Though André 3000 has made recent appearances on records from Frank Ocean and Travis Scott, many have been hoping the iconic MC will reunite with Big Boi for a new Outkast record, or release a solo disc at the very least. Now, the MC has spoken out about where he currently stands with music.
Speaking to Complex, André spoke about how rapping is now "just an excitement thing," adding that he likes "not being a part of [rap], now that I've done it."
"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," he explained. "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."
He continued: "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."
Despite having no immediate plans to get back together with Big Boi as Outkast, André said there's no friction between him and his former partner. The two reunited for a reunion tour in 2014, after which André told The Fader that he "felt like a sellout."
"We have such an understanding that it's never friction," André said of Outkast. "There's never pressure of, 'Hey, man, let's get back in.' Of course there's always money on the table, but it's never seen that way. We've been blessed to not have to scratch for that money. Maybe it'll be an issue in the future, but maybe not."
André also spoke on his occasional features on records from hip-hop music's younger stars, and his mindset in making those appearances:
Rapping is like being a boxer. 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.
André also mentions he's taking music theory classes and learning to play a few new instruments on top of being the Creative Director for Swedish footwear brand Tretorn. You can read the complete profile here.
Speaking to Complex, André spoke about how rapping is now "just an excitement thing," adding that he likes "not being a part of [rap], now that I've done it."
"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," he explained. "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."
He continued: "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."
Despite having no immediate plans to get back together with Big Boi as Outkast, André said there's no friction between him and his former partner. The two reunited for a reunion tour in 2014, after which André told The Fader that he "felt like a sellout."
"We have such an understanding that it's never friction," André said of Outkast. "There's never pressure of, 'Hey, man, let's get back in.' Of course there's always money on the table, but it's never seen that way. We've been blessed to not have to scratch for that money. Maybe it'll be an issue in the future, but maybe not."
André also spoke on his occasional features on records from hip-hop music's younger stars, and his mindset in making those appearances:
Rapping is like being a boxer. 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.
André also mentions he's taking music theory classes and learning to play a few new instruments on top of being the Creative Director for Swedish footwear brand Tretorn. You can read the complete profile here.
