André 3000 has long downplayed the possibility of making a solo rap album, but he’s admitted that if anyone can inspire him to do so, it’s Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
The OutKast legend was asked about the prospect of recording a full-length rap project in a new interview with Rolling Stone, and explained how the feuding Hip Hop stars could help make it a reality.
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“I think what would help me make a rap album is being around rappers,” he said. “When I moved to California, I wasn’t writing. I’ve talked to Kendrick [Lamar]. We talked, listened to beats. Same with Drake.
“And as a rapper, they would be surprised to hear me say this, but at one point, I was like, ‘Man, it would be cool to just hang out with them to get the energy of rapping.’ Because when they’re doing it so constantly, something got to drip off.
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“They do four, five songs a day, and I’m like, ‘What?’ I don’t even go to the studio like that. I haven’t touched my drum machine in ages. I’m just now getting back to producing songs.”
3 Stacks elaborated on his comments later in the conversation, saying: “I didn’t say it. I thought it in my head. I was like, ‘Man, it would be a good exercise just to hang around.’ That’s how songs happen sometimes.
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“I never expressed this to them, but I was so inspired because of their output. Like, when you’re in a groove it can be infectious — as opposed to approaching it in a casual way, which, that’s where I am now.”
André 3000 appeared on Drake’s 2011 album Take Care and while he has yet to release a collaboration with Kendrick, he was filmed in the studio with the Compton native back in 2012 listening to what would become “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe.”
The ATLien polarized his fanbase last year when his long-awaited debut solo album New Blue Sun arrived as an ambient instrumental project featuring zero lyrics.
He’s frequently spoken about how playing the flute was an organic pivot that feeds both his spirit and soul, while the task of writing rhymes no longer comes naturally to him.
However, André did admit in an interview with Highsnobiety earlier this year that he would still relish the challenge of making a “fire-ass” rap album.
Asked if he misses rapping, 3 Stacks said: “I do,” before adding: “I would love to make a rap album. I just think it’d be an awesome challenge to do a fire-ass album at 48 years old.
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“That’s probably one of the hardest things to do! I would love to do that. That’s the cool thing about my whole ride. It really is a ride.”
