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Rosa Parks (song)

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"Rosa Parks"
Song

"Rosa Parks" is a song by the hip hop group OutKast. It was released as the first single from their 1998 album Aquemini, and was that album's most successful single. The song's title comes from the civil rights activist Rosa Parks.

Tracklisting

CD Single
  1. "Rosa Parks" (Radio Version) - 4:07
  2. "Rosa Parks" (Instrumental) - 4:27
  3. "Skew It On The Bar-B" (Feat. Raekwon Of Wu Tang Clan) - 3:15
12" Vinyl Single
  1. "Rosa Parks" (Radio Version) - 4:07
  2. "Rosa Parks" (Instrumental) - 4:27
  3. "Rosa Parks" (Main Version) - 4:27
  4. "Rosa Parks" (Acapella) - 4:25

Lawsuit

Main article: Rosa Parks v. LaFace Records

In 1999, Rosa Parks sued OutKast and LaFace Records over the song. The lawsuit alleged that the song misappropriated Parks' name, and also objected to some of the song's vulgar language. Ms. Parks argued that there was insufficient artistic connection between the song's title, which appropriated her name, and its content because the song's lyrics did not reference Ms. Parks biographically, metaphorically, or symbolically. Specifically, Ms. Parks argued that the song's lyrics meant, "[b]e quiet and stop the commotion. OutKast is coming back out [with new music] so all other MCs [mic checkers, rappers, Master of Ceremonies] step aside. Do you want to ride and hang out with us? OutKast is the type of group to make the clubs get hyped-up/excited." [1] The initial lawsuit was dismissed. Parks' representation hired lawyer Johnnie Cochran to appeal the decision in 2001, but the appeal was denied on First Amendment grounds. In 2003, the Supreme Court allowed Parks' lawyers to proceed with the lawsuit.

In 2004, the judge in the case appointed an impartial representative for Parks after her family expressed concerns that her caretakers and her lawyers were pursuing the case based on their own financial interest. Later that same year, the members of OutKast were dropped as co-defendants, and Parks' lawyers continued to seek action against LaFace and parent company BMG. In 2003 André told UK journalist Angus Batey that, following a Detroit concert in the midst of the legal battle, relatives of Parks had approached him and implied that the case was less to do with Rosa than with the lawyers.[2] The suit was finally settled on April 14, 2005, in the settlement agreement, OutKast and their producer and record labels paid Parks an undisclosed cash settlement and agreed to work with the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development in creating educational programs about the life of Rosa Parks.

Chart performance

"Rosa Parks" was a minor success on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #55. The single also charted on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at #19. The single's highest chart position was at #4 on the Rhythmic Top 40.

Chart (1998-99) Peak
position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[3] 28
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 55
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[4] 19

References

  1. ^ Parks v. Laface Records, 329 F.3d 437 ¶95 (6th Cir. 2003) (available at Justia.com).
  2. ^ "The Times, August 2006"
  3. ^ "OUTKAST – ROSA PARKS" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  4. ^ a b Rosa Parks - Outkast. Billboard.com. Accessed June 29, 2011.
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