André 3000
André 3000 | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | André Lauren Benjamin |
Also known as |
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Born | Atlanta, Georgia , U.S. | May 27, 1975
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Works | |
Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 1992–present |
Labels | |
Formerly of | |
Partner | Erykah Badu (1996–1999) |
Children | 1 |
Website | andre3000 |
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 "
Outside of music, Benjamin has acted in films and television series such as
Early life
André Lauren Benjamin was born in
Musical career
1992–2006: Beginnings and success with Outkast
In high school, Benjamin (who was then performing as Dré) met
On their next two albums,
Outkast's fourth album,
In 2003 Outkast released
In 2006, Outkast released their sixth album as a group,
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
2007–present: Solo career
Benjamin returned to rapping in 2007, after a hiatus from the genre, appearing on various
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,
Benjamin was featured alongside
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
On May 13, 2018, on
On September 3, 2021, as part of
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
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
Benjamin was a member of
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
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
- New Blue Sun (2023)
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 )
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Best R&B Performance | Won | |
2024 | "Scientists & Engineers" (with Killer Mike, Future & Eryn Allen Kane) | Best Rap Performance | Won | |
Best Rap Song | Won |
References
- ^ a b c "Best Rappers List | Greatest of All Time". Billboard. November 12, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- ^ a b "The 10 Best Rappers of the 2000s". Complex. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Adaso, Henry (December 12, 2018). "The 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time". About.com. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
- ^ "André 3000 Releases his Debut Album 'New Blue Sun'". Billboard. November 17, 2023.
- ^ "André 3000 hid away on his 30th birthday". Contactmusic.com. September 22, 2005. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
- ^ "OutKast Biography – family, parents, name, story, school, mother, son, old, information, born, college". Notablebiographies.com. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ Tyrangiel, Josh (September 29, 2003). "Music: Dysfunktion Junction". Time. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Lawrence WALKER Obituary (2014) - Atlanta Journal-Constitution". www.legacy.com.
- ^ "Sharon Benjamin-Hodo Obituary (2013) - Atlanta Journal-Constitution". www.legacy.com.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Guzman, Isaac (October 22, 2000). "Melody Makers of Hip-Hop". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
- ^ Beyond Keeping It Real: Outkast, the Funk Connection, and Afrofuturism, Howard Rabsy II, American Studies, Volume 52, Number 4, 2013, pp. 205–216
- ^ Caramanica, Jon (September 24, 2003). "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ Conniff, Tamara (July 22, 2006). "Kasting a Wide Net". Billboard: The International Newsweekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment.
- ^ VOZICK-LEVINSON, S. (September 7, 2007). "ON THE Q-TIP". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "New Music: Ciara f/ André 3000 & Bei Maejor – 'Ride (Remix)'". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "T.I. Calls André 3000 Collaboration a 'Proud Moment'". Rap-Up.com. May 30, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "Andre 3000 Solo Album Next Year". Complex. August 3, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
- ^ "Andre 3000 Rep Says Rumored 2014 Solo Debut Album is Not a Sure Thing". Billboard. August 3, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
- ^ "Future Reveals 'Honest' Album Release Date, Cover & Tracklist". Vibe. March 9, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Andre 3000 Shades Drake On New Frank Ocean Song". August 21, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
- ^ "Andre 3000 Pays Tribute To His Late Parents On "Me&My (To Bury Your Parents)" & "Look Ma No Hands"". Genius. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- ^ "André 3000 Releases Statement on Kanye West's Leaked Drake Diss "Life of the Party"". Pitchfork. September 4, 2021.
- ^ Kois, Dan (April 6, 2023). "Kelly Reichardt's New Movie Might Be Her Most Personal Yet". Slate. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ Trust, Gary (November 28, 2023). "André 3000 Breaks Hot 100 Record With 12-Minute, 20-Second Hit From New Album". Billboard.
- ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Trent Fitzgerald (May 27, 2020). "Here Are 45 Surprising Facts About Andre 3000". XXL. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Touré (November 2, 2016). "Loss Haunts A Tribe Called Quest's First Album in 18 Years". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ Edwards (2009), p. 133.
- ^ Edwards (2009), p. 66.
- ^ Edwards (2009), p. 249.
- ^ "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ Susman, Gary (March 5, 2004). "Casting Call". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "André 3000 Looks to Rock Toronto As Jimi Hendrix – Speakeasy – WSJ". Blogs.wsj.com. July 23, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
- ^ "Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations 2015 – Full List". Deadline. November 25, 2014.
- ^ "André Benjamin Joins ABC Drama Series 'American Crime'". Deadline. August 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Did you know Andre 3000 had a look-a-like son?". Capital XTRA. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Home & Family Channel closure – Home family". Virgin Media. October 5, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "André 3000: What I've Learned'". Esquire. August 27, 2014.
- ^ Polly Vernon, "'I'm addicted to creating'", The Guardian, September 18, 2005.
- ^ "gallery - Declare Yourself". September 13, 2008. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "André 3000 Opens Up His Social Anxiety And How That Has Impacted His Creativity". BET. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- ^ "André "3000" Benjamin". grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
Further reading
- Edwards, Paul (2009). ISBN 978-1-55652-816-3.
External links
- André 3000 at AllMusic
- André 3000 discography at Discogs
- f563a1a9-069b-41ed-8b3b-e1b1a6f5b34b André 3000 discography at MusicBrainz
- André 3000 at AllMovie
- André 3000 at IMDb