André 3000 is one of the most inventive minds hip hop has produced. From redefining Southern rap with OutKast to walking away from rap to play flute in subway stations, his story is unlike anyone else’s in music.
This guide covers his real name, age, height, weight, family, relationships, net worth and what he is doing today in 2026.
André 3000 Wiki / Bio
André 3000, born André Lauren Benjamin, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, actor and multi instrumentalist from Atlanta, Georgia. He rose to fame as one half of OutKast alongside Big Boi, and later became known for genre bending solo work built around the flute and piano.
| Detail | Information |
| Real Name | André Lauren Benjamin |
| Stage Name | André 3000 |
| Date of Birth | May 27, 1975 |
| Birthplace | Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Profession | Rapper, singer, producer, actor, flautist |
| Known For | OutKast, “Hey Ya!”, “Ms. Jackson”, New Blue Sun |
| Nationality | American |
André 3000 Real Name
Many fans assume André 3000 is simply a nickname with no legal weight, but it is in fact his professional identity built on his birth name. His full legal name is André Lauren Benjamin, and the “3000” was added going into the new millennium to signal a fresh creative chapter within OutKast.
André 3000 Early Life and Education
André grew up in Atlanta under the care of his mother after his parents separated when he was young. He moved between the East Point and Buckhead areas of the city during his childhood.
His education included several Atlanta area schools:
- Sarah Smith Elementary School
- Sutton Middle School
- Northside High School
- Tri Cities High School
It was in high school that he met Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, the partnership that would eventually become OutKast.
André 3000 Parents and Siblings
André was raised primarily by his mother, Sharon Benjamin Hodo, who worked in real estate. His father, Lawrence Harvey Walker, worked as a collection agent. The couple was never married, and André was largely raised as an only child in a single parent household, a fact he has referenced often when discussing his grounded upbringing in interviews.
| Family Member | Role |
| Mother | Sharon Benjamin Hodo, real estate professional |
| Father | Lawrence Harvey Walker, collection agent |
| Siblings | None publicly documented |
| Raised By | Single mother in Atlanta |
André 3000 Wife and Girlfriend
André 3000 has never married. His most publicly known relationship was with singer Erykah Badu in the late 1990s. The couple met while both were rising musicians and had a son together before separating around 1999. His hit single “Ms. Jackson” was widely understood to reflect the emotional fallout of that breakup and its impact on their families.
Since then, André has kept his romantic life almost entirely private. As of 2026, there are no confirmed reports of a current wife or girlfriend, and he rarely addresses dating in interviews.
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André 3000 Children
André 3000 has one known child, a son named Seven Sirius Benjamin, born in 1997 during his relationship with Erykah Badu. Seven has occasionally appeared alongside his father at public events and has been referenced in interviews André has given about fatherhood shaping his creative choices.
André 3000 Age, Weight, Height, and Physical Appearance
Born on May 27, 1975, André 3000 is 51 years old as of 2026. He is commonly listed at around 6 feet (183 cm) tall and weighs approximately 160 pounds (72 kg), giving him the lean, athletic frame he is known for on stage and on red carpets.
| Physical Attribute | Detail |
| Age (2026) | 51 years old |
| Height | Approx. 6 feet (183 cm) |
| Weight | Approx. 160 lbs (72 kg) |
| Body Type | Slim, athletic |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Hair Color | Black, often shaved or close cropped |
André 3000 Before Fame
Before OutKast became a household name, André was a teenager freestyling in Atlanta talent shows and clubs, absorbing funk, soul, and jazz influences from his household. He and Big Boi were signed to LaFace Records as teenagers, launching a career that soon reshaped Southern hip hop’s place in the mainstream.
André 3000 Career
André’s career can be split into distinct eras, from the OutKast years to his solo pivot into instrumental music.
OutKast Era
OutKast released six studio albums between 1994 and 2006, with André contributing rap verses, singing, and production. Their sound evolved from Southern rap roots into a genre blending mix of funk, soul, and psychedelia.
Solo Music Era
After OutKast’s hiatus, André largely stepped away from traditional rap. In 2023, he released New Blue Sun, a flute driven instrumental album that surprised fans by containing no rapping at all. In 2025, he followed it with 7 Piano Sketches, an EP of improvised piano recordings originally made privately for friends and family.
| Era | Highlight Release | Year |
| OutKast Debut | Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik | 1994 |
| OutKast Breakthrough | Stankonia (Hey Ya!, Ms. Jackson) | 2000 |
| OutKast Peak | Speakerboxxx/The Love Below | 2003 |
| Solo Instrumental Debut | New Blue Sun | 2023 |
| Solo Piano Project | 7 Piano Sketches | 2025 |
André 3000 Social Media Presence
André 3000 keeps a famously low social media profile compared to most artists of his stature. He rarely posts, prefers surprise releases over promotional campaigns, and is more often spotted busking with a flute in public spaces than posting online, a choice that has only added to his mystique.
André 3000 Movies
Beyond music, André has built a respectable acting résumé. His film and television credits include:
- Four Brothers
- Be Cool
- Hollywood Homicide
- Idlewild
- Semi-Pro
- Class of 3000 (voice role as Sunny Bridges)
André 3000 Today
In 2026, André 3000 today is best described as an artist fully embracing reinvention. He is largely focused on instrumental composition, flute performances, and piano improvisation rather than rap. His 2025 Met Gala appearance, where he wore a piano strapped to his back while surprise releasing 7 Piano Sketches, captured this new chapter perfectly.
André 3000 Net Worth and Achievements
André 3000’s net worth is widely estimated between 35 million and 50 million dollars as of 2026, built through OutKast album sales, touring, production credits, brand ventures, and his acting work. Exact figures vary by source since private earnings are not publicly disclosed.
| Net Worth Estimate | Primary Source |
| $35 million to $50 million | Music royalties and touring |
| Additional income | Film and voice acting roles |
| Additional income | Fashion ventures including Benjamin Bixby |
| Additional income | Production and songwriting credits |
His achievements include eight Grammy Award nominations, with wins tied to his OutKast work, along with numerous industry honors recognizing OutKast’s influence on hip hop and pop culture at large.
André 3000 Legacy and Impact
André 3000’s legacy rests on his refusal to repeat himself. He helped legitimize Southern hip hop on a national stage in the 1990s, pushed genre boundaries with The Love Below, and later proved that reinvention, not repetition, can define a lasting artistic career. Younger artists frequently cite him as an influence for blending genres fearlessly.
André 3000 Young
Photos and footage of a young André 3000 from the 1990s show a very different look, with elaborate wigs, bold suits, and eccentric fashion choices that set OutKast apart from their contemporaries during the Aquemini and Stankonia eras.
André 3000 Love Below
The Love Below is André’s half of OutKast’s 2003 double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It leaned heavily into singing, jazz, and pop influences rather than straight rap, foreshadowing the instrumental direction he would take two decades later. It produced the global smash “Hey Ya!” and remains his most commercially successful body of work.
André 3000 New Blue Sun
Released in November 2023, New Blue Sun marked André’s first studio album in seventeen years and his first as a solo artist. Built entirely around flute improvisation with no rap verses, it surprised longtime fans while earning praise from critics for its ambition and honesty about his creative journey.
André 3000 Nationality and Religion
André 3000 is American, born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He has not publicly aligned himself with a specific organized religion, though he has spoken in interviews about spirituality, meditation, and a personal search for meaning that shapes much of his current music.
André 3000 Tour
André has periodically performed live in support of his instrumental projects, including flute focused shows tied to New Blue Sun. These performances tend to be intimate and improvisational rather than large scale arena tours, reflecting his current artistic priorities.
André 3000 Future Plans and Goals
André has been open about uncertainty regarding future rap projects, admitting in past interviews that motivation and confidence around traditional rap have been difficult to recapture. His stated focus going forward leans toward continued instrumental exploration on flute and piano rather than a return to conventional albums.
André 3000 Songs List
Some of his most searched and streamed songs include:
- Hey Ya!
- Ms. Jackson
- Roses
- The Way You Move
- Prototype
- International Players Anthem (feature)
- Life of the Party (feature)
André 3000 Book
There is no official memoir written by André 3000 himself as of 2026. Several unofficial biography books about his life and career have been published by independent authors, but fans hoping for a first person memoir are still waiting.
André 3000 Flute
The flute has become André 3000’s signature instrument in this stage of his career. He is frequently spotted playing it in public spaces, including subway platforms, and it forms the entire sonic foundation of his 2023 album New Blue Sun.
André 3000 Met Gala 2025
At the 2025 Met Gala, themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” André 3000 arrived wearing a Burberry jumpsuit with a scaled down grand piano strapped to his back, styled by Law Roach. The look coincided with the surprise release of his 7 Piano Sketches EP that same night.
André 3000 Hobbies
Outside music, André is known for his interest in fashion design, meditation, and public flute performances. He has also long been recognized as an animal rights advocate and was named PETA’s sexiest male vegetarian in 2008.
André 3000 Graphic Tee
André’s fashion ventures, including his Benjamin Bixby line and later Benji Bixby collaborations, have featured graphic tees and streetwear pieces that reflect his eclectic personal style, often blending vintage prep influences with bold Southern flair.
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André 3000 Favorite Things
Interviews over the years reveal a few consistent themes in what André values most, including jazz records, vintage instruments, plant based food, quiet creative solitude, and time spent with his son.
André 3000 Interesting Facts
- He introduced the “3000” name during OutKast’s Stankonia era.
- He voiced Sunny Bridges in the animated series Class of 3000.
- He was named PETA’s sexiest male vegetarian in 2008.
- He recorded 7 Piano Sketches on his iPhone years before releasing it.
- He has performed flute publicly in cities like New York and Philadelphia.
FAQs
What is André 3000 diagnosed with?
André 3000 has not publicly confirmed any medical diagnosis, and reports suggesting otherwise are unverified.
What is André 3000 doing now?
He is focused on instrumental music, performing flute and piano compositions rather than rap.
Why won’t André 3000 rap anymore?
He has said in interviews that his confidence and motivation for rap writing have faded in recent years.
How many kids does André 3000 have?
He has one son, Seven Sirius Benjamin, with singer Erykah Badu.
Why did André 3000 leave Erykah Badu?
The couple separated around 1999 for personal reasons that were never fully detailed publicly.
What rapper has 12 kids?
Rappers commonly cited with 12 children include NBA YoungBoy and Nick Cannon, not André 3000.
Conclusion
André 3000 remains one of music’s most fascinating figures precisely because he refuses to stay still. From OutKast’s Southern rap breakthrough to The Love Below’s pop crossover and now his flute and piano driven solo era, his career is a study in creative reinvention.
Whether fans are searching for his net worth, his family life, or his next musical move, one thing stays constant: André 3000 continues to do things entirely on his own terms.
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