LL COOL J has offered some career advice to André 3000, suggesting he retire the flute and reunite with Big Boi for a new OutKast album.
Appearing on the latest episode of LeBron James’ The Shop, the Hip Hop legend expressed disappointment over 3 Stacks’ New Blue Sun LP, which was entirely instrumental, and urged the ATLien to return to rap.
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“He’s amazing, alright? His bars is all the way up,” LL said. “Not the flute, B. Do you wanna hear me do the violin? I want him to get with Big Boi, I want them to make an OutKast [album] — or do a solo album. He’s so gifted.”
When fellow guest Lena Waithe defended André and said she liked New Blue Sun, LL responded: “You liked the album? What’s your favorite song?”
Check out the clip below. The full episode premieres on YouTube on Thursday (May 9) at 9 a.m. PST.
Despite admitting that he has struggled to write rhymes in recent years, André 3000 hasn’t completely ruled out making another rap — or indeed OutKast — album.
In an interview with CBS Mornings last year, he revealed that he wants to reunite with Big Boi for a new album.
When asked if his groupmate has pressured him to revive OutKast, 3 Stacks said: “No, to be honest. But I think because he knows who I am and knows what gets me going, knows what inspires me, knows when I’m excited about something.
“So I think in that sense, he’s never pushed that issue. But I’m sure like, I want another OutKast album. Yeah, like in my mind — but see, that’s the thing. That’s the human side. I wanted an OutKast album a long time ago.”
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The Grammy-winner echoed that sentiment a few months later when he admitted he would relish the challenge of making a “fire” rap album.
“I would love to make a rap album. I just think it’d be an awesome challenge to do a fire-ass album at 48 years old,” he told Highsnobiety. “That’s probably one of the hardest things to do! I would love to do that. That’s the cool thing about my whole ride. It really is a ride.”
