Here’s What André 3000 Means to Black Atlanta Creatives

In 1995, a young André 3000 took the stage at the Source Awards and forever changed the landscape of hip-hop. At the time of the show, the East Coast/West Coast musical rivalry was at an all-time high as it centered around the genre’s two biggest stars, The Notorious BIG and 2Pac. Outkast won Best Rap Group of the Show and when the Atlanta duo of André 3000 and Big Boi took the stage and were booed by the New York crowd, the duo responded to the challenge and more nothing was the same.

“I’m tired of closed people,” said André 3000. “It’s like we have a demo and no one wants to hear it, but that’s how it is, however, the South has something to say, and that’s all I have to say.”

Over the past 20 years, the majority of mainstream rap stars have passed through Atlanta. After Andre 3000 became a music superstar and one of the greatest rappers of all time, he remains proud of his hometown.

“We saw New York get hot, we saw the West Coast get hot,” André 3000 said onstage at the 2024 Atlanta Jazz Festival on May 27, which also marked his 49th birthday. “One thing Atlanta has been able to do is be there for creativity. You have Dungeon Family, you have Outkast, Goodie Mob, Big Rube, and a lot of you don’t know this, but Kanye West is also from Atlanta. Yeah, look it up.

“A lot of interesting people, things and freedoms have come out of Atlanta, Georgia. I hope you feel as good as I do in this city.

As has been the case over the past three decades, we are currently seeing a new wave of emerging Atlanta talent in the underground hip-hop scene. Artists like Karrahbooo, Anycia, Tony Shhnow, Baby Kia, 404 Chew, Lil Tony Official, Vayda, Spook, Dono, Woo Da Savage, Tiva Fox, SwaVay, Daylan Gideon, Destroy Lonely and Ken Carson are knocking on the door of the mainstream. and will likely be the next wave of artists to add to the legacy left by artists like TI, Gucci Mane, Future, Ludacris, Jeezy, Bankroll Fresh, 21 Savage, Playboi Carti, Migos, Lil Yachty, Young Thug, Latto, Lil Baby and Gunna.

At the Atlanta Jazz Festival, artists RobOlu and Fathereg spoke with deployment on how André 3000 influenced their creative process.

How does it feel to see one of the greatest rappers of all time become an artist performing at the jazz festival?

RobOlu: N— the GOAT. N— brought more than the city. N—, there’s about 150 to 200,000 people here, and he plays the flute. He doesn’t even rap.

Fathereg: Strictly the flute. How many people only play the flute?

RobOlu: He impacts and influences our vibrations by playing the flute. He does more than people would expect of him.

I have the impression that he transcends his fame on another level. I fuck with that.

What do you think this tells black creatives about their limitations?

Fathereg: There are no limits. That’s the point.

How do you go from rap to flute, and people still give you the same respect?

RobOlu: This is the definition of transcendent. Not a monolith.

How has André influenced your art?

RobOlu: Push the limits. Push the barriers, my God.

Just because I’m this or that and people will recognize me or know me doesn’t mean I can’t step outside that margin and write outside the lines. I could write my “Y” three lines down, four lines down. I can take up the whole page with a “Y”. Andrew did this.

Fathereg: He really helped me find a group of talent that could be anywhere.

André is an inspiration, man.

RobOlu: The goat.

Fathereg: Videos, oh my God. I’m going to be here all day.