Andre 3000 blocked from Big Boi’s album
Big Boi Reveals Label Drama Behind Andre 3000’s Absence From His Debut Album
Big Boi is going public with his frustrations over Jive Records allegedly blocking his OutKast partner, Andre 3000, from appearing on his upcoming solo album. The project, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, is due July 6 on Def Jam. But as the album’s final track list hit the internet this week, fans were quick to notice that André 3000—who had reportedly contributed verses to several tracks—is completely absent. According to Big Boi, this isn’t a creative choice. It’s a matter of industry politics. As a result, he’s speaking out.
Jive Records Allegedly Blocks Collaborations
The controversy began when the finalized track listing for Sir Lucious Left Foot surfaced online. The project features an impressive guest lineup, including T.I., Jamie Foxx, Janelle Monáe, Gucci Mane, George Clinton, and B.o.B. But André 3000, Big Boi’s longtime partner in OutKast, is nowhere to be found.
Shortly after the tracklist leaked, Big Boi took to Twitter to vent his frustration. Therefore, writing, “Jive Records is trying to block 3 Stacks from being on the album. Boi Stop!!!!” He followed with, “They told me my album was a piece of art… And that they didn’t understand my music. Now they mad because y’all love it!”
Big Boi insists that despite the label’s move, the music is coming. “The Andre 3000 records r on deck..Stay Tuned !!!!!!!!!!!!” he tweeted. One of those tracks, “Lookin For Ya,” produced by Boi-1da and featuring André and Sleepy Brown, has already generated underground buzz.
Three Tracks with André Were Ready to Go
Speaking with GQ, Big Boi confirmed that three tracks with André 3000 were initially part of the album. One of them, “Royal Flush,” featuring André and Raekwon, had already leaked back in 2008 and was even nominated for a Grammy. Another, “Lookin For Ya,” was recorded more recently. According to Big Boi, André actually recorded his verses before Big Boi had the chance to lay down his own.
“The other track we did, ‘Lookin For Ya,’ was produced by Boi-1da, and it’s me, Dré, and Sleepy Brown—the Dream Team going back to ‘Playa’s Ball’ and ‘I Can’t Wait,’” Big Boi said. “They want to keep that from the fans, man, and I can’t have it. I won’t stand for that sh*t.”
The Def Jam vs. Jive Conflict
The root of the issue appears to lie in the contractual separation between Big Boi and André 3000. While Big Boi has now signed a solo deal with Def Jam, OutKast as a group remains under contract with Jive Records. According to Big Boi, this technicality is being used by Jive to block any new official collaborations between him and André, even on solo material.
“It’s plain stupidity. It’s stupid business and it’s stupid politics,” he said. “Jive Records had ‘Shutterbug’ and ‘General Patton’ for three years. They told me to go in and make my version of Lil Wayne’s ‘Lollipop’… That’s the highest form of disrespect ever.”
Despite these roadblocks, Big Boi is determined to get the music to the fans, one way or another. “Either they’re going to do it the right way, or they’re going to do it my way,” he said. “How you wanna do it? The fans’ thirst will be quenched.”
Confirmed Tracklist Doesn’t Include André
The final version of Sir Lucious Left Foot includes the following tracks:
- Feel Me (Intro)
- Daddy Fat Sax
- Turns Me On feat. Sleepy Brown & Joi
- Follow Us feat. Vonnegutt
- Shutterbugg feat. Cutty
- General Patton
- Tangerine feat. T.I. & Khujo Goodie
- You Ain’t No DJ feat. Yelawolf
- Hustle Blood feat. Jamie Foxx
- Be Still feat. Janelle Monáe
- Fo Yo Sorrows feat. George Clinton, Too Short & Sam Chris
- Night Night feat. B.o.B & Joi
- Shine Blockas feat. Gucci Mane
- The Train Pt. 2 (Sir Lucious Left Foot Saves the Day) feat. Sam Chris
- Back Up Plan
The omission of André 3000 has left many fans disappointed, especially given the duo’s legendary status as OutKast.
André’s Verses Still Expected to Drop
Big Boi is confident that “Lookin For Ya” will be released, even if not as part of the official album. He has suggested that the song might leak online or be used in another project. “You already know what time it is,” he said. “The thirst of the fans will be quenched.”
André 3000’s contributions were reportedly recorded at Stankonia Studios, the duo’s longtime creative space. According to Big Boi, Dre laid down both of his verses in a single day, inspired by the beat.
Chamillionaire Weighs In
Houston rapper Chamillionaire recently expressed his hope that André 3000 would make a full return to the rap scene. “One person I really think should come back man is Andre 3000,” he told SOHH. “The game needs that dude man. For real. Musically, anything, features, I’d be happy with anything.”
OutKast Album Still in the Works
Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, Big Boi remains optimistic about an OutKast reunion. “In the meanwhile, while we try to piece together the ‘Kast record and see which records we’re gonna use for the ‘Kast album, I just been steadily recording records,” he told HipHopDX.
He’s also planning to use one of the André collaborations for the eventual OutKast project. “Lucious Left Foot, André 3000, then the ‘Kast record, and then we’ll see what’s gonna happen after that,” he said.
Fans Still Holding Out Hope
As of now, Sir Lucious Left Foot is set to drop July 6 under Def Jam. While fans won’t hear André 3000 on the album—at least not officially—they can rest assured that Big Boi is fighting to get the music released. “He could’ve got on every song on the album if he wanted to,” Big Boi said. “They can’t stop us.”
For OutKast fans worldwide, the message is clear: even if industry politics temporarily block the music, the duo’s bond—and their determination to deliver for their fans—remains unbreakable.
Ultimately, the power is in the hands of the labels. But when the industry politics play out this way, it’s the fans who lose.