André 3000

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André 3000
Image:André3000.jpg
André 3000 in January 2006
Background information
Birth name André Lauren Benjamin
Born May 27 1975 (1975-05-27) (age 34)
Origin Atlanta, Georgia
Genre(s) Southern hip hop
Alternative hip hop
Conscious hip hop
Funk
Soul
Occupation(s) rapper, actor, singer
Instrument(s) vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, saxophone, harmonica
Years active 1992–present
Label(s) LaFace
Associated
acts 		Big Boi, OutKast, Dungeon Family
Members
OutKast, Dungeon Family


André 3000 (born André Lauren Benjamin on May 27, 1975 in College Park, Georgia) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, rapper, hip hop producer and actor. He is half of the successful hip hop duo OutKast. He is also the creator of Cartoon Network's Emmy-winning show Class of 3000.

Contents

[edit] Biography

This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (October 2007)


[edit] Career

In 2003, Outkast released Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, a double album that 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". The album's fourth single and video (Andre's third), "Prototype", was released shortly after, where as Big Boi's 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, jazz, and alternative music, featuring mostly sung (instead of rapped) vocals from André.

In addition to rap groups A Tribe Called Quest and 2 Live Crew, other influences on André 3000's music include punk and new wave artists The Ramones, the Buzzcocks, The Hives, and The Smiths. In the February 14, 2004, issue of British music magazine New Musical Express, he identifies "William, It Was Really Nothing" as his favorite Smiths tune. André has also been outspoken about his admiration for British electronic composer Squarepusher and has mentioned an interest to possibly collaborate in the future. He has also expressed his fondness for Prince's music, which he claims heavily influenced his musical style.

Image:André 3000 on the album cover of "The Love Below".jpg
André 3000 on the cover of The Love Below

André has moved into the film world and has made appearances in Families, The Shield, Be Cool, Revolver (2005), and a co-starring role in Four Brothers. Andre is also cast as Percival in Idlewild, 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, 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. In addition, each episode features a new song. 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. In February of 2007, Andre started practicing for the basketball comedy Semi-Pro, where he will appear with , Woody Harrelson and Vladimir Cuk. It has been rumored that he is starting his own clothes-line which is unknown when it will be launched. He has returned to Rap, appearing on many various remixes of including "Walk It Out," "Throw Some D's," "You," Jay-Z's "30 Something," UGK's 'Players Anthem' and Devin the Dude's What A Job ft Snoop Dogg.

Andre 3000 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" by Sean Kingston, but there is yet to be one [1]

[edit] Personal life

André was born in May 1975 to Sharon Benjamin (a single mother) and Lawrence Walker in Atlanta. Being an only child and growing up in East Point, Decatur and Bankhead, André saw many different lifestyles (clothing and music) that he combined through out his career. Being very shy and quiet, but creative would take him places he never thought. The reserved entertainer loves to draw and paint and even at one time wanted to pursue a career in art.

Benjamin's mom, a strict trooper, stayed on her son and warned him of pitfalls the befall teenagers from peer pressure. A strict disclipinarian, she was not above even spanking her son bare bottom with a belt. In the end it paid off. Her strict eyes and spiritual background led him to make better choices. He met future professional partner Antwan Patton (later famous as “Big Boi”) while they studied at the Tri-Cities High School in East Point. After joining several MC battles, André and Antwan decided to form a duo named “Outkast”. The rest is history.

André met songtress Erykah Badu while on tour in New York and the two share a ten-year old son: Seven Sirius Benjamin (born November 1997). The relationship soured and Benjamin ended it. The two are still good friends. Outkast frontman has decided that being in a relationship is not in the cards for him and has settled for casual dating but no serious committments. Mr Benjamin has said "With my schedule I don't have time for a girlfriend right now" André juggles his time between his son Seven, and career.

[edit] Film Career

Andre 3000 has become known to be called Andre Benjamin the actor. Starring in "Be Cool" with Cedric the Entertainer. "Four Brothers" with Tyrese Gibson and the infamous "Idlewild" with a long awaited soundtrack. Andre also did a voice over for the classic cartoon "Charlotte's Webb". Andre has found a challenge in acting and is looking forward to even doing a Jimi Hendrix biopic in the future.

In November 2006 Andre 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.

[edit] Discography

Main article: OutKast discography

[edit] Fondness for Guns

According to an article provided by "World Entertainment News Network", Benjamin claimed to always carry a gun for protection, not wanting any bodyguards around him. Benjamin also stated he intends to buy his nine-year-old son a gun as soon as he is old enough to carry it, claiming that "packing heat" is a necessity of life.[2] This advocating of guns caused some outrage amongst gun protesters, [3] while it won him praise from many rap fans, who are frequently pro-gun.[4]

[edit] 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"
  • "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.

[edit] Featured Appearances

Main article: Outkast Discography

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Video Games

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.grounduphiphop.com/2007/07/11/andre-3000-reveals-a-solo-album-is-on-the-way/
  2. ^ http://www.pr-inside.com/entertainment-blog/2006/10/12/outkast-frontman-andre-3000-carries-a/
  3. ^ http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=21606&in_page_id=7
  4. ^ http://www.grounduphiphop.com/2006/10/11/andre-3000-loves-guns-prince-charles/
v • d • e
Dungeon Family
GroupsOutKast • Goodie Mob • Organized Noize • P.A. • Lumberjacks • Society of Soul
MembersRico Wade • Sleepy Brown • André 3000 • Big Boi • Mr. DJ • Big Gipp • Cee-Lo • Khujo Goodie • T-Mo • Witchdoctor • Big Rube • Backbone • Cool Breeze • Lil' Will • Mello • Big Reese • Killer Mike • Slimm Calhoun • BlackOwned C-Bone • Lil' Brotha • Supa Nate • Meathead • KED • Bubba Sparxxx • Roscoe • Malachi
See alsoSouthern hip hop • Outkast discography
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