By Peyton Forte

Abstract

A thematic analysis was conducted to examine the lyrics to ’s “Git Up, Git Out” featuring

Goodie Mob. As one of OutKast’s breakout tracks, the song debuted at the no. 59 spot on the U.S.

Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list. On the surface, “Git Up, Git Out” is a call for people to stop feeling sorry for themselves and to put their lives in their own hands. However. , Cee-

Lo, Gipp, and Andre let listeners know that they are no different. Each artist recognized the problems impoverished black communities face and understood that getting by can be hard.

Instead of telling people what they should’ve done better, they offered solidarity in the struggle.

In analyzing its lyrics, it was clear that “Git Up, Git Out” carried themes of individualism, hopelessness and urban poverty.

The Struggle is Real: OutKast’s “Git Up, Git Out” 2

Introduction

Holding the title of best rap duo of all time, OutKast partnered with fellow artists,

Cee-Lo Green and Big Gipp of , in 1994 to tell us to get it together with their classic

“Git Up, Git Out.” One of three singles from OutKast’s debut album,

Southernplayalisticcadillacmuzik, “Git Up, Git Out” is often labeled as a “conscious” record because it encouraged those in the struggle to do something about it while the artists admitted they also are works in progress. The seven-minute track samples Bob Marley & The Wailers’

1973 record “Get Up, Stand Up,” which also encourages poor communities to stand up for themselves. “Git Up, Git Out” is particularly praised because it doesn’t carry a “holier-than- thou” message. Cee-Lo admits to dropping out of high school and Big Boi reflects on his days as a hustler while Andre and Big Gipp reminisce on wasting away their youth by getting high.

Methodology

I studied the lyrics from OutKast’s “Git Up, Git Out” using genius.com and applying the qualitative research method of thematic analysis. I made the effort to take a deeper look into what the lyrics mean and what each artist used their verse to illustrate. From there, I noticed trends in the lyrics and developed a series of themes. The themes stated are individualism, hopelessness and urban poverty. From there, each theme was characterized by three-to-four like codes to describe them. The Struggle is Real: OutKast’s “Git Up, Git Out” 3

Results

Individualism (Theme) Hopelessness (Theme) Urban Poverty

• Self-reliant • What’s the point? (Theme)

• Unemployment • Independence • Marijuana • Every man for consumption • High School himself • Political/social dropout • Work for it climate • Life of crime • Bleak outlook

Column 1: Lyrics Column 2: Analysis

“You need to git up, git out and git something/ Individualism Cause you and I got to do for you and I/ That's why.” (Hook)

“A lot of people in my past tried to do me, screw

me / Throw me over in the fire, let me get chunky Individualism and charred like a piece of wood.”- Big Gipp

“You need to git up, git out, cut that bullshit out/ Individualism Ain't you sick and tired of having to do without?"- Cee-Lo

“Cause every job I get is cruel and demeaning/ Sick of taking trash out and toilet bowl cleaning.”- Hopelessness Cee-Lo

The Struggle is Real: OutKast’s “Git Up, Git Out” 4

“I had Jamaica's best and when I light it up, I hear

a voice in my head / You got to git up, git out and Hopelessness git somethin’.”- Big Gipp

“Fuck Clampett cops; fuck Elgin Bell/ And

crooked ass Jackson, got the whole country Hopelessness thinking that my city is the big lick for '96.”- Big Gipp

“Y'all telling me that I need to get out and vote,

huh. Why? / Ain't nobody black running but crack- Hopelessness kers, so, why I got to register?”- Andre 3000

“They laying my mama off of work, General

Motors tripping/ But I come home banked like Urban Poverty Hank, from licking and dipping.”- Andre 3000

“I don't recall, ever graduating at all/ Sometimes I

feel I'm just a disappointment to y'all.”- Cee-Lo Urban Poverty

“I used to hang out with my daddy's brothers, I

call them my uncles/ They taught me how to Urban Poverty smoke herb, I followed them when they ran numbers.”- Big Boi

The Struggle is Real: OutKast’s “Git Up, Git Out” 5

“But I'm also sick and tired of struggling/ I never

ever thought I'd to have resort to drug Urban Poverty smuggling.”- Cee-Lo

Discussion

The lyrics for “Git Up, Git Out” echoed a sentiment of individualism that was prevalent throughout the song. The artists, particularly Big Gipp with the opening lines of his verse, felt that they were on their own in this world. No one was going to take care of them as grown men, so they had to pick themselves up out the struggle on their own.

The artists were also aware that as down-and-out black men, nothing was going to be easy for them. The feeling of hopelessness is something that many black people still feel because dead-end jobs, voter suppression and government corruption still prevail.

Finally, the theme of urban poverty is what connects all three themes. Characteristics of those living in impoverished urban areas include crime, unemployment, elevated high school dropout rates and drug use. Each of these characteristics were explicitly stated throughout the song.

I found it surprising that, in addition to street-wise lyrics denouncing underachievement,

“Git Up, Git Out” also discusses racial profiling, political corruption and voting. “Fuck Clampett cops; fuck Elgin Bell/ And crooked ass Jackson, got the whole country thinking that my city is the big lick for '96.” Elgin Bell was the police chief of Atlanta at the time the song was made and

Gipp was unhappy with the corrupt practices of city leadership. Atlanta hosted the ‘96 Olympics and numerous housing projects were torn down to improve infrastructure. The Struggle is Real: OutKast’s “Git Up, Git Out” 6

At the beginning of Andre’s verse, he raps, “Y'all telling me that I need to get out and vote, huh. Why? / Ain't nobody black running but crack-kers, so, why I got to register?” His sentiments on voting echoed the opinions of plenty poor black folk who also saw no point in voting.