André 3000 explains why he stopped rapping

nme.com:

André 3000 has explained why he has stopped rapping, saying that it can now feel “inauthentic” to do so.The OutKast member – real name André Lauren Benjamin – released his debut solo album, ‘New Blue Sun’, today (November 17) after announcing the project earlier this week.

Clocking in at 87 minutes, the project consists of minimalist and experimental flute music.Fans were told ahead of the record’s arrival that it would contain “no bars”, beats or vocals.

The LP even opens with a track titled ‘I Swear, I Really Wanted To Make A “Rap” Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time’.‘New Blue Sun’ comes 17 years after OutKast’s sixth and final studio effort, 2006’s ‘Idlewild’.

Since then, Benjamin had distanced himself from making music.During a new interview with GQ, the musician explained how ageing is a factor in his pivot away from the rap genre.“Sometimes it feels inauthentic for me to rap because I don’t have anything to talk about in that way,” he said. “I’m 48 years old.