André 3000 sat down for an exclusive interview with GQ Style to discuss a number of intriguing topics, including his current foray into the world of fashion and design. However, one of the more interesting nuggets for Hip Hop heads came when 3 Stacks outlined why he’s always believed that fellow Outkast artist Big Boi is a better rapper than he is.
“Big Boi is smart as fuck,” he said. “We went to the same high school. I dropped out in 11th grade. Big Boi graduated with honors. When you watch early Outkast videos, Big Boi’s the leader. He always had the confidence, where I was kind of like the shy one. Big Boi can rap better than me — I always said that. If somebody said, ‘Pick who you want from Outkast to go to battle with you,’ it wouldn’t be me. ’Cause like, what I’ma do? Say some mind shit? You can’t have thoughts in a battle — nobody gives a shit about that.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, André 3000 was asked whether he’s currently working on new music. While he openly admits his dislike for going to the studio, he did reveal that his enthusiasm for other artists has gotten him back inside the workshop, albeit behind the boards rather than in the booth.
“Actually, I hate going to the studio,” he said. “So what’s got me going once again is me being excited about other artists. I’ve been working on producing a few artists. A couple projects. But here’s the crazy thing: I don’t have the pulse anymore. Rhythms change every generation. The intensity and the drums change. And I’m not on the pulse. I can’t pretend. It’s kinda like watching your uncle dance. So the only thing I can do is this kind of novelty, off thing for them.”
Although his long-awaited debut solo album has yet to see the light of day, André 3000 did reveal that he has hours and hours of unreleased music on personal hard drives.
“When I pass away, people will find hours and hours of files,” 3 Stacks said. “Yeah, hard drives and shit. It’s hard drives of me just in the house alone playing horrible guitar. Me playing piano. Me playing a little sax. I was trying to find out: What can I be excited about? Because I never was, to me, a great producer or a great writer or a great rapper. I always felt that I was less than everybody else, so I fought harder. My only gauge to know when something was good was how I felt it. Like, ‘Oh, man, this is dope.’ Or, ‘This is new.’ So I got to a place where nothing excited me. I kept trying and pushing and pushing. I got to a place where I was just kinda in a loop.”
Lastly, André 3000 compared his own career to that of undefeated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“It’s Mayweather,” he said. “He knows. He’s like, ‘Yeah, I can fight maybe three more of ’em.’ But I’m slowing down, and I see these young kids coming up and I was them. And at a certain point, no matter how Mayweather you are, I think it’s classy to be like, ‘You know what? [brushes off hands] … No, I think I have, like, maybe two more Mayweather fights … Or maybe one.”
To read the full interview, where 3 Stacks also discusses the passing of both his parents, visit GQ Style.
Naw.
Nothing against Big Boi, but everybody KNOWS Andre 3000 was/is the star in Outkast. 3K is clearly the better MC.
Yo OPINION don’t matter 3k said facts himself now go sit down
So you’re saying that just because 3k said it himself that everyone is supposed to just agree with it?
Fact. Big Boi is the better rapper, Dre is the better Musician and Artist
You might actually have substance to that argument if Andre would ever release a solo album.. Dude folded under the pressure when his popularity was at an all time high. He is criminally OVER-rated.
Totally disagree… name another rap artist that has influenced the rap game more than 3 Stacks? Arguably none and he did it WITHOUT a solo album. Most of these rappers out here are influenced by 3000… Kendrick Lamar, Big KRIT, J. Cole, Drake, Chance the Rapper, Future and the list goes on of the artists he influenced.
Slick Rick, Nas, BIG, Pac, Jay, Em, Bone…. Just to name a few.. And please don’t list Future as a rapper..
What is he?
Still haven’t figured that out myself.. What is it that he does?? It ain’t “rappin'”….
Andres definitely in my top five. Big boi not so much, however they are both dope and probably the best hip hop duo GOAT.
Omg*thank u 3 stacks*I’ve always said this in debates and I get a look like I don’t know hip hop*….thank u*
I like his honesty. I wish some rappers were as honest instead of talking crap all the time.
All it is is a debate between flow/delivery vs content/clarity. Everyone has their own tastes in hip hop.
Big Boi is mad slept on tho
I said this from the beginning, that Big Boi was the better rapper overall but Andre was better lyricists. You can tell Big Boi was the leader coming up with the beats, album concept, hooks etc. 3K came to the party was his Rhymes and was out lol. 3K is everyone personal favorite but that doesn’t mean he was better.
Yeah Big Boi is better the only reason the whole world hopped on 3000 dick and completely ignores Big Boi is because 3000 stopped making music and we always want what we cant have
Not really, even when they were both active as a duo the general consensus like 3000 a little better. Not taking anything away from him because he was/is great in his own right and he’s gotten better with time
*not taking anything away from Big Boi
Nice thing for 3K to say but we all know 3K had what everyone wanted to hear. That being said… Outkast was the greatest rap group ever. It’s kinda like the 90s Bulls… ain’t nothing wrong with being Scottie Pippen who like Big Boi is one of the best to ever do it. But they weren’t in the conversation to be Jordan or 3K.
big boi is underrated af
Its the label contract, that’s why they won’t release anything else. There isn’t a problem with the members. However they are not going to allow their current contract screw them out of anymore money.
Andre 3 Stacks was never about the sales or the money
Never got the debate on these 2. They honestly are the one group where I was like they go together perfectly, and I never saw one as superior than the other. In fact, either one of them on their own always held their own but I would look for the other one still because they were both equally dope. Guess people always need to pit people against each other to feel good.
It’s called being nice. And there’s a caveat –“rap battle