Biography

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.

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, UGK's 'Players Anthem' and Devin the Dude's What A Job ft Snoop .

Because of these latest remixes, Andre 3000 has recently stated that he is making a solo rap album. In the same interview, he stated that he wants to write a verse for a remix to "Beautiful Girls" by Sean Kingston.

Personal life

André dated singer Erykah Badu. Together, they have a son, Seven (born 1997). On the last track of "The Love Below", entitled "A Life in the Day Of Benjamin Andre (Incomplete)", he delivers an epic, breakneck-pace autobiography chronicling his youth to the present day. Benjamin has been the subject of continued interest and speculation about his sexuality, possibly owing to his persona and flamboyant sense of style. He has rejected these claims, however, saying "One of the worst rumors I heard about myself was that I was homosexual. Especially in the hip-hop world, that ain't a cool rumor to hear." He addressed rumors of his sexuality and drug use as far back as 1998, on the first track from OutKast's album Aquemini:

Return of the gangsta thanks ta', Them niggas that get the wrong impression of expression
Then the question is "Big Boi, what's up with Andre?
Is he in a cult? Is he on drugs? Is he gay?
When y'all gon' break up? When y'all gon' wake up?"
Nigga I'm feelin' better than ever what's wrong with you? You get down!

In 2004, PETA named Andre "Sexiest Vegetarian of the Year", Andre has been a vegan since the late 1990s. When he was asked how he would spend his last day on Earth, he replied, "I'd probably go for a great meal—some broccoli probably, because I'm a vegetarian."

In 2005, Benjamin announced his intention to move to Australia by 2011.

Benjamin is also a quite accomplished guitar player, and he uses exclusively Jackson Guitars.

October 2006 gun controversy

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. This advocating of guns caused some outrage amongst gun protesters, while it won him praise from 2nd Amendment rights advocates.

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.

Featured Appearances

Filmography

• Hollywood Homicide (2003)....Silk Brown
• Be Cool (2005).....Dabu
• Four Brothers (2005).....Jeremiah Mercer
• Volcano High.....Kim Yung Soo (voice)
• Revolver (2005)....Avi
• Idlewild (2006)....Percival
• Charlotte's Web (2006)...Elwyn the Crow (voice)
• Battle in Seattle (2007)....Django
• Semi-Pro (2008)

Video Games

• L.A. Rush (Voice)