With OutKast‘s Big Boi making headlines by joining a new high-powered management firm, his partner Andre 3000 seems to also be making some new, attention-grabbing associations. The legendary Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, was honored at a glitzy event at the Ritz Carlton in New York City in celebration of her 72nd birthday, and the iconic singer revealed that she’s working on new music.
Franklin shared that she’s got two major talents crafting tracks for her. Speaking with Billboard magazine, Franklin said that Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Babyface is on-hand, though she didn’t mention whether he’s writing or producing or both. But she indicated that once Babyface completes his guest stint on Broadway (he and Toni Braxton are featured vocalists in the hit play After Midnight this week), ‘Face would be hard at work on her new material.
“So, I’m just waiting for him to finish that [play] so he can finish my tracks please,” Franklin said.
She also mentioned that the other major collaborator on her as yet unnamed project is the OutKast member. Though she has trouble remembering his famous moniker.
“And I think Andre 2000—is it two or three?” Franklin asked. “3000 is going to be doing some of the tracks with [Babyface.]”
Andre 3000 has re-emerged in 2014. OutKast will be touring for the first time in almost a decade in recognition of the duo’s 20 year anniversary; and he’s won early raves for his performance as rock legend Jimi Hendrix in the indie film All Is By My Side.
