André 3000 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids André 3000
André 3000 performing in 2014
Background information
Birth name	André Lauren Benjamin
Also known as	Benjamin André Black Wolf Johnny Vulture Aloysius Possum Jenkins Dookie Blossom Gain III 3 Stacks Dré Sunny Bridges André 3K
Born	(1975-05-27) May 27, 1975 (age 50) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Southern hip-hop progressive rap funk jazz ambient impressionism
Occupation(s)	Rapper singer songwriter record producer actor
Instruments	Vocals guitar flute keyboards
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Epic LaFace RCA Purple Ribbon

André Lauren Benjamin (born May 27, 1975), who is known by his stage name André 3000, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, and actor. Many people consider him one of the greatest rappers of all time. He was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia.

André 3000 is famous for being one half of the hip-hop group Outkast, which he formed with his friend Big Boi in 1992. Outkast released many successful albums and hit songs, including "Ms. Jackson" and "Roses". One of his most famous songs, "Hey Ya!", was a number-one hit all over the world.

After Outkast stopped making music together in 2007, André 3000 worked with many other famous artists. In 2023, he released his first solo album, New Blue Sun. The album was a surprise because it was an instrumental album featuring him playing the flute.

Besides music, André 3000 has also acted in many movies and TV shows. He played the famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix in the movie All Is by My Side.

Early life

André Lauren Benjamin was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 27, 1975. He was the only child of Sharon Benjamin, a real estate agent, and Lawrence Harvey Walker, a collections agent. His mother raised him by herself in different parts of Atlanta. He went to several schools, including Sarah Smith Elementary School and Tri-Cities High School.

Musical career

André 3000 in January 2006

1992–2006: Success with Outkast

When he was 16, André met Antwan "Big Boi" Patton at a shopping mall. They went to the same high school and decided to form a rap group. They called themselves Outkast because they felt different from other kids.

Soon after high school, Outkast signed with the LaFace record label. In 1994, they released their first album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. It was a big hit, thanks to the single "Player's Ball". The group won "Best New Rap Group of the Year" at the 1995 Source Awards.

For their next albums, ATLiens (1996) and Aquemini (1998), Outkast experimented with new sounds. They mixed in styles like soul and funk. André's lyrics were often creative and futuristic. During this time, he started playing guitar and painting.

In 2000, Outkast released Stankonia. This album introduced André's new stage name, André 3000. The song "Ms. Jackson" became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was about his breakup with singer Erykah Badu.

In 2003, Outkast released a double album called Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. The album showed off the different styles of both members. Big Boi's half, Speakerboxxx, had the hit "The Way You Move". André's half, The Love Below, got a lot of attention for the singles "Hey Ya!" and "Roses". On his part of the album, André did more singing than rapping.

In 2006, Outkast released the album Idlewild, which was also the soundtrack for their movie of the same name. The music was inspired by the 1930s, especially blues music.

2007–present: Solo career

Benjamin at the 2007 San Diego Comic-Con

After Outkast went on a break, André 3000 started working as a solo artist. He appeared on songs by many other artists, including Jay-Z, John Legend, and Beyoncé. His guest verses were very popular and praised by critics.

For many years, fans hoped for a solo rap album from André 3000. He appeared on songs by artists like Frank Ocean, Travis Scott, and Kanye West. In 2018, he released two songs on Mother's Day, including a 17-minute instrumental track called "Look Ma No Hands".

In November 2023, André 3000 released his first-ever solo album, New Blue Sun. The album was a big surprise because it had no rapping. Instead, it was an album of instrumental music featuring André playing different kinds of flutes. The album was very successful. One of its songs, which is over 12 minutes long, became the longest song ever to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In May 2024, André performed music from New Blue Sun at the ATL JazzFest in his hometown of Atlanta. A huge crowd came to see the free show.

Artistry

André 3000 was inspired by early rappers like Rakim and groups like A Tribe Called Quest. Many other rappers have praised his unique style and flow. He is known for changing his rapping style on different songs.

With the album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, he showed that he was not just a great rapper but also a talented singer. He also began producing music and playing instruments like keyboards, guitar, and saxophone on his songs. His creative and unique style has led some to call him the "Prince of Hip-Hop".

Acting career

André 3000 has had a successful acting career alongside his music. He has appeared in movies like Be Cool, Four Brothers, and Semi-Pro. He also starred in the Outkast movie Idlewild.

He voiced a character in the animated movie Charlotte's Web. From 2006 to 2008, he created and starred in his own animated TV show on Cartoon Network called Class of 3000. In the show, he voiced a rock star who becomes a music teacher.

One of his most famous roles was playing rock legend Jimi Hendrix in the 2013 movie All Is By My Side. His performance was praised by critics and earned him an award nomination. He has also appeared in TV shows like American Crime and Dispatches from Elsewhere.

Personal life

From 1996 to 1999, André 3000 was in a relationship with singer Erykah Badu. They have a son named Seven Sirius Benjamin, who was born in 1997.

For many years, André 3000 followed a vegan diet. In 2014, he said that he started eating other foods again because being a strict vegan was difficult socially.

In 2008, he took part in a campaign called Declare Yourself. The campaign encouraged young people to register to vote in the presidential election.

Discography

Studio album

• New Blue Sun (2023)

Filmography

Films

Television