André 3000

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André 3000
André 3000 performing in 2014
André 3000 performing in 2014
Background information
Birth nameAndré Lauren Benjamin
Also known as
  • Benjamin André
  • Johnny Vulture
  • 3 Stacks
  • Dré
  • Sunny Bridges
Born (1975-05-27) May 27, 1975 (age 48)
Atlanta, Georgia
, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • flautist
  • actor
Works
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • flute
  • keyboards
Years active1992–present
Labels
Formerly of
PartnerErykah Badu (1996–1999)
Children1
Websiteandre3000.com

André Lauren Benjamin (born May 27, 1975), better known as André 3000, is an American rapper, singer, musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, he is best known for being one-half of the Southern hip hop duo Outkast, alongside fellow Atlanta-based rapper Big Boi. Benjamin is widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time.[1][2][3][4]

As part of Outkast, the duo has released six critically and commercially successful studio albums, of which contained hit singles including "

Grammy Awards among eight nominations as a solo artist. Benjamin signed with Epic Records to release his debut studio album New Blue Sun (2023), an instrumental recording showcasing his performances on flute.[5]

Outside of music, Benjamin has acted in films and television series such as

All Is by My Side. He played Fredwynn on the AMC series Dispatches from Elsewhere, and was featured in the 2022 adaptation of the Don DeLillo novel of White Noise
.

Early life

André Lauren Benjamin was born in

Buckhead, where he attended Sarah Smith Elementary School, Sutton Middle School, Northside High School, McClarin Success Academy, and Tri-Cities High School.[11] He was a childhood friend of Fonzworth Bentley
.

Musical career

André 3000 in January 2006

1992–2006: Beginnings and success with Outkast

In high school, Benjamin (who was then performing as Dré) met

Source Awards
.

On their next two albums,

funk being the most prominent example. Outkast's style and lyricism again received commercial and critical acclaim. With the duo's portrayal of themselves as out-of-place extraterrestrials in ATLiens, Benjamin's lyrics, in particular, were noted for their surreal, space-age tinge: "the funkadelic, futuristic, and seemingly unfamiliar, weird, or eccentric persona projected by André 3000 creates the chance to transcend the more pronounced characterizations of gangstas and pimps so regularly assumed by black men rap artists."[13] During the recording of these albums, Benjamin took up guitar, painting, and a relationship with singer Erykah Badu
.

Outkast's fourth album,

, who considered him one of the best rappers ever.

In 2003 Outkast released

In 2006, Outkast released their sixth album as a group,

blues. Benjamin had a few rapped verses on the album, including on the first single "Mighty O", but mostly stuck with singing, as he had on The Love Below. The album postponed the release of the theatrical film, as Benjamin and Patton were concentrated more on the production of the music than the movie. In an interview with Billboard in 2006, Benjamin explained that Outkast and its associates had developed the idea of creating a movie before the release of Aquemini, so that when it finally came time to collaborate on the movie, they already had most of the details worked out, including a script, and the movie was ultimately finished before the album was.[15]

In January 2014, it was announced that Outkast would be reuniting to celebrate their 20th anniversary by performing at more than 40 festivals worldwide during the spring/summer of 2014, beginning with a headline spot at the

in April.

2007–present: Solo career

Comic Con
in San Diego, California

Benjamin returned to rapping in 2007, after a hiatus from the genre, appearing on various

What a Job", Fonzworth Bentley's "Everybody", and Big Boi's "Royal Flush" alongside Raekwon. Benjamin also worked with Q-Tip on the song "Be Brave", which was supposed to be released on Q-Tip's 2008 album The Renaissance.[16] He also appeared on the track "Green Light" from John Legend's album Evolver, which was released on October 28, 2008. Prior to the release, Benjamin commented: "It's going to be a surprise for a lot of John Legend fans because it is a lot more upbeat than John is—than people think John is. I was actually happy to hear it. This is a cool John Legend song." Benjamin has stated that he plans on recording a solo rap album and that the response to his remixes is part of the motivation for it.[17] In 2010, he was featured on Ciara's remix for her single "Ride" from the album Basic Instinct,[18] and on the remix to Chris Brown's "Deuces
".

On January 18, 2011, Kesha released "The Sleazy Remix", which featured Benjamin. The remix was later re-released on December 13, 2011, also featuring verses by rappers Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, and T.I.[19] On June 7, Big Boi leaked a collaboration with Benjamin and Sleepy Brown entitled "Lookin' 4 Ya", which had originally been intended for Big Boi's debut solo album Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty before it was blocked by Jive Records from appearing on the album.[20]

On June 24, 2011,

2012 Grammy Awards. Benjamin continued his string of guest appearances throughout the year, featuring on Lloyd's song "Dedication to My Ex (Miss That)", Lil Wayne's "Interlude", and Drake's "The Real Her". He also featured on the track "Play the Guitar" by B.o.B
.

Benjamin was featured alongside

Converse
collection. It was released on February 23, 2012, in two different versions, an approximately 4-and-a-half-minute radio edit and an explicit 13-minute version. The song was written and recorded over three days, with the 13-minute version being recorded on the last one.

On July 10, 2012, Channel Orange, the debut album by singer-songwriter and Odd Future member Frank Ocean, was released. Benjamin was featured on the song "Pink Matter", supplying vocals and guitar. Also in July 2012, Rick Ross's album God Forgives, I Don't featured Benjamin on the song "Sixteen", once again supplying vocals and guitar. Later in the year, Benjamin also featured on T.I.'s album Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head on the song "Sorry". T.I. noted that the collaboration was a "proud moment" for him.[21]

On May 6, 2013, the soundtrack for the 2013 film The Great Gatsby was released, featuring a cover by Benjamin and Beyoncé of Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black", marking their second collaboration. The following month, Capital Cities released their debut album, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery, on which Benjamin was featured on the song "Farrah Fawcett Hair".

After being seen in the studio with producer Mike Will Made It, it was reported on August 3, 2013, that Benjamin would be releasing a new solo album in early 2014. However, the following day a representative for Benjamin told Billboard that "there is no official confirmation on that report."[22][23] In 2014, Benjamin appeared on fellow Dungeon Family member Future's second studio album, Honest, on a song titled "Benz Friendz (Whatchutola)".[24]

In November 2015, Benjamin made a surprise guest appearance on the track "Hello" from

N.E.R.D's 2017 album No One Ever Really Dies
.

On May 13, 2018, on

Ventura, released on April 12, 2019. He also featured in a guest verse on "Where's the Catch" from James Blake's album Assume Form
.

On September 3, 2021, as part of

Donda
on November 14, 2021.

Benjamin has a supporting role in the 2022 film Showing Up, and according to director Kelly Reichardt, during production, Benjamin "was walking around playing his flute."[29]

Benjamin's first solo studio album, New Blue Sun, which features his work as a flautist, was released on November 17, 2023. Later that month, a track from that album, "I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a 'Rap' Album But This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time," became the lengthiest track to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The ambient flute-infused song is 12 minutes and 20 seconds long, beating out Tool's "Fear Inoculum," which previously held the title at 10 minutes and 21 seconds long.[30]

A collaboration with Sault was also announced in early 2024.[31]

Artistry

Benjamin's early hip hop influence was Rakim, who inspired him to rap at school talent shows as a teenager.[32] He was also heavily influenced by A Tribe Called Quest, stating that group member Q-Tip is "kind of like the father of all of us, like me, Kanye, Pharrell".[33][34]

In the book

Complex ranked him 10th best of the 2000s.[1][3][4][2]

Benjamin began producing music on Outkast's ATLiens album, and later co-founded the production team Earthtone III, which also consisted of Big Boi and Mr. DJ.[32] On Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, he evolved his production by playing multiple live instruments, including keyboards, guitar, acoustic guitar, and tenor saxophone.[38] He has since contributed outside production for Aretha Franklin, Frank Ocean, and Kids See Ghosts, among others.[32] Scarface has called Benjamin the "Prince Rogers Nelson of Hip-Hop".[32]

Acting career

Benjamin has made appearances in Families, The Shield (he plays Robert Huggins, a character that originated in an episode titled "On Tilt" from Season 3 in 2004), Be Cool, Revolver, Semi Pro, and Four Brothers. He was also cast as Percival in Outkast film Idlewild, released on August 25, 2006, alongside the album of the same name. He voiced a crow in Charlotte's Web, a movie adaptation of the 1952 children's book.

As of November 2006, Benjamin voiced Sunny Bridges, a prize-winning musician who gives up touring to teach at his alma mater, in

1999 Seattle World Trade Organization protests
.

Benjamin was a member of

All Is By My Side. It premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2013.[39][40][41] His performance was met with critical acclaim and earned him a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.[42] In 2016, Benjamin had a recurring role as Michael LaCroix on the second season of the anthology crime drama series American Crime.[43]
In 2018 Benjamin starred in Claire Denis' first English-language film High Life.

Fashion

Benjamin launched the "Benjamin Bixby" clothing line in the spring of 2008, which was inspired by college football from the mid-1930s.[44]

Personal life

Benjamin was in a relationship with singer Erykah Badu from 1996 to 1999, and they had a son together named Seven Sirius Benjamin (b. November 18, 1997).[45]

In 2004, alongside

raw. But socially it became horrible. I was kind of just sitting at home eating a salad. You become mean. That's not good for you."[47][48]

Benjamin posed for a print advertising campaign by Declare Yourself, a campaign encouraging voter registration among youth for the 2008 United States presidential election. In the ads by photographer David LaChapelle, he had his mouth gagged by a bow-tie in a symbolic function.[49]

In 2019, Benjamin shared that he was diagnosed a few years prior with social anxiety and hypersensitivity disorder.[50]

Discography

Studio album

Extended play

  • Look Ma No Hands
    (2018)

Filmography

Films
Year Film Role Notes
2002 Hip Hop Uncensored Vol. 3: Hustlemania Himself
Uncovered: The Series-Outkast
2003 Hollywood Homicide Silk Brown
Soundz of Spirit Himself
Volcano High Kim Kyung-soo MTV English dub
2004 The Industry Himself
2005 Be Cool Dabu
Four Brothers Jeremiah Mercer
Volcano High Kim Yung Soo Voice only
Revolver Avi
2006 Idlewild Percival
Charlotte's Web Elwyn Voice only
Scary Movie 4 Jack Uncredited
2007 Fracture George
Battle in Seattle Django
2008 Semi-Pro Clarence Withers/Coffee Black/Downtown "Funky Stuff" Malone/
Sugar Dunkerton/"Jumping" Johnny Johnson
2010 The After Party: The Last Party 3 Himself
2012 Diary of a Decade: The Story of a Movement
2013 Jimi: All Is by My Side Jimi Hendrix Nominated— Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead
2015 Dominique Belongs to Us Narrator
2016 The Art of Organized Noize Himself
2018 High Life Tcherny
The Andre 3000 Documentary Himself
2021 Sign the Show: Deaf Culture, Access & Entertainment
2022 Showing Up Eric
White Noise Elliot Lasher
Television
Year Show Role Notes
1995 Martin Himself Episode: "All the players came"
2004; 2008 The Shield Robert Huggins 2 episodes, including
series finale episode
2006–2008 Class of 3000 Sunny Bridges Creator, 26 episodes
2016 American Crime Michael LaCroix Recurring
2016 Brad Neely's Harg Nallin' Sclopio Peepio Himself/Senator Harvey Episode: "For Aretha"
2020 Dispatches from Elsewhere Fredwynn Main role
Video game
Year Title Role Notes
2005 L.A. Rush Himself voice roles

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards
Year Nominated work Category Result Ref.
1999 "Rosa Parks" Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group Nominated [51]
2002 "Ms. Jackson" Won
Record of the Year Nominated
Best Short-Form Music Video
Nominated
Stankonia Album of the Year Nominated
Best Rap Album Won
2003 "The Whole World" (with Killer Mike) Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group Won
2004 "Hey Ya!" Record of the Year Nominated
Best Urban/Alternative Performance Won
Best Short-Form Music Video Nominated
OutKast Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Nominated
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below Best Rap Album Won
Album of the Year Won
2006 Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (as producer) Nominated
2007 "Idlewild Blue (Don't Chu Worry 'Bout Me)" Best Urban/Alternative Performance Nominated
"Mighty 'O'" Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group Nominated
2008 "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)" (with UGK) Nominated
2009 "Royal Flush" (with Big Boi & Raekwon) Nominated
"Green Light" (with John Legend)
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Nominated
2012 "Party" (with Beyoncé) Nominated
2013 "
Drake & Jay-Z
)
Best Rap Performance Nominated
Channel Orange (as featured artist) Album of the Year Nominated
2020 "
Come Home" (with Anderson .Paak
)
Best R&B Performance Won
2024 "Scientists & Engineers" (with Killer Mike, Future & Eryn Allen Kane) Best Rap Performance Won
Best Rap Song Won

References

  1. ^ a b c "Best Rappers List | Greatest of All Time". Billboard. November 12, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "The 10 Best Rappers of the 2000s". Complex. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "The Source's Top 50 Lyricists Of All Time **Complete List Inside**". thisis50.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Adaso, Henry (December 12, 2018). "The 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time". About.com. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  5. ^ "André 3000 Releases his Debut Album 'New Blue Sun'". Billboard. November 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "André 3000 hid away on his 30th birthday". Contactmusic.com. September 22, 2005. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
  7. ^ "OutKast Biography – family, parents, name, story, school, mother, son, old, information, born, college". Notablebiographies.com. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  8. ^ Tyrangiel, Josh (September 29, 2003). "Music: Dysfunktion Junction". Time. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  9. ^ "Lawrence WALKER Obituary (2014) - Atlanta Journal-Constitution". www.legacy.com.
  10. ^ "Sharon Benjamin-Hodo Obituary (2013) - Atlanta Journal-Constitution". www.legacy.com.
  11. ^ Blau, Max (September 18, 2003). "Dungeon Family tree | Cover Story | Creative Loafing Atlanta". Clatl.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  12. ^ Guzman, Isaac (October 22, 2000). "Melody Makers of Hip-Hop". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  13. ^ Beyond Keeping It Real: Outkast, the Funk Connection, and Afrofuturism, Howard Rabsy II, American Studies, Volume 52, Number 4, 2013, pp. 205–216
  14. ^ Caramanica, Jon (September 24, 2003). "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  15. ^ Conniff, Tamara (July 22, 2006). "Kasting a Wide Net". Billboard: The International Newsweekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment.
  16. ^ VOZICK-LEVINSON, S. (September 7, 2007). "ON THE Q-TIP". Entertainment Weekly.
  17. ^ "Andre 3000 reveals a solo album is on the way @ Ground Up HipHop - Hip Hop news, reviews and mixtapes". December 31, 2007. Archived from the original on December 31, 2007. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  18. ^ "New Music: Ciara f/ André 3000 & Bei Maejor – 'Ride (Remix)'". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  19. ^ "Ke$ha f. Andre3000 – Sleazy Rmx | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2011". HipHop DX. January 14, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  20. ^ Welch, Will (June 7, 2010). "The Verge Q+A: Big Boi Explains Why Andre 3000 Will Not Appear on Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Q". GQ. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  21. ^ "T.I. Calls André 3000 Collaboration a 'Proud Moment'". Rap-Up.com. May 30, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  22. ^ "Andre 3000 Solo Album Next Year". Complex. August 3, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  23. ^ "Andre 3000 Rep Says Rumored 2014 Solo Debut Album is Not a Sure Thing". Billboard. August 3, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  24. ^ "Future Reveals 'Honest' Album Release Date, Cover & Tracklist". Vibe. March 9, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  25. ^ "Listen: Erykah Badu's New Mixtape Includes Surprise Appearances By Drake & Andre 3000". Clutch Magazine. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  26. ^ "Andre 3000 Shades Drake On New Frank Ocean Song". August 21, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  27. ^ "Andre 3000 Pays Tribute To His Late Parents On "Me&My (To Bury Your Parents)" & "Look Ma No Hands"". Genius. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  28. ^ "André 3000 Releases Statement on Kanye West's Leaked Drake Diss "Life of the Party"". Pitchfork. September 4, 2021.
  29. ^ Kois, Dan (April 6, 2023). "Kelly Reichardt's New Movie Might Be Her Most Personal Yet". Slate. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  30. ^ Trust, Gary (November 28, 2023). "André 3000 Breaks Hot 100 Record With 12-Minute, 20-Second Hit From New Album". Billboard.
  31. ISSN 0028-6362
    . Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  32. ^ a b c d Trent Fitzgerald (May 27, 2020). "Here Are 45 Surprising Facts About Andre 3000". XXL. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  33. ^ Sam Moore (April 6, 2016). "Kanye West, André 3000, D'Angelo And More Paid Tribute To Phife Dawg Last Night – Watch". NME. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  34. ^ Touré (November 2, 2016). "Loss Haunts A Tribe Called Quest's First Album in 18 Years". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  35. ^ Edwards (2009), p. 133.
  36. ^ Edwards (2009), p. 66.
  37. ^ Edwards (2009), p. 249.
  38. ^ "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  39. ^ Susman, Gary (March 5, 2004). "Casting Call". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  40. ^ Kelly Nelson, Liz (May 29, 2012). "First look: Andre 3000 as Jimi Hendrix in 'All is By My Side'". Zap2it. Archived from the original on May 30, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  41. ^ "André 3000 Looks to Rock Toronto As Jimi Hendrix – Speakeasy – WSJ". Blogs.wsj.com. July 23, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  42. ^ "Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations 2015 – Full List". Deadline. November 25, 2014.
  43. ^ "André Benjamin Joins ABC Drama Series 'American Crime'". Deadline. August 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  44. ^ Williams, Ben (February 18, 2008). "Spring Fashion 2008 – André Benjamin Launches New Clothing Line, Benjamin Bixby – New York Magazine". Nymag.com. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  45. ^ "Did you know Andre 3000 had a look-a-like son?". Capital XTRA. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  46. ^ "Home & Family Channel closure – Home family". Virgin Media. October 5, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  47. ^ "André 3000: What I've Learned'". Esquire. August 27, 2014.
  48. ^ Polly Vernon, "'I'm addicted to creating'", The Guardian, September 18, 2005.
  49. ^ "gallery - Declare Yourself". September 13, 2008. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  50. ^ "André 3000 Opens Up His Social Anxiety And How That Has Impacted His Creativity". BET. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  51. ^ "André "3000" Benjamin". grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved December 11, 2021.

Further reading

External links