Andre 3000 biography
André Lauren Benjamin (born May 27, 1975) better known by his stage name André 3000, is an United States rapper-singer, multi-instrumentalist, and actor, best known for his work in the group OutKast.
Biography
Early life
Benjamin was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Sharon Benjamin Hodo, a single mother who sold real estate, and Lawrence Walker, a collections agent. Being an only child and growing up in East Point, Decatur and Buckhead, Benjamin saw many different lifestyles (clothing and music) that he combined throughout his career. He attended Sutton Middle School, where an orchestra teacher named Mrs. Natalie Colbert taught him how to play the violin.
Career
In high school, Benjamin (who was then performing as "Dre") met Antwan "Big Boi" Patton and after a few lyrical battles the two teamed up to form Outkast. Shortly after graduating high school the duo were signed to the Atlanta-based LaFace label and released their debut album
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik in 1994. Buoyed by the success of the single "Playa's Ball", the album went platinum by the end of the year and Outkast was named Best New Rap Group of the Year at the 1995 Source Awards.
On their next two albums
ATLiens and
Aquemini, Outkast experimented with their sound by adding elements of trip-hop, soul, and jungle. Benjamin's lyrics in particular took on a more surreal, space-age tinge. At this time Benjamin took up the guitar and painting and became involved with neo-soul singer Erykah Badu.
Outkast's fourth album,
Stankonia, saw Benjamin take on the new name of Andre 3000 (largely to distinguish himself from Dr. Dre) and increased the group's crossover appeal with the single Ms. Jackson, which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written in the aftermath of Benjamin's breakup with Badu and was a fictionalized account of the disintegration of their relationship.
In 2001, Outkast released a greatest hits album
Big Boi and Dre Present... OutKast which contained three new tracks. One track, The Whole World won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Later that year, Benjamin participated in the Dungeon Family group album, which saw a number of prominent Atlanta-based hip-hop groups combine into a Supergroup (music).
In 2003, Outkast released
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, a double album which highlighted the differences in the musical styles of the group's two members. André's half of the album,
The Love Below, garnered the most attention from mainstream audiences, with the popular singles "Hey Ya!" and "Roses (OutKast song)". The album's fourth single and music video (Andre's third), "Prototype", was released shortly after, where as Big Boi
Speakerboxxx has seen the release of the hit "The Way You Move" and most recent single "Ghetto Musick."
The Love Below was, unlike
Speakerboxxx, an exercise in funk music, jazz music, and alternative rock music, featuring mostly sung (instead of rapping) vocals from André.
André has moved into the film world and has made appearances in
Families (TV series),
The Shield,
Be Cool,
Revolver (film) (2005), and a co-starring role in
Four Brothers (film). Andre is also cast as Percival in Idlewild (film), released on August 26, 2006. He is currently shooting a movie with Big Boi for HBO. He is also currently working on an as-of-yet untitled project, filming on location in Louisiana and is being produced by Chesley Seals and Kat Hantas. He voiced a crow in
Charlotte's Web (2006 film), a movie adaptation of the 1952 children's book. As of November 2006, he voices "Sunny Bridges," a prize-winning musician who gives up touring to teach at his alma mater, in a new animated series he produced on Cartoon Network called
Class of 3000. He has also worked with Esthero on a promotional version of "Jungle Book" which was on a
Wikked lil' grrrls sampler, but never made it to the actual album due to issues with Esthero's publisher, Warner Bros. He launched the "Benjamin Bixby" clothing line in spring of 2008, inspired by college football, circa 1935.
He returned to rapping in 2007 after a long hiatus, appearing on many various remixes including "Walk It Out," "Throw Some D's," "You (Lloyd Song)," Jay-Z's "30 Something (song)," and a few original songs such as UGK's 'International Players Anthem', Devin the Dude's "What A Job", Fonzworth Bentley's Everybody and John Legend's 'Green Light'.
Benjamin has recently stated that he is making a solo rap album, and that the response to his remixes is part of the motivation. In the same interview, he stated that he wanted to write a verse for a remix to "Beautiful Girls (Sean Kingston song)" by Sean Kingston, nothing ever came of the remix.
Film career
Benjamin has also ventured into acting in recent years, starring in films
Be Cool with Cedric the Entertainer,
Four Brothers with Tyrese Gibson,
Idlewild and the Guy Richie film
Revolver. Andre also did a voice over for the classic cartoon
Charlotte's Web.
In November 2006, Benjamin released his project "Class of 3000" on Cartoon Network along with his own production company "Moxie Turtle" on each episode there is a moral and a song produced by Benjamin himself. The following year, in February of 2007, Andre started practicing for the basketball comedy
Semi-Pro, in which he appeared with Woody Harrelson and Will Ferrell. He also starred in the 2008 film
Battle in Seattle, a film about the WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999 protest activity.
Personal life
Benjamin is a strict vegetarian. In 2004, alongside Alicia Silverstone, André was voted by PETA to be the 'World's Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity.' He also has a son with ex partner Erykah Badu named Seven Sirius Benjamin. He is also childhood friends with Fonzworth Bentley.
Politics and endorsements
André posed for a Bondage (BDSM)-themed print advertising campaign by Declare Yourself, a campaign encouraging voter registration among youth for the United States presidential election, 2008. In the ads by photographer David LaChapelle, André has his mouth gagged by a bow-tie in a symbolic function. The ads drew national attention.
Aliases
André has several aliases:
- "Cupid Valentino" (from the song "Happy Valentine's Day")
- "Dre" (his original moniker)
- "Ice Cold"
- "Possum Aloysius Jenkins"
- "Dookie (Blossumgame III)"
- The reversed, "Benjamin André"
- "Love Pusher"
- "Binhamin" (From the insert of ATLiens)(also shared by Producer Quebo Kuntry, whose real name is James Benjamin)
- "Johnny Vulture" (for example on Gwen Stefani's album
Love. Angel. Music. Baby which he produced and also appeared on the track "Bubble Pop Electric")
- "Funk Crusader"
- "Chamelio Salamander" (From the Sleepy Brown "I Can't Wait" music video)
- "3 Stacks"
- "Sunny Bridges" (Class of 3000)
Most of these names appear in the "Hey Ya" music video, where he and his doubles all have different names ("Johnny Vulture", "Dookie", "André (Ice Cold) 3000", "Possum Jenkins" and "Benjamin André").
Also, when asked his name by a phony police officer on Punk'd he calls himself Bill Bixby.
There is also an interlude track on the Outkast CD Stankonia, called D.F. (Interlude), where both Andre 3000 and Big Boi list many of their numerous aliases.
Andre 3000 in the news
THE BB MANN SHOWCASES A LEGEND - Florida Weekly
THE BB MANN SHOWCASES A LEGENDFlorida WeeklyAndre 3000 of outkast, who's been standing by the piano, slaps his watch and declares, "Well, time to go!" But then John Legend starts singing "Green Light" ...and more »
read moreMusical heirs to the King of Pop are numerous - Canada.com
Musical heirs to the King of Pop are numerousCanada.comAndre 3000 knows how to create a fantastic single that is still accessible to all audiences, something few people other than Jackson have been able to do. ...and more »
read moreWritten by Cyrus Langhorne - SOHH
Examiner.comWritten by Cyrus LanghorneSOHHOutKast's Big Boi recently gave fans an update on his delayed solo project and promised an Outkast album with Andre 3000 is on the way. ...Big Boi promises new Outkast album. Nation holds breathA.V. Cluball 4 news articles »
read moreThe Renaissance - Pitchfork Media
The RenaissancePitchfork Media... it was too leftfield to release-- one year before they let André 3000's half of the new OutKast album drop the same MO onto an unsuspecting world. ...and more »
read moreBarometer: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Bruce Springsteen;...
Barometer: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Bruce Springsteen; Blur ...IndependentAndre 3000) You'll Find a Way Player Mixtape master Terry Urban's great remix featuring hipster queen Santogold and OutKast's Andre 3000. ...and more »
read moreKiller Mike Talks Underground Atlanta, And OutKast - HipHopDX
Killer Mike Talks Underground Atlanta, And OutKastHipHopDXUA is a uniquely varied assemblage of songs representing all of ATL's different stylistic movements, featuring artists ranging from Andre 3000-inspired ...and more »
read moreNature of a Man - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Nature of a ManAtlanta Journal ConstitutionIn the words of Andre 3000 “You know what I really wanna know? I have been told many times “you don't have to do “that” anymore, that's my job”. ...and more »
read moreDue To Illness India Arie Will Not Perform With John Legend At Fox ...
St. Louis AmericanDue To Illness India Arie Will Not Perform With John Legend At Fox ...Broadway WorldGuests on EVOLVER include Estelle, OutKast's Andre 3000, R&B/pop superstar Brandy and John's longtime collaborator Kanye West. Songs on EVOLVER include the ...Evolving door: John Legend presents latest musical offering to St ...St. Louis Americanall 6 news articles »
read moreReview + Setlist: John Legend and Vaughn Anthony at the Fabulous .....
Review + Setlist: John Legend and Vaughn Anthony at the Fabulous ...Riverfront TimesTrue, the 40-foot video of Andre 3000 dancing his ass off was extremely hard not to watch. But climbing atop his piano, Legend took back the spotlight, ...and more »
read moreFantasy Casting The Inevitable Michael Jackson Movie - Cinema Blend
Cinema BlendFantasy Casting The Inevitable Michael Jackson MovieCinema BlendLook it was either Andre 3000 or My Name is Earl's Crabman. Andre is the right decision. This is the easiest Michael to cast. Throw a net over Los Angeles, ...and more »
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