The hardcore half of Outkast introduces his new label with this bloated, yet satisfying compilation. The first official Purple Ribbon release (Vol.1 was an unofficial DJ Drama mixtape) finds Big Boi repping his Atlanta 'hood, showcasing everyone from farmboy Bubba Sparxx to longtime Outkast compadre Killer Mike to R&B singer Janelle Monae. It's a mixed bag of deep-fried Southern beats, '70s soul and wacky interludes that's always buoyant but a little too sprawling for its own good. That said, there are a couple of real keepers, like Sleepy Brown's "Me, My Baby And My Cadillac," a laid-back number reminiscent of Outkast's 1994 hit "Player's Ball." And if nothing else, the record makes you pine for Big Boi's full-time return to the mic.
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