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André 3000 Essential Songs

May 31, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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.

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Andre 3000 Plays Carinet At Atlanta Jazz Festival And Fans Are Perplexed

May 28, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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.

Andre 3000 Improvised Most Of His Concert Set

André 3000 Plays The Flute At The Atlanta Jazz Festival pic.twitter.com/4L7BwURY5G

— Shawn K The King  (@SKTheKingYT) May 28, 2024

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?

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Happy 49th Birthday To Outkast’s Own Andre 3000!

May 27, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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!

The post Happy 49th Birthday To Outkast’s Own Andre 3000! first appeared on The Source.

The post Happy 49th Birthday To Outkast’s Own Andre 3000! appeared first on The Source.

Andre 3000 Delivers Sobering Update On Potential Outkast Reunion Album

May 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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

Andre 3000 New Outkast Album Interview Hip Hop News — 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.

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LL Cool J Criticizes Andre 3000 For Playing Flute: “Come On, Bro”

May 9, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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.’”

LL Cool J Says He Needs Three Stacks To “Spit”

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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.

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Atlanta Launches Executive Training Program In Rico Wade’s Honor

April 30, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The music world is still processing the death of Rico Wade. The producer was considered by many to be the cornerstone of the Dungeon Family, and the music that allowed the collective to transform hip-hop in the 1990s and 2000s. Wade died from heart failure at the age of 52, but his native Atlanta is making sure that he won’t be forgotten. The city has launched a training program in Wade’s name, with the intention of mentoring the next generation of executives.

The program was announced the same day as Wade’s funeral, April 27. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens made a statement on the program following the service at Ebenezer Baptist Church. It bears the official title of the Rico Wade Music Executive Training Program. It will be an initiative ran by Atlanta’s Office of Film, Entertainment and Nightlife. “Rico left an indelible mark on music and culture around the world and for that, the South will always have something to say,” Dickens added.

Rico Wade’s Program Will Mentor Aspiring Music Execs

The program will help musicians learn the business and establish connections within the music industry. Dickens pointed to those in attendance as proof that Wade was successful at an extraordinary level. He aims to give up-and-comers access to the “music executives like the 500 hundred or so gathered” at the producer’s funeral. These executives include L.A. Reid, Chris Hicks, and Sylvia Rhone, the chair and CEO of Epic Records.

Rico Wade’s business acumen has been a consistent point of praise. He not only helped Outkast and En Vogue break through in the 1990s, but he did the same for Future in the 2010s. The “Like That” rapper talked about Wade’s impact during a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone. “Rico supported me 1,000 more times than anybody ever could,” he admitted. “Nobody could ever do what Rico Wade did for me … Everything I know about music, I know because of Rico.”

CeeLo Green, another Dungeon Family member, likened Wade to the comic book character Professor X. “He was Dr. Xavier of the world-renowned Dungeon Family,” he wrote on Instagram. “Yet so humble and understated with all his power. even the name Rico Wade rings bells, and sounds so prestigious & regal.”

A launch date for the Rico Wade Music Executive Training Program not yet been announced.

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Outkast Dropped Their Debut Album ‘Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik’ 30 Years Ago

April 26, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip Hop history three decades ago, OutKast, the duo that helped pioneer putting southern Hip Hop on the map, released their debut classic LP, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.

This Dungeon Family masterpiece recorded by Andre 3000 and Big Boi paved the way for Atlanta and the rest of the Dirty South to have their unique voice in Hip Hop. Before this album, there weren’t many hit records coming from anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line. Peaking at #20 on the Billboard 200 and being certified platinum less than a year after its release, this album’s achievements speak for themselves.

Produced entirely by OutKast and Organized Noize, this project was like none before. Its sound is perfectly described as southern rap. Everything about this album screams Atlanta, from the dialect to the instruments used to the references. The smooth blues and marching band-influenced beats blend with Big Boi and Andre 3000’s flows, creating something new that rippled the tide of an industry saturated with G-Funk or New York Hip Hop.

Both commercially and critically, this album was immensely successful. It peaked at #20 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop charts. This album was also the reason OutKast received the Best Newcomer Award at the 1995 Source Awards, which, as we all know, was met with controversy. Regardless of the haters, this album came at the beginning of the career of two rappers who changed the game forever.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Outkast Dropped Their Debut Album ‘Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik’ 30 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Outkast Dropped Their Debut Album ‘Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik’ 30 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Long Live Rico Wade: Organized Noize’s Most Iconic Beats Of All Time

April 25, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Earlier this month, Atlanta producer and hip-hop legend Rico Wade passed away at the age of 52. A spokesperson for Wade’s family revealed heart failure as the cause of death. As a member of the production group Organized Noize, Rico Wade helped shape the sound of Atlanta hip-hop during the 1990s, transforming the genre into what it is today, specifically in the South. Their impact is well-documented, especially in their 2016 documentary, The Art Of Organized Noize. Wade and his group members, Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown, led the Dungeon Family collective, which included the likes of Outkast and Goodie Mob.

The trio produced the majority of both groups’ first few albums and biggest hit singles. The Dungeon Family also helped foster the careers of Killer Mike, Janelle Monáe, and Future, who is Rico Wade’s first cousin. Its “Dungeon” name originates from the name of the studio at which they used to record, located in the basement of Rico Wade’s childhood home.

As a pivotal member of Organized Noize and The Dungeon Family, Wade’s contributions to southern hip hop and the genre at large remain outstanding. Many of his closest collaborators have taken to social media to mourn his loss, including Killer Mike, Big Boi, and CeeLo Green. In light of his passing, we are celebrating his most iconic beats of all time, which primarily consist of Dungeon Family productions. Take a look at the list below.

5. Outkast – “Player’s Ball”

Outkast’s 1993 debut single is where it all began for The Dungeon Family. Rico Wade and his Organized Noize counterparts not only produced “Player’s Ball,” but handled the entirety of Big Boi and André 3000’s Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. The song’s funky groove put a southern spin on West Coast G-Funk. This blend of regional styles acted as a catalyst for Outkast and Organized Noize’s later works. “Player’s Ball” marked the beginning of the South’s hip-hop takeover and remains one of Rico Wade’s most iconic works.

4. Outkast – “Two Dope Boyz (In A Cadillac)”

“Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac)” is easily the most iconic beat from Rico Wade and Organized Noize on Outkast’s ATLiens. The instrumental revolves around a sample of Five Stairstep’s “Danger! She’s A Stranger.” The hypnotic loop is flipped into a hip-hop track with its simple drum break. The beat leaves plenty of room for Big Boi and André 3000 to trade slick rhymes with one another. One of Outkast’s earlier iconic tracks, the beat prompted many artists to also sample “Danger! She’s A Stranger,” including Meyhem Lauren and Roc Marciano’s “Street Religion.”

3. Goodie Mob – “Cell Therapy”

Rico Wade and Organized Noize handled the production of Goodie Mob’s classic debut single, 1995’s “Cell Therapy.” Its main melody consists of just a few simple piano notes, which creates a haunting atmosphere. Goodie Mob contributes to this unsettling feeling of the chorus. They sing, “Who’s that peeking in my window? POW nobody now.” As Goodie Mob’s most iconic song, its beat is instantly recognizable and has been sampled on numerous occasions. Travis Scott, Rapsody, Lil Keke, and others have notably incorporated the legendary melody into their works. It is one of Organized Noize’s signature productions.

2. Outkast – “So Fresh, So Clean”

Outkast’s 2000 album, Stankonia featured less Organized Noize production compared to their previous albums. However, Rico Wade, Ray Murray, and Sleepy Brown produced one of the album’s biggest and most iconic hit singles. The samples of Joe Simon’s “Before the Night Is Over” and Funkadelic’s “I’ll Stay” provide a shimmering quality to the song’s feel-good instrumental. In addition to its samples, the track’s stuttering drum pattern is the production’s most outstanding quality. It provides a laid-back yet danceable rhythm, making “So Fresh, So Clean” a joyous occasion of its own. It is easily Outkast and Organized Noize’s biggest hit and arguably their most iconic collaboration.

1. TLC – “Waterfalls”

Rico Wade and Organized Noize may be known for their contributions to hip hop, but one of their most undeniable productions is an R&B classic. The group produced TLC’s signature hit, “Waterfalls” in 1995. The song’s groove is reminiscent of “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik,” but TLC made the track their own with an infectious performance. The brass, organ, and drums work with one another in the beat, creating a soulful backing for the singers. “Waterfalls” is a timeless record assisted by classic production from Organized Noize. The song’s longevity is a testament to Rico Wade and Organized Noize’s everlasting musical legacy.

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Shakedeck: Soundtrack Slaps

April 18, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Rare songs, forgotten gems, and classic hits from movie soundtracks over the years.

Smino Surprises Fans With A Cover Of The Outkast Classic “Roses”

April 5, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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 Considers André 3000 One Of His Heroes

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.

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