André 3000 has a theory behind a common criticism of contemporary Hip Hop — that many of today’s artists “sound the same.”
Appearing on LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The Shop alongside Sexyy Red, Jerry Lorenzo and others, the OutKast legend — whose flute album is further proof that he’s one of the game’s most singular talents — offered his take on the hot-button topic.
Highlighting how the music ecosystem has changed since he and Big Boi were honing their craft in the Dungeon, 3 Stacks said: “If we were to come out as OutKast when we thought we were ready, we wouldn’t be around today ’cause we sounded like everybody else, we sounded like who we were listening to.
“Now, I don’t think artists have time to cultivate themselves so a lot of artists sound the same. You can quickly jump on a microphone — it’s awesome because you’re getting an immediacy, but you don’t get time to hone who you are.”
He then used Future and 2 Chainz‘s artistic evolution to illustrate his point: “Even Future came up in the Dungeon [Family]. I know Ray [Murray, one-third of Organized Noize] has Future recordings where Future sounds different; Future was rapping. It takes a minute. Even 2 Chainz. Like, Tity Boi was rapping.
“What I’m saying is, over time you develop a thing and you figure out, ‘Okay, this is most effective for me.’ And we see it and we love Future for what he does now, but I don’t know if it would’ve been as successful.”
André 3000’s sentiment was echoed by fellow rap veteran E-40 last year, albeit in more critical fashion.
In an interview with CBS Mornings‘ Nate Burleson to coincide with Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the Bay Area legend was asked for his thoughts on the current state of the genre.
“I don’t like where it’s at ’cause I feel like there’s not enough creativity. A lot of people sound the same, bro. A lot of copycats. And a lot of them are saying the same things over and over and over, instead of mixing it up,” he said.
“I’m not trying to act like I’m hella positive, but I’m a storyteller. It’s really positive ’cause I talk about the repercussions, the consequences that can happen if you do this.”
Not everyone feels this way, though. Also last year, Charlamagne Tha God defended modern Hip Hop from its critics, claiming that the genre is doing just fine.
“I think Hip Hop is in a great place,” the radio personality said on Million Dollaz Worth of Game. “I think people that don’t like Hip Hop now are just mad that it’s not what it used to be. They’re stuck in an era. I love all these new dudes. My favorite dude is Kodak Black right now. I love LaRussell, I love Symba. I love Rapsody. I love fucking 21 Savage.”
His Breakfast Club co-host DJ Envy also chimed in: “I love it not only for that — musically, the music is great — I love the fact that these brothers get money. They’re keeping themselves out of the hood, they’re paying for their families, paying for their mama’s cribs and all that.”
Yeah, that’s why I’m not a fan of The Breakfast Club. Bunch of contrarian corporatists.
You know what these new rappers need? more flutes in their music!
If you ask DJ Quik he would say banjo. Lol.
3 Stacks should’ve titled his album “I don’t know what I’m doing with this flute” as per his own admission. Lol.
Shove it up his H0V0l3 like I do
I’ll add that “biting” a style or sound was generally frowned upon in hip hop culture. Of course there are exceptions such as music samples, fashion trends and street slang but that is besides the point. The non-biting hip hop norm forced artists to be unique or create a sound to stand out. As 3000 alluded, artists today don’t take the time to be original because they want a quick hit song based on a sound trend. In addition, the only way to be original today is start a catchy dance or twerk that is often bases on…you guessed it…a dance that started in the 80s, 90, and early 2000. If you think about it, most of the classic hip hop artists have relatively original styles and sounds for their time.
They need to stop sugarcoating it. It’s what these white folks in charge want. Back in the day, you had crews that came up, ate together, shit together, and then came out to the world together, so their sound was unique. These white A&R people are going out and finding these people they can do a viral campaign for, and rapping is the last thing they’re looking for.
In every aspect of life lately not just hip hop it’s like no originality, it’s weird to me because that is what it used to be about. Being unique.
Comment of the day. Maybe it was childish all along. I don’t want to turn my back on rap, but people are dying…Jeffrey is in jail…its for the kids. At some point… you have to grow up. Stop to trying to be cool.
Everyone is an original. But everyone ain’t rich.
Yes as most are broke like you with yo Broke A$$!
Nikka you play the flute now. Your opinion is not releveant anymore.
Andre 3000 is one of the best to ever do it so to say he’s irrelevant in this conversation when you yourself will never have rap credits is nonsense. Make a hit and then get at us you Thumb Thug aka Keyboard Warrior.
Shots……are fired….perfect sight alignment
It’s garbage in and garbage out….that’s why these candy rapper clones who no longer live in the hood are responsible for the filth, violence, and white-nationalist agenda that indirectly controls this so-called hip hop: it’s the continual decimation of black american communities. Guns, twerk, death, nakedness, etc.
It’s garbage in and garbage out….that’s why these candy rapper clones who no longer live in the hood are responsible for the filth, violence, and white-nationalist agenda that indirectly controls this so-called hip hop: it’s the continual decimation of black american communities. Guns, twerk, death, nakedness, etc…..Play those instruments my Brova.
Twerking came from Africa, and is nowhere near as bad as the other things you mentioned. Just saying
This is Becky of social media… TikTok Rap… Everyone has a way to get themselves and their copycat music onto the Internet now, and if some moron with a 1000 followers makes a stupid dance to it, next thing you know some record label is telling em “we’ll give you a million dollars for seven more tracks that sound just like this one!”
De La Soul Me Myself and I record/video in 1989 discussed the same thing with rappers following a generic type to follow. Not a critique exclusively tied to this generation.
Mannnn 3000 summed it up for certain. I’m most appalled by the behaviour of these GROWN BEHIND MEN aka so called BOSSES still being cheerleaders and signing our youth only to continue the ignorance in this mess they call an ARTFORM smh it’s sad sad sad. All of them are dying quickly or being locked up forever.. Come on man. Enough Already
Well to a point it’s just like music music and only play so many chords and then it’s going to seem like the same music that was playing years ago wrapping is the same thing because they don’t tell stories no more cuz all the stores have been told they don’t talk about themselves cuz that’s been told the only thing is left is money sex and drugs That’s only thing that’s left to talk about now the words are gone just like the music is gone you can only say so many things that’s the same just like music can only play the same notes
Well to a point it’s just like music music and only play so many chords and then it’s going to seem like the same music that was playing years ago wrapping is the same thing because they don’t tell stories no more cuz all the stores have been told they don’t talk about themselves cuz that’s been told the only thing is left is money sex and drugs That’s only thing that’s left to talk about now the words are gone just like the music is gone you can only say so many things that’s the same just like music can only play the same notes