Outkast luminary André 3000 recently sat down with Complex in the middle of his photo shoot for a new campaign with Tretorn shoes. André was recently appointed the company’s creative director and is the face of Tretorn’s Fall 2017 campaign, which kicks off a new chapter for the seasoned MC.
The 42-year-old mastermind behind classic albums like 1996’s ATLiens and 1998’s Aquemini opened up about his current position in Hip Hop, admitting he feels Father Time tugging on his coattails. He also explained why it’s time for younger artists to take the reigns.
“Rapping is like being a boxer,” André said. “No matter how great you are or were at a certain time, the older you get, the slower you get—I don’t care who you are. And I can feel that coming on. There’s always a new wave of artists, and sometimes I’m just like, ‘I’m good. I’ll let the young guys do it.’ And whenever they reach out and say, ‘Hey, let’s try something,’ I’m with helping them. I’m doing it more for them than for my own self. I don’t get much happiness from doing music like that—I get happiness from pleasing who I’m working with, and helping them, and seeing them be excited.”
While a mythical Outkast album or André solo project have long been topics of discussion for thirsty Hip Hop purists, the Atlanta native shot down any hope of either. In fact, he has no plans to be rapping in his 50s. Fellow Outkast MC Big Boi, on the other hand, continues making music and dropped Boomiverse in June. Although André reunited with Big Boi for a tour in 2014, for him, it’s something he’s already “done.”
“I kind of like not being a part of [rap], now that I’ve done it,” he said. “As I get older, I start to see myself move more back from it — the hustle and bustle of putting out an album, the pressure of being in the studio trying to come up with something. Now it’s more like a hobby for me, so I don’t think about it in that way. Even with Outkast — if we never do another album, I’m totally fine with that. When I was 25, I said I don’t want to be a 30-year-old rapper. I’m 42 now, and I feel more and more that way. Do I really want to be 50 years old up there doing that? When I watch other rappers that are my age I commend them, but I just wonder where the inspiration is coming from. At this stage I’m really more focused on what I am going to be doing 10 years from now. And I hope to God it won’t be rapping.”
While that admission may leave many fans with a sense of disappointment, André is seemingly confident the culture is in good hands, especially with artists like Young Thug, who the mother of Dre’s child, Erykah Badu, also cosigned. She said he reminded her of a young André.
“He’s exciting,” André explained. “There’s no box. He’s all over the place. To do those things he does, you have to have big fuckin’ balls. It’s almost harder than the guy who’s portraying hard, you know? It’s kind of mind-fucking people. It’s saying, don’t get too comfortable with me. That’s one of my mottos: Don’t let people get too comfortable with what you’re doing.”
Although his apparent “rap retirement” is currently enacted, that doesn’t mean he can’t change his mind in the future. The passion for music will always be there, but he might execute it in a different way.
“I still love music, but I’m trying to find that deeper thing,” André said. “The older I get, it’s really more about comfort, personal happiness, and understanding. Maybe one day I’ll be somewhere talking about it in a class or something. I don’t know the rest of my way.”
Always wished Andre would’ve had Big Boi’s mentals.. Big Boi loves hip-hop way more than Andre 3stax. FACTS.
is every young person supposed to pick up a mic?
SUCK IT!
And you swallow!
Very disappointing dude was to nice not to love it like i thought he would
fuck this clown and fuck Young Thug too
Why do you spend your time on this site saying negative stuff about African Americans all day? How much are you being paid by the right wings? You, YO GRANNY/MOMMA and a few others. I see what y’all are doing. You must live very miserable lives. Go outside, find a hobby, see a therapist, figure out why you hate your parents we’re touching your privates when you were younger, forgive your uncle for molesting you, just go and heal. Get a life. Do something positively constructive. A hole.
Tretorn makes some good shoes, clean, simple understated designs and pretty comfortable and aren’t too pricey. Good to see he is working with them.
He will make more music even if it’s only once in awhile.
It’s ok to rap in your 40s. Does life end once you’re not young anymore? Tony Bennett still sings. Bob Dylan still performs. The only reason there’s no “old” rappers is because Hiphop itself is only 40 years old or so. Instead of having this pretentious “I’m too mature and sophisticated to be a rapper..” type of attitude, why don’t you show rappers how to age gracefully. I’m in my mid-30’s, I wanna MCs my age and older, and I’m sure there are people who feel the same way. Not every rap listener is 18. Some of us want to hear grown men rap about grown men things. Where they at? Jay is doin it. You think he needs the money? He’s just an MC at heart. That dope. Nas, Em, Andre, stop worrying about not fitting in with these young rappers. It’s aight to be 40.
The realest comment I’ve read in ages. Salute!
The problem with rappers is that they feel like they have to do the numbers that they did in they’re 20’s. They should look at Too Short, E-40, and Bun B and realize that if you just keep doing you you’re going to find your lane in every generation.
I don’t think it’s the rappers feeling like they have to kill it in their 20s — it’s the nature of the industry. And it’s not exactly corporate greed, either. Younger consumers propel the bulk of the revenue and they obviously need younger artists to identify with. It’s been proven (especially this year) that Hip Hop isn’t just a “young man’s game” but there is differently more attention put in that direction for monetary reasons.
They can still make alot of money touring. many people would still go to an outkast concert.
Please do a HHDX video on “Age and hiphop” should great rappers who are older retire or not?
Check on the video. And true for Outkast caking in on that money they earned but I think that’s where Dre’s inspiration is fleeting. He doesn’t see himself performing all those old songs for years to come. It’s not like their catalog is Atlantic Ocean deep, y’know?
That’s real !! Rockers and others can make music till they die of old age. But for some dang reason rappers seem to not want to record or perform as they get older. I am 47 and would love to see rappers still doing their thing in thier 60’s or 70’s
he’s like The Barry Sanders of Rap.. He left before he was washed up and dont even wanna come back..
Dope analogy.
This is how oukast will remain forever legendary
I’m disappointed he feels that way but I can’t knock his honesty.
Umm, I love em both, but what are Andre + Erykah smoking to compare Young Thug to Andre?
The only thing they have in common is strange fashion sense.
To be honest i don’t even want another Outkast album or a solo from Andre because i’m pretty sure i will be disappointed and there is already too much great classic material from them that i can always listen to and never get tired of. I’m good.
Andre just said that because he’s afraid to go back into the marketplace. He feels that as long as he doesn’t release any material, he can’t fail. Big Boi is the only one right now that’s keeping the Outkast name alive.
F*ck you if you have 3 Stacks in your top 5 lol. Obie Trice even has more fire than this gimp.
With comments like that it’s no wonder your parents named you Mud Butt
Good. I needed some more bad news lately….
We all have that one friend or relative that you grew up with that just ya just don’t mess with anymore like ya used to. Y’all still cool but it’s just not the same. Be like being forced to hang out or work together. I say Big should do a duo group of him and someone else. Big was better in a group even though he’s been dropping some gems lately and 3 stacks is better off staying gone if he’s not into it. That so called reunion a few years back was hard to watch.
I feel ya but the last show of Outkast ATLast on that Sunday evening was epic! The Southern Roundup! Devin the Dude, Bun B, 8Ball & MJG, Big Krit, the whole Dungeon Family pretty much, Killed Mike, Bone Crusher, Young Bloodz, Pastor Troy, Tela, DJ Greg Street, Kevin Gates, Erykah Badu, just too many to name. And then Outkast rocked the stage for 2hrs+ straight after all of that.
Lmao @ I don’t want to be a 30 year old rapper smh. I’m not 30 but man 30 isn’t even that old. Hov, em, jay elect, Kanye, cole, 2chainz were all damn near 30 or right at it when they got in the game or started to really bubble
that’s not true em dropped infinite when he was 20 jay z was rapping on jaz-o shit in the 80s and 90s and two chainz created playaz circle when he was 20
That’s corny Andre. If you still have talent and something to say why quit. Its your choice, but using age to just run away is corny. Imagine if Picasso had quit cause of age? Oukast need at least one more classic
Its sad that 2 of the greatest Lauryn and andre3000 refuse to release new material.
Ghostface is 47 is has released some of his best work in the past decade
Eh…No he hasn’t.
So you’re saying Apollo Kids, Twelve Reasons to Die 1 & 2, Sour Soul and 36 Seasons aren’t great? Ghost is hands down the most consistent Wu member.
Exactly, all great projects. Aside from Ironman and Supreme Clientele, his work of the last 5-7 years is better than his in between albums, all of which are at least decent. Can’t take hiphopdx staff opinions seriously, unless its nonsense mumble trap music.
I’m sorry i had some bomb dick down my throat bruhh
Ahh hip hop will be a gay genre in a few years trust me.
hiphop died…no sense of hiphop no more.like yooh this days rappers just so fucked up cant no body rap about true street life they just be faking and shit.hiphop this days is just about dancing and wearing funny looking outfits and singing during chorus..Its like a big party where grown ups were doin there things then party ends and they leave then children come and run around playing hide and seek and throw left over food at each other..damn fuck this generation bruh!!!!!!!!!!! Andre you played your card right..dont move with this clowns they aint your type they fucked up
you need to listen to trae the truth if you feel that way
I listened to the Aquemini album on my way home from work.
Album is fiyaaaa.
I always thought ATLiens was their best album.
Idk i think Aquemini might be
As an artist myself, in 25 years of doing this I can kinda understand where 3000 is coming from. You lose passion for it. You evolve. You want to do something different. You dont lose the love for it, but trust it is a lot of work to write songs and put together projects that really make an impact. If 3000 never puts out anything else, he left us with classics and Im happy about that.
Damn, it has to suck to be stuck in the 90s. All your favorite rappers are retiring or falling off. Constantly mad, complaining on hip hop sites.