André Lauren Benjamin, better known as André 3000, is an American rapper, singer, musician, flautist, songwriter, record producer, and actor born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Gaining fame as one half of the Southern hip-hop duo Outkast, alongside fellow Atlanta-based rapper Big Boi, André 3000 is widely recognised as a top-tier rapper, receiving accolades from high profile publications like Billboard, Complex, and The Source. During their time as Outkast, the duo released six successful studio albums that featured hit singles like "Ms. Jackson," "Roses," "So Fresh, So Clean," and "Elevators (Me & You)." Their fifth album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in 2003, included Benjamin's solo track "Hey Ya!," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Following the duo's split in 2007, André 3000’s solo career was less active compared to his counterpart’s, however, he made notable guest appearances on songs and albums by various artists, earning additional Grammy recognition with seven nominations as a solo artist and collaborating on tracks such as “No Cigar” with Goodie Mob (2020), “Come Home” with Anderson .Paak (2020), and “Life of the Party” with Kanye West (2021). In 2023, André 3000 released his first studio album titled New Blue Sun. The instrumental recording showcases his flute performances, described as an "87-minute exploration of new age, ambient jazz, and spiritual discovery" with Pitchfork magazine recognizing it as the 50th best album of 2023. By December, the album had reached number 24 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and claimed the top spot on the US New Age chart. Produced by musician Carlos Niño, New Blue Sun also left its mark on the international charts, peaking at number 55 in Germany and number 50 in Switzerland.
