andre 3000
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Julia Beverly / Getty / OutKast
An EDM duo called ATLiens is legally feeling the wrath of OutKast for very obvious reasons.
Billboard reports that OutKast sued ATLiens, claiming their name is a blatant infringement on the iconic rap duo’s 1996 album of the same name.
Two lawyers representing Big Boi and André 3000 argued on August 20 that the EDM duo’s use of the name ATLiens, a term used by Atlanta residents, has caused confusion.
“The word ATLiens was invented by OutKast,” the lawsuit states, per Billboard. “Before OutKast created it, it was not used in the cultural lexicon and did not exist. Defendant’s use of the ATLiens mark is likely to cause confusion, to cause mistake or to deceive the public.”
The website notes that the EDM duo ATLiens began using their name in 2012. According to the lawsuit, Big Boi and Andre 3000 only became aware of this recently.
Lawyers for the rap group also claim that both groups are in “related musical genres” and that fans could mistake them for Big Boi and André 3000 because of the costumes they wear on stage.
“The duo comprising defendant performs with masks on, thereby concealing their identities such that consumers will mistakenly believe that the members of Defendant are one and the same with — or at least somehow connected to — plaintiff,” OutKast’s lawyers said.
ATLiens Are Leaving The Iconic Rap Duo & Their Lawyers On Read
The “Ms. Jackson” crafters also claim that they tried to “negotiate an amicable resolution to the dispute,” but the EDM group continues to use the name and allegedly made a poster similar to the one Outkast used.
“Management for OutKast has already received communications from third parties querying whether OutKast was affiliated with the defendant’s upcoming show,” OutKast’s lawyers said.
ATLiens has not responded to the lawsuit, but it would be in their best interest to do so.
HipHopWired Featured Video
The fanfare and hysteria surrounding the beyond-viral feud between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake have finally wound down since the former’s smash hit “Not Like Us” became the cultural phenomenon that ended any lingering doubts about who “won” this rap beef, but one veteran emcee who is somewhat of a cultural phenomenon all by himself, André 3000, is weighing in on the spectacle and what it meant for Hip-Hop.
“I got a little sad, at a certain point,” the Outkast member said in a recent interview with Crack Magazine. “In early rap battles, you had kids in the park rapping against each other. But it’s not just people rapping now. You got people with 100 employees. You have livelihoods, empires, companies, deals — all of it can be jeopardized. If you don’t have anything to lose, sure, go for it. But if I already made it, I’m not sure it’s even worth it anymore.”
Yeah—the beef between Drizzy and K-Dot certainly didn’t have the feel of pure Hip Hop competition that the culture felt during the rivalry between Boodie Down Productions and Juice Crew. This beef was more reminiscent of the post-NWA split-up, when Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E really seemed to be out to destroy each other. Drake vs. Kendrick got really ugly, and it’s undoubtedly the reason it had the whole internet in a chokehold for multiple months.
Still, the Dungeon Family alumnus acknowledged that Hip Hop has always been a competitive sport and that rap beefs are part of the game. He also didn’t seem to mind his name being dropped in Lamar’s verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” the very verse that catalyzed the feud.
“If he walk around with that stick, it ain’t André 3K,” Lamar rapped in the song.
“As a 49-year-old rapper, you’re just happy to get a shoutout,” André told Crack Magazine. “But as a rapper, I’ve noticed myself walking around with this stick. So It was a line for me, too, and I was trying to find a way to use it. But Kendrick used it, so I had to say ‘Yeah, he got it.’”
—
Photo:
HipHopWired Featured Video
The Blue Note Jazz Festival began in New York City in 2011 to honor the 30th anniversary of the famed Blue Note Jazz Club in Greenwich Village. Coming this summer, The Blue Note Jazz Festival: The Black Radio Experience will take place in Napa Valley, Calif. featuring John Legend, Jill Scott, and André 3000 as headliners.
Source: Mathieu Bitton / @candytman
The Blue Note Jazz Festival hosted its first event in 2022 in Napa Valley and will return in 2024 with Robert Glasper, the festival’s artist-in-residence, setting the musical tone. As mentioned above, the vocal talents of John Legend and Jill Scott will be on display with André 3000 certain to bring his wind instruments to the stage. Joining the headliners are Musiq Soulchild and Marsha Ambrosius who will take the stage with Glasper for a special vocal performance.
The lineup is stacked and represents several facets of Black music including acts such as Andra Day, Ledisi, Common and Pete Rock, Madlib, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and more.
“Every year our festival in Napa brings a unique vibe, and this year we are bringing you the Black Radio Experience during Labor Day weekend with a dope list of artists for an exclusive hang,” Robert Glasper shared in a statement.
“This year’s event promises an even more boutique, intimate, and exclusive vibe than ever before, presenting an unparalleled caliber of iconic artists,” said Alex Kurland, Director of Programming of Blue Note. “Robert Glasper’s vision and inspiration shape the talent and tone of the entire experience,” added Kurland.
There will also be onsite after-parties hosted by Madlib, Pete Rock, and DJ Jazzy Jeff.
The event will be held over three days at The Meritage Resort & Spa along with an array of food and beverage options and among them will be Chef Darryl Bell’s ‘In the Vineyard’ Stateline Road Smokehouse. The resort itself also features breakfast and dinner buffets for those who wish to indulge.
Hotel and ticket packages are on sale now with three-day GA passes starting at $499 going on sale Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 9 AM PST/12 PM EST. VIP experiences are also available and attendees can learn more by clicking here.
The Blue Note Jazz Festival: The Black Radio Experience takes place between August 30 and September 1.
Source: Mathieu Bitton / @candytman
—
Photo: Mathieu Bitton / @candytman
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
OutKast reuniting has become something mythological that is forever front of mind to Hip-Hop heads. So footage of Big Boi and Andre 3000 kicking it together backstage got social media excited, even if corresponding music from the Atliens is nowhere in sight.
Sir Lucius Leftfoot aka Big Boi was backstage at his partner in rhymes’ show at Center Stage in Atlanta, GA on Saturday (March 2). He gave 3 Stacks props for his flute playing.
“N*gga talkin’ bout he wasn’t planning on playing the flute,” Big Boi joked, while making sure everyone snapping photos and taking video made sure they got the sneakers in the shot.
“Antwan & Andre Flutie Hoooooo,” is how Big Boi captioned the post.
The Internets was here for the reunion—he was in town and on tour to perform songs from his latest album, New Blue Sun—even if 3 Stacks isn’t rapping but focusing on his woodwind game. See some of the commentary in the gallery.
Also worth noting, 3 Stacks linked up with Khujo Goodie, too.
1. Of course, heads think this is why Big Boi pulled up.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Astrida Valigorsky / Getty
One of the most revered Rap talents is bringing his talents back to fashion. André 3000 is launching his own brand workwear line.
As per High Snobiety, the Atlanta, Georgia, native continues to evolve with his art and style. Since the release of his instrumental flute album, New Blue Sun, in November 2023, the esteemed MC has been synonymous with apparel that would be suitable for garden work. This seems to be intentional as this week, the website revealed that he has a workwear brand in the works.
Writer Tayler Willson claims the “So Fresh, So Clean” rapper is working with a “currently-unnamed Dutch label” to bring the vision to life. Additionally, the journalist speculates the project is being curated in partnership with Bonne Reijn, founder of BONNE. The Amsterdam tailor is known for his bold but approachable twist to suiting and outerwear.
In his cover story for High Snobiety, 3 Stacks detailed his love for overalls; which have a mainstay in his wardrobe since ATLiens. “Whenever I’m on the street, at least for a month, whenever I see someone with overalls on, they’re going to get a free pair,” André says. “Because I know they’re overall lovers. It takes a certain person to wear overalls. They’re like grown-people baby clothes. They feel very comfortable — that’s why I love them.”
Currently, André 3000 is on tour for New Blue Sun until March.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty
André 3000’s last album, New Blue Sun, wasn’t exactly filled with rhymes and bars as it was with notes and sounds. While his day-ones were disappointed in his new choice of artistry, the man himself is more than happy with the new road he’s chosen to follow.
In a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the OG ATLien explained to the late night host how his love of the flute came about and why he decided to take his newfound hobby to the next level and make an entire album with it. “I discovered the flute and I started playing it over and over again for years,” André 3000 told Colbert. “And I felt like it would be great to share it so it kinda came in a natural way.”
[embedded content]
After Colbert interjected that he loved the flute because he felt like it sounded like a human voice to him, André agreed saying, “Yes! That’s why I love it. It’s the closest thing to singing… Like, vibrato is basically a human kinda thing… And you’re actually hearing a human’s wind. So on other instruments you don’t hear it.”
Well, if Kenny G can make a living off of flute albums, why can’t André 3000? The man said he has a pretty steep flute collection so y’all can expect a lot more flute songs coming in the future regardless of how y’all feel.
After the interview 3 Stacks took to the stage to perform “That Night in Hawaii When I Turned into a Panther…” and showed everyone he’s just as talented with a flute in his hand as he is with the mic. And we ain’t mad at the homie one bit.
Check out the interview and performance below. Let us know if you’re rocking with this side of André 3000 or if he should go back to rapping in the comments section below.
[embedded content]
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty
André 3000 is going on the road on a multi-city tour to perform his New Blue Sun instrumental album over the next few weeks, beginning in Brooklyn, New York.
On Wednesday (January 24), André 3000 delivered some news that delighted fans of his critically acclaimed instrumental album, New Blue Sun. Beginning next Monday, he will embark on a tour consisting of live shows in support of the album, beginning with a show at The Crown Hill Theatre in Brooklyn, New York. Each show will be delivered as an intimate performance, and the tour will run through other major cities including Chicago, Detroit, his hometown of Atlanta, and Los Angeles. The tour is produced by Move Forward Productions.
The tour will include a stint at the iconic Blue Note Jazz Club in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City, where André and the band will do two shows a night over three nights. André 3000 will be backed by a band featuring Carlos Niño, the multi-instrumentalist who also served as co-producer on New Blue Sun. Musicians Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina, and Deantoni Parks, who also performed on the album, will be playing with him during the run of shows. The tour announcement comes after the André 3000’: New Blue Sun IMAX Live Experience, which was a one-night-only live stream of the album in IMAX theaters held on Tuesday (January 23) for audiences, who were treated to a Q&A session between André 3000 and moderator Terence Nance.
For those aiming to snag a picture or video while the show is taking place, you might be out of luck. On the first date at the Crown Hill Theater venue and at the dates scheduled for the Blue Note Jazz Club, the dates are billed as “phone-free experiences” with attendees required to use Yondr pouches during the performances. The concert tour will end on March 9 with a five-night run at The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever in Los Angeles. Tickets will be on sale beginning on Wednesday from 10 AM through the production company’s website, A Myriad of Pyramids.
HipHopWired Featured Video
André 3000 caused a stir in the news this month after announcing a new solo project that leans into the Outkast rapper’s musical interests of late. I know that some of tired of the discourse around 3 Stacks and his current decision to move on from rapping, but he made an excellent point in explaining why he put down the microphone.
In a recent GQ profile, André 3000 mentioned that at the age of 48 along with his current state of being, rapping isn’t a priority for him as it once was. 3000 also added that the content he’s hearing doesn’t reflect the concerns of those approaching middle age, and he isn’t entirely wrong about that.
Although some took his words as a jab toward some of his veteran peers, the artist born André Lauren Benjamin believes that Hip-Hop artists near or around his age should rap about the reality of where they are and not the fanciful parts of life that most listeners will never obtain.
Sadly, the knee-jerk reaction to 3000’s statement will render some to think he’s dumping on older Hip-Hop acts or calling into question their maturity. Recently, Joe Budden caught the ire of Drake over his For All The Dogs album due to the content seeming to be aimed towards a younger demographic, certainly younger than the 37-year-old Canadian superstar.
Like most discussions around Hip-Hop, which I try to avoid because most people have the communication skills of an agitated wasp, people didn’t hear what 3000, or Budden, for that matter, tried to convey. Even stranger to witness was the entitlement of fans demanding Stacks get back to rapping, even with his Outkast brother Big Boi fully supporting his partner’s new direction.
In the same GQ conversation I referenced above, Stacks didn’t rule out rapping; he just wants to be inspired to do it on his terms. That said, if he never raps again, good for him. He doesn’t need to. And when he does, it’s going to be a body of work that won’t lack substance and will wow us like all the spare verses he’s done over the last decade.
People are saying online that André 3000 saying he has nothing to rap about at 48 seems like a cop-out and I get what some are saying considering how good of a lyricist he is. But if you’ve moved on from something that once served you, it was probably for the better good.
My only countering point to those disappointed in 3000 not rapping — even though he’d probably body the “Grown Man Rap” lane — is to go listen to Little Brother’s 2019 album, May The Lord Watch, or Phonte’s 2018 solo album, No News Is Good News, and Rapper Big Pooh’s 2022 solo album, To Dream In Color, which I named as one of my favorite albums of last year.
I recently caught wind of a rapper out of Detroit by the name of Paradime, an artist who was new to me but epitomized what I meant when it comes to the term “Grown Man Rap.” It’s a phrase I don’t really enjoy, hence the quotes, but it’s clear what I’m trying to convey. The rule that Hip-Hop is a young man’s game is changing as veterans are rapping longer and still great at their crafts.
Speaking of greats, Joell Ortiz, who shares the same Mello Music Group label as the aforementioned Paradime, routinely shows his writing range as a man in his early 40s. Ortiz, if anyone is unaware, will also bar your face off so it’s not just old man on the porch raps going on these days with the vets. Hip-Hop as a whole has so many artists making “mature” (again, lack of a better term here) music you can play in front of your friends and not be accused of trying to keep up with the youngsters.
Acts like Solemn Brigham, Oddisee, Atmosphere, Homeboy Sandman, Rapsody, Sa-Roc, McKinley Dixon, Che Noir, Skyzoo, Homeboy Sandman, J-Live, Open Mike Eagle, and even grittier rappers like Conway The Machine can reach into those chambers to deliver poignant bars to the people. And that was just off the top of my head because I’m sure there are dozens of other rappers who have this said ability.
Hip-Hop is what you make it and what you need from it. And, for what it’s worth, André 3000 doesn’t need to be seen as an elite rapper anymore. Like any of us, he is just a person trying to figure out his life and artistry without compromising his integrity or his purpose.
Check out André 3000’s solo project, New Blue Sun, at your preferred digital outlets.
—
Photo: Emma McIntyre / Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: EPIC RECORDS / Epic Records
André 3000’s new instrument is opening new doors for him. He has revealed that he was asked to perform at Virgil Abloh’s funeral but he respectfully declined.
As previously reported the Outkast member is on the verge of returning to the music industry but his way. This week it was announced that he will be releasing his new album New Blue Sun. He will not be rapping on the album but playing his flute. Over the last couple of years the “So Fresh, So Clean” MC has put the microphone down and picked up the aerophone. During an interview with NPR he discussed his musical transformation and more.
During the conversation he talked about being invited to perform at Virgil Abloh’s funeral to which he said no. He explained his decision saying “his family asked would I play at the funeral and I denied it, but only because I felt like I would be a distraction,” He added “I don’t know, I just felt like it would have taken away from the moment and I only knew Virgil through texts and a few conversations. So I couldn’t pretend like I knew him that well.”
The Dungeon Family member went on to say “when my mom passed, I had this urge to play. But I wasn’t even playing flute back then. I think I was more on guitar at that point. And I just didn’t” André 3000 revealed. “I don’t think I could go through with it. But yeah, there’s something about it … playing at funerals. I think New Orleans has it best. Like, I think the way we do funerals, I think it’s really antiquated and sad. I think we need to party more.”
New Blue Sun will be released Friday, November 17. You can hear the NPR interview here.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Epic / EPIC
This is not a drill. OutKast rapper Andre 3000 will be dropping his solo debut album, titled New Blue Sun, this Friday. November 17.
The new project, his first proper project since 2006’s Idlewild with OutKast, will be released via Epic Records.
There are some details that might have fans furrowing their albums, though. Reportedly, it’s an instrumental album, and is co-produced 3 Stacks and multi-instrumentalist Carlos Niño. It also features musicians Surya Botofasina, Nate Mercereau, Deantoni Parks, and nore. The album is focused on woodwinds and per a press release is “centered around woodwinds; a celebratory piece of work in the form of a living, breathing, aural organism.”
More specifically, Andre 3000 is on the flute.
So all the viral pics of Andre “3000” Benjamin randomly walking around a city playing the flute, apparently he was practicing. 3 Stacks recently spoke with renowned journalist Rodney Carmichael of NPR Music about the album in an episode of the All Songs Considered podcast.
“I’ve been interested in winds for a long time, so it was just a natural progression for me to go into flutes,” said 3 Stacks. “I just like messing with instruments and I gravitated mostly toward wind.”
If you’re holding out hopes for an album of 3000 dropping rap bars, the door is still cracked.
“There’s this misconception that I just won’t do it,” said 3000. “I think people feel like I’m sitting around on rap albums, or sitting around and I’m just not putting them out in that way. And no it’s not like that.”
He added, “In my mind, I really would like to make a rap album. So maybe that happens one day, but I got to find a way to say what I want to say in an interesting way that’s appealing to me at this age.”
Considering the first song on the album is titled “I swear, I Really Wanted To Make A “Rap” Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time,” we’re giving this a spin off g.p.
Check out the tracklist for New Blue Sun below.
New Blue Sun track listing:
1. I swear, I Really Wanted To Make A “Rap” Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time
2. The Slang Word P(*)ssy Rolls Off The Tongue With Far Better Ease Than The Proper Word Vagina . Do You Agree?
3. That Night In Hawaii When I Turned Into A Panther And Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn’t Control … Sh¥t Was Wild
4. BuyPoloDisorder’s Daughter Wears A 3000™ Button Down Embroidered
5. Ninety Three ‘Til Infinity And Beyoncé
6. Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C. / Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, And John Wayne Gacy
7. Ants To You, Gods To Who ?
8. Dreams Once Buried Beneath The Dungeon Floor Slowly Sprout Into Undying Gardens
-
Pages