He was commenting on the struggles (see Elevators) faced by Outkast to prevail in an atmosphere generally toxic to new ideas. The "got something to say" is a way of reassuring himself that a connection has been made, ("I knew I didn't have to dumb myself down"). I get a VERY strong sense after listening to Aquemini, that the group saw the South state of hip hop as Dungeon Family versus pimps and tricks. Don't seem like he was expecting much else from anybody but them.