I have some old friends who freestyle rap, and I know how hard that can be. I have a lot of respect for someone who can make up lyrics on the spot, have them rhyme, and match the provided beat. (A sidebar to that: Galder made up all the lyrics to Old Man's Child's album Ill Natured Spiritual Invasion in the studio..)
To my knowledge, Outkast has a strong funk background. Their songs don't displease me nearly as much as gangsta-rap or pop-rap (I consider P. Diddler pop-rap), but once I found out that they use as much profanity as any other rappers, I was a little dismayed. I had hoped they'd be the salvation of rap, really. A band with talent and integrity, it seems. And nifty videos at that (The Mrs. Jackson video is hilarious).
But, it seems they've gone the way all those before have. I think a major problem people have with rap is that they use simile, not metaphor in their lyrics. Lots of rap will refer to things like "And she was hairy like Chewbacca" or "Busted his ass like a cheap light bulb" (not verbatim examples)..where..let's say..metal would use more metaphor.. "The Twilight is my Robe", etc.
Just my $0.02. enjoy.
ooh, Satori, you forgot to tell that there is no god
