Last year was a vintage one for fans of American hip-hop, with fine albums from Erykah Badu, the Wu-Tang Clan and Wyclef Jean. To this list of greats can now be added the name of Atlanta duo Outkast. Their latest offering sees them eschewing their trademark sampled loops in favour of live instruments, but their sound remains as startling as ever. On Stankonia they use some superb freestyle rapping to create a compelling commentary on their country's sexual and racial tensions in the urban jungle. It's raw, brutal stuff and miles better than anything else in the American charts right now.