We just trying to let everybody know there's a place for everybody in this world. You just gotta find yourself, and be true to yourself.”
However, in 2010, Mr. 3000 had a different answer. “We were for real. I wasn't talking about myself,” he told Creative Loafing. “We knew somebody had to be out here in the universe other than just us. So when I talked about IFOs ‘landing in Decatur,’ I knew some folks had already seen that shit: identified flying objects.” It's believed both meaning are unique as the art work on the album.
Dre or MR. 3000 addressed changes in his personal life from the first album to ATLiens during an interview with the Los Angeles Times in '96. "When you're 17 and 18, you think you can smoke and drink all day and sleep around. You feel invincible," he elaborated. "Then there comes a time where you have to raise up and do something else with yourself. On our first album, we were determined to smoke herb until the world ended. Now, I've stopped smoking and drinking, and I'm trying to live up to my abilities, and take life much more seriously."
Dre was straight edge sober during the recording of this album which is interesting.