Andre 3000 is not a social media savvy person. He doesn’t aspire to be. He doesn’t engage with fans through posts, and he’s never even had a Facebook profile under his name. The rapper does, however, have an Instagram account. It’s an odd exception to make, especially given Andre’s resistance to public attention has seemingly grown with age. You’d think he was a Myspace, Facebook kind of guy, not the IG kind. That being said, the rapper had a specific reason for getting an Instagram account.
Andre 3000 recently attended the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France. The acclaimed actor sat for a conversation with Meta’s Alvin Bowles, and admitted that claimed his IG account in order to prevent other people from impersonating him. “I’ve never had a Facebook account,” he told the panel crowd. “I only have Instagram to prevent people from stealing my name, but I’ve never posted anything.” Three Stack’s reasoning checks out, but he lied about never posting anything. He’s actually made two posts in the last year alone. The first was a link to his solo album, New Blue Sun, and the second was a video of him at the dentist. We’re also confused by the latter. “Summer teeth cleaning reminder,” the caption reads.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 02: Andre 3000 performs New Blue Sun during the 2024 Roots Picnic at The Mann on June 02, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Live Nation Urban)
Andre 3000’s allergy towards social media makes sense given his desire for privacy. He was one of the defining pop stars of the 2000s, yet he rejected the spotlight when Outkast unofficially split in 2006. He talked about the desire for privacy, and his reluctance to mess it up with a new album, during a chat with The Bitter Southerner. “I had to ask myself, Man, do you want to be noticed again,” he admitted. “You know, if you haven’t done anything in a while, people kind of… It fizzles out. And I had to decide that I wanted to talk about the music more than I wanted to not be noticed, I guess.”
Three Stacks hasn’t gone completely MIA of course. He blessed fans with guest verses throughout the 2010s, but the urge to rap isn’t what it used to be. The Outkast superstar isn’t sitting on a classic album of rhymes, as he told GQ in February. “Even now, people think, ‘Oh, man, he’s just sitting on raps, or he’s just holding these raps hostage,” he explained. “I ain’t got no raps like that.” What he does, have, though, is a sense of musical fulfillment. Regardless of what LL Cool J says, Andre 3000 is happy to be making experimental flute music. Just don’t expect to see him talking about it on Instagram.
André 3000 tracks played an important role in the 1990s and helped Southern hip-hop move further into the limelight. Born André Lauren Benjamin, André 3000rose to prominence as one-half of the hip-hop duo OutKast. His partner in music was Antwan “Big Boi” Patton. The Southern hip-hop group originated in Atlanta, Georgia, and rose to national prominence off the strength of their first single “Player’s Ball.” Sean “Diddy” Combs, who filmed a music video, created part of the buzz around the song. He subsequently invited the group to open for The Notorious B.I.G. in New York.
After releasing a series of six critically and commercially successful albums across 15 years, OutKast went on an (almost) indefinite hiatus. During their run, the group released many iconic tracks. Each one built upon and spotlighted the Atlanta rapper’s status as a songwriter and rapper. This article hones in on seven essential André 3000 songs. Let’s jump in now.
“Hey Ya” (2004)
“Hey Ya” is quite possibly the most famous OutKast song of all time. The song was released as one of the two lead singles for 2004’s double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. The track was extremely popular, reaching No. 1 in six countries and becoming the first iTunes song to reach one million downloads. André 3000 performed and wrote the track, with writing help from various session musicians over a multi-year period. Since its release, the song has appeared in numerous “best of” song lists.
“Da Art Of Storytellin’ (Pt. 1)” (1999)
The third single off of OutKast’s third album Aquemini, “Da Art of Storytellin’ (Pt. 1)” a variety of publications have ranked the track as one of OutKast’s best. Confusingly, the song was released on the same day as Slick Rick’s album The Art of Storytelling — and Slick Rick is also featured on the single version of the song. In the track, André 3000 skillfully builds up and humanizes an unexpected figure: a pregnant drug user. André raps about their heart-to-heart conversation on a curb: “Talkin bout what we gon be when we grow up / I said what you wanna be and she said, ‘Alive.’” The subject matter and unusual approach easily make it one of the best André 3000 songs.
“Crumblin ‘Erb” (1994)
Although “Crumblin ‘Erb” wasn’t a single on OutKast’s 1994 debut Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, it might be the record’s hidden gem. When that album first dropped, The Source called this track “a slanky cathartic groove…for anyone who has ever had the hapless feeling of watching your peoples try extinction on for size.” Here we find André 3000 tackling the subjects of selfishness and violence in the South with a reluctant nonchalance. All that aside, this track’s catchy chorus alone lifts it up as one of the group’s best.
“Dracula’s Wedding” (2004)
André 3000 takes on the unexpected role of Dracula in this 2004 track. He’s preparing for his wedding, and his bride-to-be is the singer-songwriter and chef Kelis. The song is notable for displaying the speaker’s anxiety over being married, despite the woman being “all [he] ever wanted.” This comes after centuries of the vampire terrorizing endless amounts of people. Fans were excited when a comic-style music video for the song dropped at random last October, nearly 20 years after its initial release. The sheer imagination and strange humor on the track make it a classic André 3000 track.
“The Whole World” (2001)
“The Whole World” was one of four new OutKast tracks to appear on 2001’s compilation album, Big Boi and Dre Present… OutKast. The rest of the album collected songs from their first four full-lengths. The music video is notable for its high-production recreation of a circus. André 3000 appears as a magician with Día de los Muertos-style facepaint. The song won a Grammy for Best Rap Song Performance by a Duo or Group. It also featured a memorable verse from Killer Mike.
“Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)” (2007)
This song by UGK has OutKast as a feature. It was recorded around the same time that OutKast was putting together their final album Idlewild. The first verse is delivered by André 3000, and the music video centers around his fictional wedding. While certain aspects of the wedding are outlandish – like André donning a red kilt – the sentiment of his verse is palpable. The verse catalogues the rapper’s experiences as he moves on from a life of flings and casual relationships and decides to enter into a lifelong commitment.
“Roses” (2004)
No list of André 3000 songs is complete with the addition of “Roses.” This track also came out on 2004’s double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It’s essentially a diss song, though it doesn’t target a single person – rather, superficial women in general. The iconic chorus is impossible to forget: “I know you’d like to think your s*** don’t stank, but / Lean a little bit closer, see / Roses really smell like boo-boo-ooh….” The track peaked at number one on both the US Hot Rap Songs and Australian Urban charts.
Andre 3000 has delighted fans for decades. As one of hip-hop’s true eccentrics, Three Stacks is one of the rare artists who’s boundary-pushing has been met with critical acclaim and commercial success. He knows how to make experimentalism sound good. His latest endeavor, however, has really put this ability to the test. Andre recently performed a set at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, and instead of rapping or singing, he continued his woodwind odyssey and performed a clarinet solo. Fans were… unsure of how to react.
Andre 3000 performed at the festival on May 27, which also happened to be his 49th birthday. The Outkast star was backed by the same musical ensemble he worked with on his solo album, New Blue Moon. There was some light banter with the crowd, but for the most part, Stacks was focused on his clarinet playing. Outlets have posted video footage of the rapper’s performance and claimed he was playing a flute, but it is, in fact, the same instrument Squidward plays on Spongebob Squarepants.
The footage of the performance is a little awkward. People in the audience seem unsure of how to react to Andre 3000’s playing. Several of them are looking around, and the silence amidst the rapper’s clarinet solo furthers the awkwardness. To be fair, Andre 3K has been on the windwood wave for a while now. He prefaced his performance by explaining that he doesn’t have a musical roadmap in mind, and will simply go wherever his playing will take him. “Everything we’re doing — the same way that New Blue Sun was made with me and my brothers,” he explained. “We’re completely making everything up as we go along. We never know what the night is gonna sound like.”
Andre 3000 knows that fans want him to rap again, but he told Bitter Southerner that he simply doesn’t have it in him anymore. He’s more fascinated with improvisational, instrumental music, and he feels as though he needs to follow his muse. “The thing is, I can only give what I’m feeling,” he explained to the outlet. “If there’s not any discovery, it doesn’t feel real to me. I’ve never considered myself the best producer or the best singer or the best rapper or any of those separate categories. But one thing I do have confidence in is my feeling.” How can you knock that?
Rapper/actor and member of the legendary Hip-Hop duo Outkast, Mr. Andre 3000 turns 49 today!
Andre Benjamin is known for his eclectic style and flows, from his start with the Dungeon Family to his movie roles in films like Idlewild and Jimi: All Is by My Side. He has become a household name as a solo artist as well as part of a legendary group and he continues to evolve with the times. Happy Birthday Mr. 3000 from TheSource.com!
In his new conversation with legendary poet Hanif Abdurraqib for The Bitter Southerner, Andre 3000 once again shared his thoughts on an age-old (well, at least since 2006) question: will Outkast come through with another album? 3 Stacks and Big Boi have arguably the most decorated catalog in hip-hop history, and while they are still great friends, it’s been a long time since they’ve put out music together. In Andre’s case, he’s even yet to drop a hip-hop-oriented solo album. Through his most recent remarks on the subject, he expressed that while he doesn’t think that the reunion is impossible, it would also be a bit of a backtrack considering how his relationship with Sir Lucious Left Foot has evolved over the years, from friends to musicians and beyond.
“People ask, ‘So, will there be another Outkast album?’” Andre 3000 shared. “I really can’t say, man. I do realize that our chemistries have changed. We’re different people. We’re totally different people. Not to say that we won’t be able to make any kind of music, but I think, yeah, people have to realize, like, even in relationships, man… chemistry should change after a while. And I think people think there’s this one thing that has to stay a way, but we are ever-changing, man.
Andre 3000 & Big Boi Performing As Outkast At One MusicFest 2016
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 10: Big Boi and Andre 3000 of Outkast perform at One MusicFest at Lakewood Amphitheatre on September 10, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage/Getty Images)
“You know, people always ask about me and Big Boi,” Andre 3000 continued. “We cool, man. That’s my homie forever. We were friends before doing music.” If anyone doubted the bond between the ATLiens creatives, remarks on Big Boi’s reaction to New Blue Sun quickly dispelled them. They have crossed paths a lot over the years, whether it’s for get-togethers, reunions, or other events. Outkast is alive and well, not just in their catalog of music’s enduring influence and acclaim, but in terms of that Dungeon Family spirit that both MCs continue to embody in unique ways.
Meanwhile, speaking of the Dungeon Family, that whole collective is still mourning the loss of Rico Wade, the great bridge of not just Southern rap, but rap in general. Perhaps this grief and the 20-year anniversary of Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik will provide some other form of reflection, celebration, or tribute… just not a new Outkast album. It seems like Andre 3000 and Big Boi won’t meet up again in the booth, or at least, in the exact same capacity as their previous work. While we accepted that reality a long time ago, that wouldn’t make it any less hype if they change their minds one day.
LL Cool J is a hip-hop legend. He’s been relevant for longer than some rappers have been alive, so he gets to say what he wants during interviews. LL went on The Shop with Lena Waithe recently, but rather than target younger rappers, he had criticism for another legend. The NCIS star took Andre 3000 to task for refusing to put out a rap album, and instead give fans an album of flute instrumentals. He was baffled by Andre’s decision. He’s only confused by the flute album, he’s frustrated thinking about the rap album that Andre could have made.
The whole thing came about when Waite asked LL Cool J about inspiration. The rapper noted that he likes to express himself in different mediums, whether it be acting or music. “Sometimes some things are more fascinating to an artist,” he conceded. The thing he couldn’t understand was abandoning a calling. Which is the very thing he felt Andre 3000 did when the Outkast member gave up rapping. “Andre,” he called out. “Do we want him to make a rap album? Sure. But he’s like, ‘I’m on this flute game.’ This is my jam right now, I’m super into this.’”
The man born James Todd Smith appreciates Andre’s artistry, but he wants bars. “I need him to spit, though,” he asserted. “I need him to spit. Flutes? Man, come on, bro. His bars is all the way up. I’m very clear. Not the flute, B. Not the flute. Don’t do the flute.” Lena Waithe came to the defense of Andre’s flute album, New Blue Sun, by describing it as calming. LL Cool J wasn’t having any of it. He likened the album to the notion of him making a violin album. “You wanna hear me do a violin,” he asked Waite. “You might not wanna hear me do sh*t, but do you wanna hear me do a violin?” The comment won over The Shop co-host, Maverick Carter. He agreed that he wanted to hear Andre 3000 “spit” again.
LL was not just critical of other artists, however. He was willing to be brutally honest about his own work. He wait Waite and Carter that he’s put out some bad albums over the course of his career. “I make bad albums, but I also have some smack, some crazy shit too,” he noted. “But I made bad sh*t, or sh*t that people didn’t respond to because that was where I was at.”
He went on to explain that sometimes he made albums knowing they wouldn’t connect with the public. “Sometimes I make records in a vacuum,” he concluded. “Just because it’s for me and then sometimes I make albums for the culture.” Who knows, maybe fans will get that violin album he joked about one day.
Rhode Island’s Newport Jazz Festival unveiled the 2024 lineup, with André 3000, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Kamasi Washington, and Elvis Costello set to headline. Other acts that will be performing this year include Laufey, Robert Glasper, Brittany Howard, Cory Wong, Samara Joy, Noname, Thievery Corporation, Galactic, Moonchild, PJ Morton, and more.
This will take place from August 2 to 4 at Fort Adams State Park, marking the 70th anniversary of the event. Those interested in attending this year are currently able to purchase tickets, as they went on sale at 1 p.m. today.
A 3-day General Admission pass starts at $265.74, with fees included. This will eventually increase to $312, after the special discount pricing ends. For those looking for a more exclusive festival experience, Newport Jazz also offers a 3-day Jazz Lounge pass starting at $1,256.60. This includes a premium parking space and access to a special tented lounge with air-conditioned bathrooms, a cash bar, and views of certain stages.
Finally, students can attend Newport Jazz Festival through their pass for those between the age 10-25. Current college students will need a student ID. These tickets start at $188.49, allowing those of all ages to experience the music.
View the full lineup for 2024 below. For additional information, visit Newport Jazz’s festival website.
Smino has developed a reputation for being one of the eccentric voices in hip-hop. He has a rare talent for combining hip-hop, R&B and pop music without making it seem contrived or emulatory. He makes Smino music, plain and simple. The rapper’s idiosyncrasy doesn’t keep him dabbling in other people’s hits, however. During a recent appearance on Like a Version, Smino delighted fans by performing a live cover of the classic 2003 Outkast track “Roses.”
Smino delved into his decision to cover Outkast during a separate Like a Version video. He admitted that “Roses” was a song he wish he’d written, and praised its unconventional structure. “Sometimes you hear a song as an artist, you’ll be like, damn,” he said. “Just the creativity, and the way André [3000] chose to explain a superficial girl… It’s a good message.” The rapper intended to be faithful to the original Outkast version, but he also felt it was important to put his own humor and personal spin on “Roses.” Anyone who has listened to Smino’s music will not be surprised by this point. “If you really know me you know I love laughing,” he noted. “The end part where I was just like ‘crazy b***h,’ I was just thinking about some people I know.”
Smino has been vocal about the influence Outkast, and André 3000, in particular, have had on his music. The rapper told Rolling Stone that he often gets likened to Three Stacks when people try to describe his elastic flow. He doesn’t find the comparison completely accurate, but he’s humbled by it regardless. “It’s known that I love André 3000, like I love Stacks,” he noted. “Bruh, I love Stacks… I feel like, ‘Wow.’ The guy’s a legend, go ahead.” Smino plans to chart his own, path, however. “I feel like my gratitude for where I’m at will get me where I want to go,” he asserted.
André 3000 and Big Boi continue to be forces in the music industry, and Smino told Like a Version that he hopes they like his “Roses” cover. “Man, I just hope they’ll be proud that their music’s still affecting us,” he said. “That’s the most, you know.” We get the feeling the duo, and everyone else who watches the cover, will dig it.
It was likely only a matter of time until Kamasi Washington and André 3000 teamed up. After all, André has spent the last half-decade wandering around playing woodwinds and Washington is one of the foremost big-band jazz revivalists working in music today. Sure enough, they’ve released their first collaboration, “Dream State,” complete with a well-suited, avant-garde music video. The track’s actually long enough that YouTube imposes its obnoxious ads on it before the first movement is even over, but the conversation between the two artists’ chosen instruments — sax and flute — is hypnotically engaging enough to make it worth sitting through a Fiji tourism commercial. Hell, I’d even pay for Premium (if I didn’t already have it and write it off on my taxes).
The song is from Washington’s upcoming album, Fearless Movement, which is out on May 3. In the album announcement press release, Kamasi calls it his “dance album,” elaborating, “It’s not literal. Dance is movement and expression, and in a way it’s the same thing as music—expressing your spirit through your body. That’s what this album is pushing.” The project was partially inspired by the birth of his daughter, and will also feature appearances from BJ The Chicago Kid, Coast Contra, DJ Battlecat, D-Smoke, George Clinton, and of course, frequent collaborators Terrace Martin and Thundercat.
Check out the video for “Dream State” above.
Fearless Movement Tracklist
01. “Lesanu”
02. “Asha The First” Feat. Thundercat & Taj Austin, Ras Austin of Coast Contra
03. “Computer Love” Feat. Patrice Quinn, DJ Battlecat, Brandon Coleman
04. “The Visionary” Feat. Terrace Martin
05. “Get Lit” Feat. George Clinton, D Smoke
06. “Dream State” Feat. André 3000
07. “Together” Feat. BJ the Chicago Kid
08. “The Garden Path”
09. “Interstellar Peace” (The Last Stance)
10. “Road to Self (KO)”
11. “Lines in the Sand”
12. “Prologue”
In the heart of Los Angeles, a groundbreaking fusion of art and amusement has emerged with the arrival of Luna Luna. This innovative museum-amusement park transports visitors back to the iconic era of 1987, showcasing the visionary creations of 30 renowned artists. Each artist has lent their unique touch to customize classic theme park rides, turning Luna Luna into a mesmerizing experiential art show and outdoor museum. HotNewHipHop had the opportunity to attend and experience the park firsthand. Moreover, the allure of the park persisted, captivating the attention of none other than Drake himself. Furthermore, visionary artists including Basquiat, Salvador Dali, and Lichtenstein were among the influential figures behind the design of the amusement park. In 1987, Luna Luna made its debut in Hamburg, Germany, only to close down shortly after due to financial struggles.
However, André Heller, its founder, doubted the possibility of Luna Luna ever reopening its doors. But thanks to the involvement of Drake and his DreamCrew team who invested upwards of $100M, the park underwent a resurrection and opened its doors to the public in December 2023. For Drake and his team, the thought of so many interactive works of art sitting in obscurity sparked his imagination and fueled his desire to bring Luna Luna back to life. An earlier endeavor to resurrect the park in the 1990s in San Diego fell short. However, the team salvaged the park’s dormant rides from a warehouse in Texas. Their objective wasn’t to restore it as a functioning theme park. But rather to reimagine it as a captivating art exhibition. While the rides themselves are not operational, the park is transformed into an immersive and creative art gallery.
Each segment of the exhibition serves as a canvas for creative expression, breathing life into art in a vibrant and accessible manner. Stepping into the space was like entering a portal to a realm where imagination runs wild. While walking through the doors of this spectacular exhibition in Los Angeles, there was a clear rush of excitement. Here, amidst the 60,000-square-feet of creative wonder, I embarked on a journey through the forgotten fantasy of the world’s first art amusement park. The experience began with a mesmerizing introduction to Luna Luna through a fast-moving video. The visual guided readers on the history of the fairground.
As I passed through a midnight blue corridor, I found myself immersed in a world where the fantastical meets the tangible. The exhibition is divided into two rooms. Each room is filled with unique rides and interactive installations by world-renowned artists. In the first space, I took pictures next to Kenny Scharf’s painted chair swing ride, complete with abstract sculptures surrounding it. Next up, David Hockney’s Enchanted Tree and Keith Haring’s vibrant carousel added to the enchantment, while Manfred Deix’s Palace of the Winds stood as a testament to the enchanting nature of the park.
The Jean-Michel Basquiat Ferris Wheel Was A Highlight
Image via Tallie Spencer
Furthermore, crossing through artist’s Sonia Delaunay’s monumental entrance archway, I entered the second space. I was greeted by the marvelous sight of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s painted Ferris wheel. This was one of my favorite areas of the exhibition. As I explored further, I encountered Rebecca Horn’s thought-provoking Love Thermometer, and André Heller’s imaginative Wedding Chapel. It was clear how each installation told a story, further captivating my attention into the world of Luna Luna. The day I went, there were several other visitors enjoying the space and also capturing Instagram-worthy moments.
But the magic didn’t stop there. It’s clear that Luna Luna has so much potential to be a space where the community can come together. In fact, on a separate day (March 19), I even had the opportunity to witness André 3000’s live performance, which took place at Luna Luna, as part of his New Blue Sun Tour. This experience added to the fantasy of the space and Andre 3000 did a great job at setting the atmosphere for what the audience witnessed. In fact, he even gave a short speech about why he decided to pursue his career playing the flute, instead of rapping on this album this time around. “It really all comes from the same place,” he told the crowd.
Moreover, set against the backdrop of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Ferris wheel, his performance was nothing short of mesmerizing. Musicians Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina, and Deantoni Parks joined him on stage. André 3000 truly transported the audience to another dimension with his music. The audience felt the same way as the sounds of the wind instruments filled the room. It was a perfect fit for the tour stop to take place at this location. The playful atmosphere combined with the nature of André 3000’s performance served as an excellent background.
As I sat amongst iconic artworks, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at the convergence of art and music in this surreal setting. It was a moment that transcended time, bringing together the past and present in a symphony of creativity. In the midst of my experience, I found myself captivated by the rich tapestry of artistic expression. From the vibrant colors of Keith Haring to the surreal landscapes of Salvador Dalí, each artist left a memorable mark on this immersive experience. Overall, Luna Luna is filled with surprises and has a certain whimsical magic to the whole experience. The exhibition is worth the visit!
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