Outkast & The Neptunes Nominated For Songwriters Hall of Fame
Atlanta Hip-hop duo Outkast has been announced as nominees for the 2020 Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside production-songwriting duo The Neptunes.
The Songwriters Hall gave The Associated Press the nominee list on Tuesday (Nov. 5), a day prior to its official announcement.
HOLLYWOOD – JUNE 29: (L-R) Ron, Rudolf and Ernie Isley of the Musical Group The Isley Brothers perform on stage at the 2004 Black Entertainment Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on June 29, 2004 in Hollywood, California.
Also included in the 2020 class are the Isley Brothers and Mariah Carey who co-wrote 17 of her 18 No. 1 hits, as Billboard reports.
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 06: Singer/songwriter Mariah Carey performs during the launch of her residency “MARIAH #1 TO INFINITY” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on May 6, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Last year, the pop star also earned her first Songwriters Hall nomination.
In the mid-90s Outkast who is comprised of Andre 3000 and Big Boi emerged from hip-hop, garnering both commercial and critical success with their albums Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, ATLiens, Aquemini and Stankonia.
Outkast achieved cross-over status with their jazz and rock-infused 2003 double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – MAY 16: Songwriters/producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes accept their BMI Pop Awards for “Hollaback Girl” and “Drop It Like It’s Hot” onstage at the 54th Annual BMI Pop Awards at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel on May 16, 2006 in Beverly Hills, California.
Natives of Virginia, The Neptunes who are Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, have been producing and songwriting for pop, rap, and R&B stars such as Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Kelis, and Usher, among others since the early 90s.
They even assisted Britney Spears’ breaking out of her good-girl image with Spears’ 2001 single “I’m A Slave 4 U.” They have also written and produced songs for Carey, Madonna, Common, Busta Rhymes, Toni Braxton, Solange, Faith Evans, Ciara, 702, and the Clipse.
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 28: (L-R) Singer Pharrell Williams and Solange Knowles attend the DKMS’ 5th Annual Gala: Linked Against Leukemia honoring Rihanna & Michael Clinton hosted by Katharina Harf at Cipriani Wall Street on April 28, 2011 in New York City.
If Outkast and The Neptunes get inducted into the 2020 Songwriters Hall of Fame, they could both join the exclusive list of hip-hop contenders in the Songwriters Hall: Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, and Jermaine Dupri.
2020 Songwriters Hall of Fame Nominees
