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United States Andre 3000, a multifaceted artist, has significantly contributed to music as a rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer, while also establishing a notable acting career in film and television.
André 3000 initially launched this clothing line in the spring of 2008, inspired by college football from the mid-1930s. It was relaunched as Benji Bixby in 2025.
André 3000 partnered with the footwear brand Tretorn, becoming the creative director and starring in their Fall 2017 campaign. He also launched the 'I André Benjamin will not draw in class' capsule collection, featuring 10 unique designs and updates to classic Tretorn styles.
André 3000 has been featured as a face for Gillette.
André 3000 partnered with the streetwear brand Supreme, with his collaboration starting in August 2022. He was featured in their new campaign, photographed by Deana Lawson, wearing Supreme clothing.
André 3000 collaborated with Gorillaz frontman James Murphy for the song "DoYaThing," which promoted the Gorillaz Converse collection.
Benjamin posed for a print advertising campaign by Declare Yourself, a campaign encouraging voter registration among youth for the 2008 United States presidential election. In the ads by photographer David LaChapelle, he had his mouth gagged by a bow-tie in a symbolic function.
André Lauren Benjamin, known professionally as André 3000, was born on May 27, 1975, in Atlanta, Georgia. His early life involved attending Sarah Smith Elementary School, Sutton Middle School, Northside High School, McClarin Success Academy, and Tri-Cities High School in Atlanta, East Point, and Buckhead. In 1992, at the age of 16, Benjamin met Antwan “Big Boi” Patton. They formed the hip-hop duo Outkast, initially called 2 Shades Deep, before changing it to Outkast to reflect their perception of being distinct from their peers and other regional hip-hop scenes. Outkast signed with LaFace, an imprint of Arista Records, shortly after Benjamin graduated from high school. Their debut album, “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik,” released in 1994, achieved platinum certification by the RIAA, and the duo was recognized as “Best New Rap Group of the Year” at the 1995 Source Awards.
Over the years, Outkast expanded its musical style, incorporating elements of trip hop, soul, jungle, and funk in albums like “ATLiens” (1996) and “Aquemini” (1998), earning both commercial success and critical acclaim. In 2000, Benjamin adopted the stage name André 3000 to differentiate himself and mark a new personal chapter. The album “Stankonia” featured the hit single “Ms. Jackson,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The duo’s fifth album, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” (2003), was a double album that showcased individual artistic directions, with André 3000’s “The Love Below” gaining significant mainstream attention through singles like “Hey Ya!,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy Award. Post-Outkast, Benjamin continued to pursue acting and made numerous guest appearances on other artists’ tracks, contributing to his reputation as a highly acclaimed performer. He released his solo instrumental debut album, “New Blue Sun,” in 2023, which featured his flute playing and received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.
Beyond music, Benjamin has engaged in various film and television projects. His acting credits include roles in “Families,” “The Shield,” “Be Cool,” “Revolver,” “Four Brothers,” and a lead role portraying Jimi Hendrix in “All Is by My Side” (2013). He also voiced characters and was involved in the animated series “Class of 3000” (2006-2008), which he produced. In 2008, he launched a clothing line, Benjamin Bixby, later relaunched as Benji Bixby. His career demonstrates a continuous evolution across creative disciplines, marked by a deliberate approach to artistic expression and a focus on meaningful contributions.
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