Semi-reclusive hip-hop star Andre 3000 has been touring this year with his former partner Big Boi as a reunited OutKast; but the Atlanta emcee reveals in an interview with the New York Times‘ Jon Caramanica that it has been a trying experience. Admitting that these 20th anniversary shows have been a show of appreciation to the fans, Dre admitted that he doesn’t want to keep doing this.
“I remember, at like 25, saying, ‘I don’t want to be a 40-year-old rapper,'” 3000 says. “I’m 39 now, and I’m still standing by that. I’m such a fan that I don’t want to infiltrate it with old blood.”
The rhymer goes on to say that the tour was hard for him to get enthusiastic about, attributing a lackluster Coachella appearance to his mood.
“Honestly, I never planned to go onstage again in that way,” he says. “If I feel like I’m getting to a place where it’s mimicking or a caricature, I just want to move on. But I felt like: ‘Let me do it now’ cause these kids [in the audience], it feels good to know that they’re happy. I really don’t actually get anything from performing. I feel good in being able to look at Big Boi and say, ‘Hey, man, we did it.’ Big Boi’s got these great records on his own, but this means something else for him … I think people could see it at Coachella, the very first show. It was foreign. My head wasn’t there. I kind of fluffed through rehearsals. A few hours before the Coachella show, I get a message that Prince and Paul McCartney are going to be there. My spirit is not right, and idols are standing side-stage, so as the show started, I’m bummed. This is horrible. In my mind I was already gone to my hotel room halfway through. So Prince called a couple days after. It was my first time actually talking to Prince. He said, ‘When you come back, people want to be wowed. And what’s the best way to wow people? Just give them the hits.’ I’m explaining to him that I really didn’t want to do it. He said: ‘I’ve been there. I’ve tried to do other things. After you give them the hits, then you can do whatever.'”
It doesn’t look like OutKast is back for good, but Andre continues to promise a solo album.
“I know this may sound morbid, but I was like, if I were to die today, I have all these half-songs on my hard drive, and I don’t want that,” he says. “When you feel it, it’s right,” he says. “If you don’t feel it, then why [release an album]? Honestly, think about it. Why do it? Why?”
