Benzino just took credit (or blame, in this case) for arguably one of the most important moments in hip-hop history. Moreover, readers likely remember André 3000’s now iconic speech after winning Best New Artist at the 1995 Source Awards off the success of their 1994 debut Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. While they received boos from the crowd, André kept his head up and clapped back at the community hating on the new generation and scene that was bubbling out of the South, which didn’t match the East or West Coast as far as public favor.
“But it’s like this, though,” 3 Stacks remarked on stage. “I’m tired of closed-minded folks. It’s like we got a demo tape and don’t nobody want to hear it. But it’s like this, the South got something to say, and that’s all I got to say.” Now, in a snippet from Ray Daniels’ upcoming interview with Benzino for his The Gauds Show podcast, the media personality admitted that he tried to skew reception of the Atlanta legends’ LP upon its release. Of course, most people loved it, but he didn’t share that enthusiasm. Almost thirty years later, he admitted to sleeping on Outkast, and even suggested that Dré’s speech was aimed at him, among other detractors.
Benzino Claims He Unfortunately Inspired André 3000’s Source Awards Speech
“The reason why André 3000 said what he did, I’ma have to tell y’all this story,” Benzino revealed regarding his close work with The Source magazine co-owner Dave Mays. “When they was giving Outkast 4.5 mics, I remember, I didn’t understand it. I didn’t understand the music. And I was the one who kinda raised some situations up at The Source, I’m gonna admit it. And I was wrong. I think it got to Outkast. And I think that’s why André said what he said. I think that was kinda directed toward me.
“I think I made a mistake and I shouldn’t have,” he continued. “Usually, I bow out of the whole five mic thing. The five mics was so strong that we let the journalists take care of that. The Source was business over here and the journalists over here. We would let the journalists take care of that; the writers, the photographers. It was a group of them and they would sit in a room and the labels would send the albums and they would rate them. It was one of the main things, the five mic system. One time, me and one of them got into a debate about Outkast because I didn’t understand at that time that music. And I was wrong.” Regardless of your take on this, come back to HNHH for the latest on Benzino, André 3000, and Outkast.