André 3000 has delivered some sobering news to OutKast fans eagerly hoping for a reunion. In a candid new interview with Rolling Stone, the multi-talented artist shared that a new album from the legendary duo is “further away” than it has ever been, stating that the possibility of fresh music from him and Big Boi seems increasingly unlikely.
“I’ll say maybe 10, 15 years ago, in my mind, I thought an OutKast album would happen,” André, 49, admitted. “I don’t know the future, but I can say that we’re further away from it than we’ve ever been.” He went on to explain that the key to any new project is chemistry, something that the duo, who first rose to fame in 1992, has to genuinely feel. “We have to be wanting to do it,” André added. “It’s hard for me to make a rap, period, you know? And sometimes I’m in the belief of ‘Let things be.'”
While André’s words may be disappointing to fans, they reflect a clear understanding of the creative process. Both members of OutKast have pursued their own individual paths since their last major project, which was the 2007 Idlewild album, followed by a long hiatus. Though the pair briefly reunited in 2014 for their 20th anniversary celebration at Coachella and performed at over 40 festivals, André suggests that those days of making music together are now a distant memory.
“I think the audience sometimes believes that something has to last forever, and I don’t think that,” he said. “Any kind of art form, I think that’s probably the opposite. It probably should not last forever.”
OutKast’s influence on hip-hop and pop culture remains undeniable, with six albums under their belt, each filled with genre-defying sounds and groundbreaking lyrics. The duo earned six Grammy Awards during their career, and their collaborations continue to be celebrated. However, the pair’s personal journeys have evolved, and André emphasized that their music was never just a product—it was a reflection of where they were in their lives at the time. “It’s not like we’re Coca-Cola, where it’s this formula that you can always press a button and it’ll happen,” he explained.
For those hoping for a grand OutKast farewell tour, André also tempered expectations, saying, “I doubt that [would happen].” He recalled knowing, even in his twenties, that there would come a time when performing their past hits wouldn’t feel right. “I knew when I was, like, 25, that at a certain age I wouldn’t want to be onstage doing those songs,” he admitted. “They required a certain energy.”
The artist made it clear that he’s not looking back but rather focused on the present and future. “Honestly, I’m not a big fan of looking back. I’m just not. I’m grateful for everything that’s happened, but it was a time,” André reflected. “That was a great time, and I wish y’all were there.”
Still, the music world hasn’t seen the last of André 3000. In 2023, he released New Blue Sun, his debut solo album that took an unexpected turn into jazz. This instrumental record, which features André showcasing his skills as a flutist, earned critical acclaim and three Grammy nominations in 2025, including album of the year. While the rapper’s future may not include more OutKast material, his musical evolution is far from over.
Despite all this, André acknowledges the enduring desire for new OutKast content. “I know, for the rest of my life, people will be like, ‘One more OutKast album,'” he said. “And I try to put myself in the shoes of other people, and I’m like, ‘Man, if we ain’t do an OutKast album in 20 years, do y’all really think it’s going to happen now?'”
He concluded, “I don’t know, maybe I just think differently. I know I wouldn’t be sitting around waiting.”
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