André 3000 Speaks on Break from Music, Jimi Hendrix Role & More

Andre 3000 for New York Times photographed by Amber Fouts

In his first interview since the reunion/20th anniversary celebration of Outkast , rapper/actor André 3000 has finally decided to talk about his break from music in the NY Times.

He also spoke about his Jimi Hendrix role , advice from Prince , being a father, and much more.

Watch: André 3000 Gives Us Chills as Jimi Hendrix in ‘All Is By My Side’ Traile r

Take a look at a few of the excerpts below, along with official photos from Jimi: All Is By My Side , which is in theaters on September 26th.

On his role as Jimi Hendrix:

“Honestly, I needed it in my life, too. Hendrix kind of saved me. I was in a not-so-great space, just in a dark place every day. I needed something to focus on to get me out of my depression and rut. Sometimes, when you’re alone, you can let yourself go. I knew if I got on a train with a lot of different people, then I couldn’t let them down.”

On the advice he got from 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.’”

On being a father:

“Seven’s been going to school in Atlanta for the last two years. I wake up every morning, take him to school, pick him up from school, going to soccer games, going to wrestling matches. Total dad, which is cool, because so much of that was taken by my early Outkast years. We were at the height, so a lot of the time that should have been [spent] with him, I’m on the road entertaining everybody else.”

On being repetitive:

“My thing is I’m an idealist. What I get off on is doing things people said could not be done. And so if I’m at a place where I feel like I’m regurgitating or doing the same thing, it’s doing nothing for me. I get bored really fast. I saw a certain thing in rap. It started becoming acceptable. It wasn’t rebellious. So what could be more rebellious than singing love songs, emotional songs [on his half of “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”] when everybody else is mean-mugging, saying “I’m a player.” I want to say: “I love these bitches, man. I really do.”

On if he will be singing or rapping on the album:

“It’s hard to say. [Laughs.] I’m just going to call it honest. 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.”

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