André 3000 is focused on his work with Tretorn footwear. (Tretorn via Complex)
Brace yourself, Outkast fans: André 3000 says if he never made another album with Big Boi as the iconic Atlanta-based duo, he’d be fine with that.
“It’s really just an excitement thing, and where I am in life,” Dre told Complex Tuesday, Aug. 1. “I kind of like not being a part of [rap], now that I’ve done it. As I get older, I start to see myself move more back from it — the hustle and bustle of putting out an album, the pressure of being in the studio trying to come up with something. Now it’s more like a hobby for me, so I don’t think about it in that way. Even with Outkast — if we never do another album, I’m totally fine with that.”
In recent years, Dre has focused on acting and fashion design. He starred opposite Regina King in “American Crime” last year and won acclaim for his turn as Jimi Hendrix in 2013’s “Jimi: All Is By My Side.” In February, Dre became creative director of Swedish sneaker brand Tretorn, which is most well-known for its Nylite sneakers. As the face of the brand’s Fall 2017 campaign, Dre also is designing a capsule collection with Jeff Staple, who is the founder of the fashion brand Staple Pigeon.
“When I was 25, I said I don’t want to be a 30-year-old rapper,” Dre said. “I’m 42 now, and I feel more and more that way. Do I really want to be 50 years old up there doing that? When I watch other rappers that are my age, I commend them. But I just wonder where the inspiration is coming from. At this stage, I’m really more focused on what I am going to be doing 10 years from now. And I hope to God it won’t be rapping.”
Although 47-year-old Jay-Z released “4:44” to critical and commercial success, Dre said he can feel himself slowing down as an MC and said he’s willing to hand the reigns to emerging artists who are in their prime.
“And whenever they reach out and say, ‘Hey, let’s try something,’ I’m with helping them,” Dre says, after earlier mentioning Frank Ocean and Travis Scott, artists with whom he has collaborated. “I’m doing it more for them than for my own self. I don’t get much happiness from doing music like that. I get happiness from pleasing who I’m working with and helping them and seeing them be excited.
“I still love music, but I’m trying to find that deeper thing.”
