Five Minutes with Andre 3000

by: Linda Hobbs

The Outkast iconoclast tells VIBE where he's been hiding

He's sold millions of albums, made a green costume and a perm look cool, risen to heights unforeseen in one of the most critically-acclaimed Southern groups of all time, made guest appearances on hip hop's biggest hits in 2006 and 2007 (each time proving that yes, lyrical perfection does exist post Illmatic), and still managed to remain one of the most elusive artists to ever spit 16-bars.

Lucky us. VIBE managed to catch up with hip hop's favorite rock star Andre 3000. Currently gearing up for his new clothing line Benjamin Bixby, another solo album, and two new films (Semi-Pro; Battle in Seattle) in 2008, 3 Stacks called us up while cruising around Atlanta, feeling quite jubilant.

I know it's a time where everybody kind of dissing where hip hop is . . . the next phase of music is going to be people's reaction to it

VIBE: 2008's going to be a good year for you. How seriously are you taking the acting thing now? Is it hard for you to settle down and focus on one thing?
ANDRE 3000: I take everything on a case-by-case basis. I take it one by one. The thing about film is if there is a great script and I think it's challenging, I'll be down with it. Even with music, I never say, “Well we [Outkast] got to put out a record every year”. I just want to express any way I can, whether it's film, music, or fashion.

A lot of people are talking about you.
Really? In a good way or a bad way?

A good way. Did you know that Jay-Z called you a genius in the last issue of Rolling Stone?
No he didn't! Did he?! What issue was this?

The one where he's all suited up.
I didn't know that. Wow.

You've been literally popping up with these random verses on songs, shutting the game down, and then you disappear. Even people in Atlanta say you're never seen in public.
[Laughs] I don't go out much because usually it's a lot of standing around. I may go to an event every now and then. I'll call Big Boi and see what's up. But I don't like to repeat things a lot because I kind of been bored. Last month and a half, I've been in Hong Kong, China. A lot of the factories that produce the items for my clothing company are there.

Are you jaded by hip hop yet?
Um, I know it's a time where everybody kind of dissing where hip hop is . . . But you got to love it [Southern hip hop] because it's all expression! People got mad at the whole snapping, popping thing. And the hip hop purists, they hate - but nobody was mad when people up North was doing the pee wee herman. We loved it. Atlanta is everything. So now people are mad, so what's gone happen is, the next phase of music is going to be people's reaction to it [all].

Is it true you're working on a new album?
Yes, just started. It's going to probably be out next year sometime.

Is Organized Noize producing this?
Organized Noize, myself, and whoever got some heat. You know, I've been producing since ATLiens.

What else is going on?
I've been reading a couple of things [scripts]. Can't talk about them though, you know how that is. The clothing company will be out fall / winter 2008 it will be in your stores. Maybe in the following year we'll start talking about our own retail store.

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