Today, hundreds of vloggers film inside the mall, and stars like Lil Baby and Drake casually walk its halls. Among creatives who heavily consume social media, Lenox serves also as a hub for the “cool” kids. There are very few spaces where being Black and spending an excessive amount of money can be expected however, Lenox allows that comfortability. Yet, when entering Lenox, there is a feeling of community.
The mall hosts brands like David Yurman, Cartier, Burberry, and Fendi, all fashion houses that have seemingly ignored the Black shopper. Located in Buckhead, Atlanta, suburbs that are home to some of the city’s wealthiest, Lenox Square is where Black customers experience a euphoric atmosphere of luxury shopping-in stark contrast to how luxury stores treat Black patrons in predominantly white areas. But before the group would go on to win six Grammys, score three number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and become one of the most critically acclaimed rap groups, the two would meet in 1992 at an intermediate connector in Atlanta, an abstract wonder in the South: the Lenox Square Mall. In their three previous albums, the duo were unapologetically redefining the Black male consciousness, with meditations on loss, imagination, love, the Atlanta child murders, and a longing for recognition. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Stankonia, the group’s breakout fourth studio album that cemented OutKast’s legendary mark on the music industry. It’s also where Andre “3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, the hip-hop duo behind OutKast, grew up. Atlanta is Black Hollywood, the epicenter of Black music, film, and fashion. To understand the multifaceted, nonconforming fashion futurist group OutKast, one must take into consideration the duality of Black culture in the South-particularly in Atlanta, Georgia.
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