They released separate singles, each with its own video. Their album was presented as two solo efforts joined together, recorded in two different cities by two people who were establishing individual identities. Amidst cries that they were easing fans into an inevitable breakup, Andre 3000 and Big Boi insisted they were still a group.

Now Outkast will prove it with the release of the next single from Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. Yes, one single.

Diverging from their previous plan of issuing simultaneous songs from each half of the two-disc set, Outkast will put out only one song, "Roses," as the follow-up to "Hey Ya!" and "The Way You Move." The tune is from Andre's half of the album but it features a verse rapped by Big Boi, making it the only song out of nearly 40 that features both members' lyrics.

"It's about a woman named Caroline, a made-up character, fictitious character," Andre recently told MTV U.K. "But I know a lot of women like Caroline. She's beautiful, she's fine, but her attitude makes her so ugly. So Big Boi and I got on a song together and talked about her."

"Roses" won't be the only track fans can hear Andre and Big Boi rapping on together. Both appear on "I Can't Wait," a new single from crooner Sleepy Brown that's featured on the "Barbershop 2" soundtrack.

Outkast plan to shoot a video for "Roses" in Los Angeles on Wednesday and Thursday. On February 15 they'll perform during player introductions at the NBA All-Star Game at L.A.'s Staples Center.


This report is provided by MTV News

OK, now if you ask me about this, I'd say that Outkast messed up again. I'll tell you why. When they put out "Stankonia" I was a little upset that "So Fresh, So Clean" would be the follow-up single to "Miss Jackson" & "B.O.B.". It's like the song was cool, but I felt that it wasn't strong enough as a single.

Now I feel the same way about "Roses". I think the song is cool and funny, but it's just the wrong choice as the next single to the last 2 hits. I mean, come on, Valentine's Day is right around the corner. They should've released like "Prototype" (like they said they would) or even "Happy Valentine's Day". "Roses" doesn't sound radio-friendly to me, and I don't know if that should be the right song to hear coming out of your average passerby's vocal chords. That person could be of any age too. Maybe I'm sounding a bit conservative, but this is just my . "Roses" is a bad choice for a single.

In this MTV day and age I hate to say it, but the video will decide whether the tune is a hit or not.

As a song alone, Roses is great, though I agree there are better choices.

I don't know about anyone else, but when the album came out, MANY people were blasting "Roses" in their cars and singin' it at parties and and laughin' about the lyrics, etc. I think Outkast is simply trying to put out the single that people have been digging the most.

OdysseyMiles said:

same here. Although a funny single 2 release, I think Ghetto Muzik would have been a cooler choice...maybe for the spring time.
Roses is awesum though. Wonder what it will look like as a vid?

NWF said:

I agree. Great cool song, but not the best on the album. I guess they're just trying to capture that whole "group" thing, though.

Cosign with OdysseyMiles. Roses is just damn popular. Everyone that I've played The Love Below album for, the track that almost everyone liked most was "Roses". They all wanted to burn a copy of that song.

I love that track. They work so well damn together even though they are so different and I think these solo discs (while very good) prove that their next album will be really strong. The next single should be "Ghettomusik"!

Just figured they would release Happy Valentine's Day and possibly Bowtie or GhettoMusick.

Roeses will have to do. I thought as wel the next single was to have been Prototype.

Hmm?

I love "Roses". Everytime I hear that song, I always start singing. They picked the right song as their next single. Go Outkast!

So how's this going to be edited? The word "Shit" plays a big role in the chorus so it just can't muted out.

OdysseyMiles said:

I agree. My friends got the album before I had a chance to get to, and that's all they were playing at first. In fact, driving around I hear people playing it a LOT.