André 3000

Andr? 3000 (born Andr? Benjamin on May 27, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a African American hip hop artist and producer; one half of the successful and avant-garde hip-hop duo OutKast. He is also known by the aliases "Dre" (his original moniker), "Possum Jenkins", "Dookie", the reversed "Benjamin Andr?" and "Johnny Vulture" (for example on Gwen Stefani's album Love. Angel. Music. Baby., on which he produced/appeared on the tracks "Bubble Pop Electric" and "Long Way To Go").

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Andr? was born in Atlanta and raised in poverty by a single mother. He met Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, his future OutKast partner, when the two attended Tri-Cities High School in East Point.

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Andr? dated neo soul musician Erykah Badu for several years and together have a son, Seven. He has chronicled the relationship and its breakup in various OutKast songs, including "Ms. Jackson," the second single from the album Stankonia. The song is addressed to Badu's mother, whose maiden name was Jackson. Andr? has also written songs about his turbulent youth, including his experiences as a drug dealer before his days in OutKast.

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Andr? is also a noted vegan.

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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. Andr?'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, whereas Big Boi's Speakerboxxx has seen the release of the hit "The Way You Move" and most recent single "Ghettomusick." The Love Below was, unlike Speakerboxxx, an exercise in funk, jazz, and alternative music, featuring mostly sung — instead of rapped — vocals from Andr?.

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Influences on Andr? 3000's music include punk and new wave artists The Ramones, the Buzzcocks 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. Other influences include A Tribe Called Quest and 2 Live Crew. http://www.mtv.com/bands/o/outkast/news_feature_031031/

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Andr? has moved into the film world and has made appearances in The Shield, Be Cool, and a co-starring role in Four Brothers. He is currently shooting a movie with Big Boi for HBO before moving on to star in the dramatic role of a yet untitled film set to shoot in Louisiana, produced by Chesley Seals and Kat Hantas.

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May 27: May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining....

1975: 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar)....

Atlanta, Georgia: Atlanta, Georgia...

André 3000 related Images and Photos (experimental)

Andre Agassi	Andre Dawson	Andre Miller	Andre Agassi
Andre Johnson	Andre Iguodala	Andre Iguodala	Andre Iguodala
Peter Andre	Annette Andre	Andre Previn - King Size	Andre Monument Tarrytown