Dear Andre 3000,
I just heard you on this new Devin. You ripped it. Just like you ripped that Lloyd remix and the “Throw Some D’s” remix. You’ve decided to rap again, and you’re doin’ it to death. Glad to hear.
My response to that–if you don’t do another OutKast album, I’m through with you.
I’m so serious, man. Like no other group, I’m emotionally attached to OutKast. I remember where I was the first time I heard all the albums. I remember riding around September 27, 1998 and listening to the preview of the album on the radio in Atlanta, hoping I didn’t run out of gas while I circled streets in Atlanta that I shouldn’t have been joyriding on. I remember downloading “b.O.B” in the summer of 2000 and spending three straight days listening to nothing else, trying to make sense of what I heard (what I realized was this was the greatest hip hop song I’d ever heard). You guys are a part of my life, making me one of those people that takes music way too personally. But it’s only with Kast.
So Andre, could you please explain to me how you’ve been able to jump in the studio with all these cats, but you haven’t recorded in a studio with Big Boi in years? How the hell, man?
I can’t help but wonder if this is about more than just two people growing in different directions. It sounds like beef, and it sounds like it’s coming from you.
Honestly, I don’t care what the problem is. Just fix it. You’re still ill as all get out, and Big Boi’s absolutely incredible.
Give me my group back. Even if it ain’t really mine.
Laters,
Bo
22 thoughts on “Dear 3000…”
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The raps on both versions of You are the best parts of the song. I’d never heard it until reading your open letter and searching for it on YouTube. It’s nice to see that Dre still has it and is willing to use it. But like you said, the real question is why won’t he flow with Big Boi.
let the CHU’CH say AMEN!!!
Felt the same way when George Michael left Wham! to go out on his own. See where that got him. Actually, Bo, I am with you on this just like ice cream.
Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but I don’t see the beef thing. It seems like they have grown apart and don’t hang out anymore, but beef? I don’t know.
Maybe the Outkast label is the problem–it creates too many expectations of a certain kind. Their old fans expect electro-funk joints bangers knock in the clubs; their new fans expect self-consciously genre-busting weirdness.
Big Boi doesn’t seem to mind the labels too much, but Dre is (wrongly) considered the “creative” one. Plus, I think he’s internalized some of the nonsense about rap being a lesser genre in the music landscape and wants to challenge himself and be a “true artist” by moving beyond rap. If he weren’t so good at it, I think he would have stopped rapping completely a few years ago.
The Walk It Out Remix is certainly some excellent work from him too, don’t forget.
The worst part? That each of 3k’s remix verses feel like he could have stepped into the booth and knocked it out first try.
I’m guilty of it and I think Dre is overthinking.
I love your writing style. This article is honest, strait forward and readable. You are a good role model for me. Keep it up, brother.
So real. I got choked up.
I dont like to sound like a Dre3000 hater, it’s just that I’m more of a Big Boi fan. Have y’all niggas heard the *real* Walk It Out remix with both members of OutKast? Why did they ever release a version of the song that didn’t contain Big Boi? I think Andre3000 doesn’t like the idea of sharing the spotlight with an equally skilled rapper.
Laters? really?
I dunno about that, Cedric.
If that were the case, Dre never would have done the last 2 Kast albums. Even when he’s not on the same track as Big Boi, he’s sharing the spotlight.
Plus, it’s not like he’s only rapping alongside bums like Jim Jones and Rich Boy. He did do a track with Devin. And I don’t think that Lil Wayne is in Dre’s league, but lame hipsters and overzealous young rap fans seem to think he is. A Dre concerned about such chatter wouldn’t have shared space with Wayne.
Same here. Kast in its prime is a spiritual experience, and people will soon realize they were the greatest group of all time because there will be no more group.
Unless there’s a Rebirth of Andre Ben.
Well put. KEEP OUTKAST ALIVE!
Outkas wit a K, yeah them niggaz are hard
Harder than a nigga trying to impress God
We’ll pull your’re whole deck, fuck pulling your card
And still take my guitar and take a walk in the park
Any play the sweetest melody the street ever heard
Now bitches sucking on my nouns and I’m eating their verbs
Get full, and niggaz, niggaz,
pop, pop, lock, lock to the, to the beat, beat
As if pitbulls went out of style, made a vow to myself
If it’s for the wealth i’ll stop, well put i like this
It’s like me selling some dope because my girlfriend wants to shop
Wrong reason, whatever the season, hey winter, spring, summer or fall
I dont stall, slow drag wit your brain against the wall
Yeah, nigga naw, we learn to the side don’t fall
All y’all fuck boys, tuck toys inside your pants
Just to pull it out, point it at the ground and make a nigga wanna dance
Now what that be for, you’re on that reefer and on that Tupac
In front of them oooh wops, trying to show out, that’s the hoe route
Talking loud talking bout that’s gangsta shit
It’s the return of the gangsta thanks ta’
Them niggas that’s on that blow
that run up in yo’ crib which contains
your lady and an 8 month old
child to raise plus you true blue ’bout this music but
they do not want to hear it because they’d
rather be bouncin’ and shootin’ and killin’ and bouncin’
and shit get down
Return of the gangsta thanks ta’
them niggas that thank [think] you soft
and say y’all be gospel rappin’
but they be steady clappin’ when you talk about
bitches & switches & hoes & clothes & weed
let’s talk about time travelin’ rhyme javelin
somethin’ mind unravelin’ get down
Return of the gangsta thanks ta’
them niggas who got them kids
who got enough to buy an ounce
but not enough to bounce them kids to the zoo
or to the park so they grow up in the dark never
seein’ light so they end up being like yo’ sorry ass
robbin’ niggas in broad ass daylight get down
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!
Deeper than deep dish, hammers and vogues
Deeper fish in the O (cean)
I got my gun, I’ll stamp out like Coast Guards
You boast hard, you’ll get your salty ass crumbled like erb, word (hey man)
You heard it here first with your master plan in reverse
I ain’t the one with the curse, so disperse, yes, catchin blades
Niggaz catchin AIDS, niggaz gettin sprayed, niggaz on they way
To a dead end, you won’t catch me spreadin no white thighs
I only see afro bitches up in my eyes
I don’t eat no beef and surely not no pork
I used to drink that 8, but now I shove it down your throat
Quote, ‘If they kill they own folks, what you think they gonna do to you?’
I’m Outkasted and claimin true
Aimin two at your muthafuckin spine
No, I make that three cuz I don’t wanna hear you whine
Swine, got my folks blind, like Stevie
Me be, wonderin when I’m gonna see the end
Andre ‘gain slammin backs like King acts
Over Organized tracks full of facts
So you know that it’s D.E.E.P.
Who said good folks is not supposed to die
The same * that said * is not supposed to cry
United States giving out milk and cheese to pacify
I’m sure they got a cure 4 A.I.D.S., but yet it’s classified
You wonder why I spit the truth and not 2 make no dough
To make a differencefo’ this * up and blow
In piece, I could thinkof many reasons
Only when * is going bad you want to holla Jesus
I pledge allegiance, they got my knuckles bleeding
From crawling , got these * thinkin they ballin’
When they isn’t, don’t take my word,
there’s * off in prison
That will tell yo, that’s locked up 4 a long time and won’t sell you
No flex, so congregation will turn you text,
To the book of OutKast, chapter 2, verse 1
The 1st 1, that make me jump up and make a joyful noise
You’se OutKasted, meaning you now have a choice like that
Ok Baba,
I know its been a while, but when I cam across this I had to comment…….you know why. The Outkast and UGK are my favorite rap groups of all time. I am an LA native, but my roots are in the South no doubt.
After analyzing the lyrics of old and listening the music of new…it seems as if the started going after the money. Big Boi and Dre, which is not the reason they started rapping for in the first place and the same goes for the Goodie Mob. The trappings of wealth and all that goes along with it may be to blame, but I don’t think it has anything to do with them not being boys or beef. They just need to get away from everybody and everything and get back on the same page and in touch with the essence that made them fall in love with this thing we all love called Hip Hop. Hip Hop is not Dead, she’s just been a little jaded and intoxicated, because she forgot the whole reason why she was created…to give us a voice.
The cast need to go to Jamaica, get with some of the Marley Boys, get in touch with the people and the struggle, light up a couple of fattys and come out with that fire we all fell in love with.
Oukast with a K
Yeah, Yeah
A is for Adamsville
B is Bowen Homes
See if I give a fuck if you like me you know I don’t
If she ain’t got a good head on her leave that ho alone
If she do got some good head on her let her sing a song
D is for what I serve, I don’t be on no curb
She ain’t no junkie neither, I ain’t no dope dealer
But she keep comin back three stacks must be some crack
Put that pipe in her lap, she ain’t know how to act
Now that I’ve got your undivided attention I’m
Gonna say this and run under condition one
Promise me you gon’ stack, promise me you gon’ ball
Promise me you’ll invest three fourths of it all
For what? So your kids, kids, kids can have some cheese
Can’t get with it? Get get get get get on your knees
Cause wealth is the word
Rich is round the corner from the curb
Don’t like what I write? Shoot me a bird
how do you leave of the second verse from aquemini?
my mind warps and bends
count to ten met the twin welcome to the lions den…………
andre this is andre yall is just gon have to make amends
Have yall heard Dre’s verse on UGK’s “International Player’s Anthem”?
Sick. It’s even better than the rest of the new verses.
Judging by the marriage theme, the verse might be an Idlewild holdover, though. If so, why the hell would he not have included that on the album?
I’m super late on this post, but I second and third and fourth. Jackie and I had this conversation last week while listening to the radio. It’s like Dre is just posted up outside of the studio pimpin new artists. “Nigga, you know you need this hot 16. I’m a cameo exclusive now, boy; ain’t nobody else gon have me spittin fire on their shit like YOU will.” I can’t get enough of it.
Keeping hope alive on the new OutKast album.