Donald Glover was on hand at the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to induct the legendary hip-hop due OutKast. Big Boi and André 3000 followed up that heartfelt speech with remarks of their own, with the latter’s being some of the evening’s most memorable.
As a Georgia native, Glover said he immediately connected with OutKast’s debut, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. “When I first played this album, I heard De La Soul, Pharcyde, Kilo Ali, Funkadelic, Living color. Eddie Hazel Prince. I heard all of that, but I also heard the kid I ride the bus with and the uncle that gives you $10 when he’s drunk. I heard the people around me. It was a groundbreaking mix. It showed me that being an artist really means you just need to be an observer.”
He went through the duo’s career and landmark moments, including their landmark “the South got something to say” moment, which Glover said taught him, “You don’t have to scream, you don’t have to yell. You just have to be undeniable.”
Related Video
He concluded: “Your influence echoes in everything and every artist I love. Atlanta is not the music mecca it has become without you. There is no Childish Gambino without you. There is no south without you. So tonight we honor two visionaries who turned their differences into a dynasty. Two brothers who showed the world you don’t have to choose — just respect each other and love each other.”
Big Boi and André then took the stage, but they weren’t alone, as what looked like nearly the entire Dungeon Family soon joined them on stage. The pair played a game of rock, paper, scissors to see who went first, and while Big Boi won, it was André’s unscripted speech that was more powerful:
“When I heard that we were being inducted, I was like, ‘Man, this is great because we’ll be able to be in the same company with a lot of people we grew up with, a lot of bands that influenced us.’ A whole lineage of people… The reason why it’s important is because a lot of times when when bands or individuals get up here, it’s about the musicians and we talk about the music a lot — but a lot of times it is a lot more than just the notes or the instruments that you playing. It’s everybody that’s around you. It’s the family — and this is my family,” he said, gesturing to the Dungeon members around him.
He spoke about individuals in the group, including Goodie Mob and Rico Wade, who gave OutKast a shot and a home in the Dungeon, and the family members who sacrificed their peace and home so those artists could thrive in that basement. And as he finished by referencing Jack White’s speech earlier in the night, he got choked up: “Jack is, man, he’s one of my favorites — we love you, man. But one thing that he said, he said something about little rooms. And we started in a little room. Great things start in little rooms.”
Big Boi’s speech was a bit more direct, a list of names whom he wanted to thank on behalf of OutKast. (“I’m so glad that you had a list because I didn’t prepare nothing and I knew I was gonna freestyle it,” André joked.) He also shouted out Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, before turning to André and concluding, “I wanna say especially to my brother right here: Man, thank you for making me be the best I can be, man. Going toe to toe on the records. And iron sharpen just to be the best man. Ain’t nothing but [presh.] Love you, man.”
The 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class also includes Soundgarden, Bad Company, The White Stripes, Cyndi Lauper, Chubby Checker, and Joe Cocker in the performer category. Find our full coverage of the event here.
Hip Hop Legends And Southern Hip Hop Pioneers OutKast Big Boi And Andre 3000 2025 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Speech
Salute To The ATLIENS 👽 🛸🫡 pic.twitter.com/IZWq0gqIMU
— GNX Tour Highlights (@kdotszagnxeraa) November 9, 2025
@jessicagolich @Donald Glover Induction speech for LEGENDARY @Outkast at @Rock Hall 2025 🪐🌎 #outkastrockhall #rockhalloffameoutkast #donaldgloveroutkast #rockhall2025
♬ B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad) – Outkast
@jessicagolich LEGENDS @Outkast accept @Rock Hall 2025 Induction 🌎🪐 #outkastrockhall #rockhalloffameoutkast #rockhall2025 #rockhall25
♬ B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad) – Outkast
@jessicagolich Andre 3000 tears up talking about @Outkast history at @Rock Hall 💜 #outkastrockhall #rockhalloffameoutkast #rockhall2025 #rockhall25
♬ So Fresh, So Clean – Outkast