André 3000 Reveals Why He Thinks Most New Rappers Sound The Same

In a candid discussion on LeBron James’ show “The Shop,” hip-hop legend André 3000 expressed his thoughts on why many contemporary rappers lack unique sounds, attributing it to the fast-paced nature of today’s music industry that doesn’t allow for artistic cultivation. In a recent episode of “The Shop,” hosted by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, hip-hop icon André 3000 shared his insights on the current state of the rap industry. Joined by guests like Sexyy Red and Jerry Lorenzo, André delved into why he believes many modern rappers sound alike. According to the OutKast veteran, the rapid production and release cycle of today’s music scene doesn’t give artists the time to develop their unique styles.

“If we were to come out as OutKast when we thought we were ready, we wouldn’t be around today ’cause we sounded like everybody else, we sounded like who we were listening to,” André explained. He emphasized that while the ability to quickly jump on a microphone is beneficial for immediacy, it hinders artists from truly honing their identities. “Now, I don’t think artists have time to cultivate themselves so a lot of artists sound the same.”

André also highlighted how notable artists like Future and 2 Chainz took time to find their unique voices. “Even Future came up in the Dungeon [Family]. I know Ray [Murray, one-third of Organized Noize] has Future recordings where Future sounds different; Future was rapping. It takes a minute. Even 2 Chainz. Like, Tity Boi was rapping.”

He further elaborated, “Over time you develop a thing and you figure out, ‘Okay, this is most effective for me.’ And we see it and we love Future for what he does now, but I don’t know if it would’ve been as successful if he didn’t have that time to grow.”

During the conversation, André also touched upon his recent shift towards playing the flute, distancing himself from traditional jazz labels. “I don’t want people to think I’m trying to be a jazz musician. I kind of look at myself as a sonic displayist. I don’t know what notes I’m playing, to be completely honest. I’m not trying to pretend like I know what I’m doing, in a way. I actually don’t know what I’m doing and that’s part of the art.”

In November 2023, André 3000 made a surprising return to music with his first solo album, “New Blue Sun.” Departing from his roots in rapping and singing, the album exclusively features André playing the flute, showcasing his continuous evolution as an artist.