Often regarded as one of the best rappers of all time, Atlanta, Georgia’s André Lauren Benjamin, better known by his stage name, André 3000, is also a singer-songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, and actor, best known for his work as one-half of the hip-hop duo OutKast alongside his partner in rhyme, Big Boi.

André and Big Boi came together during their high school years and released their first single, “Player’s Ball,” in 1993 before releasing their debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik in 1994. The duo has released some of the most critically acclaimed albums in hip-hop history, culminating in them winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for their 2003 double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, in part due to his genre-bending single “Hey Ya!”

André made several appearances in films, including Hollywood Homicide, Be Cool, Four Brothers, Semi-Pro, and OutKast’s period piece Idlewild in 2006. He also voiced Sunny on his own cartoon Class of 3000, which ran for two seasons on Cartoon Network from 2006-2008.

OutKast went on hiatus after the release of the Idlewild film and soundtrack in 2006 but André made a number of show-stealing guest appearances over the years as fans continue to anticipate another full-length project from him. 20 years after the release of The Love Below, André 3000 released the album New Blue Sun on November 17, 2023, but it contains no bars as it as an 8-track instrumental project.