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Andre 3000 Hits Screen in 'Four Brothers' By ALICIA QUARLES Associated Press Writer NEW YORK - He's known to millions around the world as Andre 3000: half of the superstar rap group OutKast, outrageous dresser, ladies man extraordinaire. Now he's ready to be known simply as Andre Benjamin - actor. After a small role earlier this year as Dabu, a trying-too-hard gangster in the comedy "Be Cool," the 30-year-old Georgia boy is starring in director John Singleton's "Four Brothers" alongside Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese and Garrett Hedlund. Benjamin also has four other films in development as well as a television cartoon. But don't worry, music fans: Andre has not given up the 3000 - yet. AP: Why did you decide to start acting? Benjamin: Even before I was doing music, I was in drama troupes and doing stage plays before I started doing the OutKast thing. Once we started doing (music) videos, I would get calls from directors and producers. ... Once I started getting into character I started to like it and like the challenge of getting into character. AP: Did you have a hard time in terms of people in the acting industry taking you seriously? Benjamin: Yes. When you're already in a certain genre like music, people know you for one thing. When I said that (I wanted to act, Singleton) said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. When is the next album coming out?" I just had to do it. ... I had to go out and start doing work so he would see films that I did. I did an episode of "The Shield." He saw that and somewhere in his mind it clicked for him to call me and say, "I want you to play Jeremiah." AP: Artistically speaking, what's the biggest difference between music and acting? Benjamin: In music I have control of when I wake up, when I go to the studio and when I turn in an album. I have control of when I want to say, when I want to say it and how I perform. It's all coming from me. With film I'm translating what somebody else has written on paper. I'm translating what I think a character is. I'm on a schedule. I wake up early. I'm on a set. I work with a lot of people so it's about respecting everyone's time and space. It's taking direction and taking orders. AP: Jeremiah, your character in "Four Brothers," is very much a family man. Is that similar to your life? Benjamin: Somewhat. I do have a kid (with singer Erykah Badu). I'm not married or anything. I'm not as responsible as I should be. I may not be as responsible as Jeremiah, but I think my true personality is closer to Jeremiah than Andre 3000. AP: In the film you play ice hockey. Did it come naturally? Benjamin: I'd never ice skated before. I'd never Rollerbladed before. The whole concept of being on skates with the thin railing, I had to get used to it. It took me about three or four days to learn how to skate period. The first two days it was terrible. I was like a little kid. By the third day, by the grace of God, it clicked. I started to really like it. I started to skate around the ice. I was doing tricks and skating backwards, spraying ice on people. It was fun. I think I will get on the ice again. AP: How does fame affect your life? Can you walk outside without getting mobbed? Benjamin: I love to walk outside. Right now I'm so happy that I'm in New York in the summertime. There are so many pretty people on the street just walking. If it came to the point where I couldn't walk around I would hate it. I would stop doing what I'm doing. AP: What do you have to say about the criticism (from certain actors) that musicians should not act? Benjamin: That's funny. I feel like if an actor played guitar and one day recorded a song and they played it on the radio and it was good, am I not going to move to it? That's how I feel about it. If it doesn't move you, you don't look at it. I've heard a lot of actors say that too. I hate that. I really hate that. AP: What's the biggest misconception about you? Benjamin: That I'm this wild and crazy guy. I'm the total opposite. Andre 3000 is a character in itself. He was made up. It takes a lot for me to do that. When you see me perform on television or award shows I have to get into a certain mind frame to do that type of stuff. It's not the easiest thing in the world. Sometimes I get tired of doing it. AP: Do you have fear when you go out dressed in your Andre 3000 attire? Benjamin: I always have fear. Not in the outfits or anything like that. I'm always nervous about getting on stage. You never know because the audience is different every time. They can like it or they may not. I like approval and I like to be accepted. If I'm not accepted I feel like I haven't done my job. AP: What is something you want people to know about you? Benjamin: I'm totally not the entertainer type. I never thought I would be doing music and I really don't consider myself a musician. When I meet other musicians and they tell me they have wanted to do this their whole lives. I really haven't wanted to do this my whole life. I'm just really grateful. I think that humbles me because it's really a blessing. AP: What did you think you were going to be doing? Benjamin: Art. I draw and paint. AP: What keeps you driven? Benjamin: Creativity. Anytime I have something new I feel good. If I am creating something new, I'm fine. If I'm involved in something new I'm fine. I hate to stay the same. AP: Where do you hope to be five years from now? Benjamin: I hope to have done a few great films. I hope to have started a worldwide brand of apparel. I just want to travel. I just want to travel a lot. In this job you get to do stuff you never thought of - like hockey.

I hope they release the video this week! :thatspdiddybad:

this is just like who's the hottest rapper out now on the most part, ← Than why is Eric B. And Rakim in it? :lolsign: ← Well they were the exception, yeah there can't be a perfect list but you can't mention Jay-Z and not LL/Will, they've been out longer and have had stronger careers, 38 years and 50 million albums sold combined, I heard all of Jay-Z' albums and they ain't in the same league as "Mama Said Knock You Out", "Big Willie Style", "Mr. Smith", "Lost and Found", "G.O.A.T.", "Code Red", "Radio", and "Willenium" to me except maybe "Reasonable Doubt", he's had some good albums though but he's not in that league to me. That's not fair that the dead rappers get more props than the rappers living either! :whatthelerkot: Shouldn't De La Soul and Heavy D get more props too? Biggie released only 2 albums even if they're called classic albums, Heavy D has more classic albums than him too: "Peaceful Journey", "Blue Funk", and "Nothin' But Love" are masterpieces that make him one of the greatest mcs ever, and Queen Latifah deserves more props for what she's done as an mc, no female mc has been at that level yet. NWA should be on the list if you combine every rapper's solo careers, preferably Dr.Dre/Ice Cube, Dr. Dre is a great producer but an average mc, "The Chronic" is a masterpiece and Ice Cube has had a great solo career too especially the "Amerikka's Mosted" and "Death Certificate" albums. 2Pac made such a great impact in such a short time, Biggie never came close to that, there's no way you could say "Ready To Die"/"Life After Death" is on the same level "All Eyez On Me"/"Me Against The World" and Biggie never responded back to "Hit 'Em Up" where Pac tore him apart lyrically.

Yeah I thought it was always a top 10 list too, well if it was 2000 and "Marshall Mathers LP" was out he'd be #1 and if it was '98 with "Big Willie Style" Will would be #1 too, lol, this is just like who's the hottest rapper out now on the most part, AOL has no hip-hop cred either so I ain't sweatin' it.

It's time to update, I'm shocked that it dropped again this week, I thought it'd increase or at least stay the same with "Party Starter" being in the top 100 already, even Public Enemy's greatest hits outsold "Lost and Found" this week: 118 SMITH*WILL LOST & FOUND 9,648 -11 10,832 596,261

Mostly every beat in hip-hop has been a sample even "Rapper's Delight" that sampled "Good Times", it's like songs that sampled other songs are being sampled themselves now too, lol, I don't have a hip-hop album in my collection that doesn't have samples.

:noooo: of course i completely disagree with this list..but these lists are always highly subjective and stupid anyway :shrug: ← What good album did Biggie release? "Ready To Die" is the most overrated album ever, it only has like 3 good songs on there. NWA hasn't released an album in over 10 years, De La Soul should be in their place 'cause they're still out. Eminem shouldn't be on this list either, he only had 2 good albums, they might as well put Ja Rule on the list 'cause he had 2 good albums too, lol, they both have to hang up the mic 'cause their albums after 2000 have been awful to say the least. Jay-Z' "Reasonable Doubt" is the only Jay-Z classic but I could name at least 50 albums better than that one, so it's a tad bit overrated, I wouldn't put "Ready To Die" in the top 100 though. Nas "Illmatic" is arguably the greatest album ever after "It Takes A Nation Of Millions..." so Nas deserves to be mentioned, the rest of his albums are good too but they didn't mention KRS, LL, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, or Will so neither him, Biggie, Eminem, or Jay-Z should be on here. Did mostly kids for this list? btw, I saw that top 10 worst list, they have Nick Cannon on there not Will, they just said Nick Cannon's actin' like Will Smith #2, but I see they had Jay-Z at #1, lol, he ain't my favorite but I'd say that he's better than Vanilla Ice and Nelly at least, well Nick Cannon hasn't really done much in hip-hop anyway so far and he is trying to ride Will's style but it's better than everyone trying to be the next Biggie, "Gigolo" is about as forgettable as any 50 Cent song out now. It looks like Will's gonna have to release "Mr. Nice Guy" to finish Eminem's career so the media could start putting him in the top 10 instead! :ShockRifle: Here's the top 11 in my opinion: 1-KRS-ONE 2-Rakim 3-LL Cool J/Will Smith(tie since they're mirror images of each other careerwise) 4-Public Enemy 5-Run-DMC 6-De La Soul 7-Slick Rick 8-Big Daddy Kane 9-NWA 10-Queen Latifah 11-Melle Mel I like Nas and 2Pac but they're already on everyone's top 10 so I figured I'd show some love to De La Soul and Will Smith since they always get overshadowed since the East/West beef.

What the hell another 50 Cent topic? :ShockRifle: If we don't like 50 Cent we shouldn't talk about him so much, I don't believe that he's hip-hop anymore 'cause he isn't rapping about what he knows now, he isn't gangbangin' on the streets anymore since he's a millionaire, the songs he makes doesn't reflect his life now, that's why he ain't hip-hop, rap is only music, hip-hop is a lifestyle, 50 Cent is just a rapper who makes songs and that's it, a real mc is someone that represents in their life the songs they make, hip-hop battles are supposed to be nonviolent and witty, neither would be the case with the G Unit vs. Game/Jadakiss/Nas/etc., that's a crap battle, if you want a real battle I'd go with KRS vs. MC Shan, Nas vs. Jay-Z, and LL vs. Cannibus, peaceful battles of wits where skills wins not who has the most guns.

:iagree: If you cut the album to 10 tracks it'd be perfect! But Will has always had haters call him pop too no matter what he does even back when he released "Girls Ain't Nothin' But Trouble", when you're on top who doesn't have haters? The majority of people who buy albums are pop fans, every platinum rapper has a pop fanbase 'cause they're popular, if you only have a hip-hop fanbase you won't sell much! Will does have as much respect as he does hate, but like I said before now peeps that sell the most don't always get the most respect in hip-hop, respect doesn't always equal sales, especially now, 50 Cent ain't that respected in hip-hop when he gets more hate than love, so even if Will gains more respect for releasing "Tell Me Why" that doesn't mean he'll sell 10 million all of a sudden.

I was just saying that "If You Can't Dance" would've been even better than "Switch" as the 1st single, but it's only the 10th best song on the album so I don't ever want it to come out as a single literally, I never said it was my favorite track, and btw I heard a lot of Common fans say that "BE" has been falling off the charts 'cause "Go!" is a weak single, I'm not the only one to feel that way and some people have said "Lost and Found" has better production than "BE" does.

Ok... ok... I have one question before I move along... Ted, if Will had recorded Go and Common had recorded If You Can't Dance, and they were exactly the same, you would say that Common's If You Can't Dance is better than Will's Go right... ← Yes I would say that, "The Corner"'s better than "Switch", you act like I was dissin' Common, I think Common's one of the dopest mcs out now, but I'm just not a fan of "Go!" just like I ain't much of a fan on "Switch", I ain't trying to be no loretta 'cause I ain't afraid to admit that my favorite artists could make mistakes since I think subjectively, when you make over 100 songs in your career there's bound to be ones that stick out more than others no matter how great you are.

I don't know about that 'cause I think "Go!" is kinda boring, "If You Can't Dance" has more energy than "Go!" does and I don't think "BE" is Common's best album but that's a whole another discussion, if "Lost and Found" was shortened to about 10-12 tracks it'd be a perfect album like "Code Red", adding more brings up debate usually. ← But you're not saying that If You Can't Dance is a better track are you... ← Hell yeah I am, "Go!" sucks, I skip that track when I play "BE", "Lost and Found" is the album of the year too, "Party Starter" will blow all comp away! :chuks:

I don't know about that 'cause I think "Go!" is kinda boring, "If You Can't Dance" has more energy than "Go!" does and I don't think "BE" is Common's best album but that's a whole another discussion, if "Lost and Found" was shortened to about 10-12 tracks it'd be a perfect album like "Code Red", adding more brings up debate usually.

There's so many, I try to add variety to my list since hip-hop's so diverse, here's as much as I could think of at the moment, I know I'm gonna forget somebody dope: Public Enemy "It Takes A Nation Of Millions" Eric B. and Rakim "Paid In Full" JJFP "He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper" Run-Dmc "Raising Hell" Slick Rick "The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick" BDP "Criminal Minded" NWA "Straight Outta Compton" LL Cool J "Radio" Beastie Boys "Licensed To Ill" LL Cool J "Bigger and Deffer" LL Cool J "Walking With A Panther" Nas "Illmatic" JJFP "Homebase" Dr. Dre "The Chronic" JJFP "Code Red" KRS-ONE "Return Of Da Boom Bap" 2Pac "All Eyez On Me" 2Pac "Me Against The World" LL Cool J "Mama Said Knock You Out" Pete Rock and CL Smooth "Mecca And The Soul Brother" Public Enemy "Fear Of A Black Planet" Salt-N-Pepa "Very Necessary" Pete Rock and CL Smooth "Main Ingredient" Rakim "The 18th Letter" LL Cool J "Mr. Smith" Will Smith "Big Willie Style" Nas "It Was Written" Will Smith "Willenium" Wyclef "The Carnival" Wyclef "The Masquerade" Haiku D'Etat "Haiku D'Etat" Public Enemy "Revolvolution" Pep Love "Ascension" Aceyalone "All Balls Don't Bounce" KRS-ONE "I Got Next" Nas "Stillmatic" Will Smith "Lost and Found" Nas "God's Son" KRS-ONE "Kristyles" Big Pun "Capital Punishment" DMX "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot" Common "Like Water For Chocolate" LL Cool J "G.O.A.T." DMX "Great Depression" Jay-Z "Reasonable Doubt" Queen Latifah "Black Reign" Heavy D and The Boyz "Peaceful Journey" Big Daddy Kane "Lone Live The Kane" MC Hammer "Too Legit To Quit" Wu-Tang Clan "Wu Tang Forever" Slick Rick "The Ruler" Ice Cube "Death Certificate" Craig Mack "Flava In Ya Ear" Snoop Doggy Dogg "Doggystyle" Warren G "Regulate: G Funk Era" Ice Cube "America's Most Wanted" Foxy Brown "Ill Na Na" Redman "Dare Iz A Dark Side" Naughty By Nauture "Nineteen Naughty Nine-Nature's Fury" Outkast "Atliens" Coolio "Gangsta's Paradise" Naughty By Nature "iicons" Slick Rick "The Great Art Of Storytellin'" Ice Cube "War/Peace" Outkast "Stankonia" Chuck D "Autobiography Of Mistachuck" Fat Joe "Don Cartegena"

"Wave 'Em Off" had dope verses but the beat and singing were annoying, "Scary Story" has dope lyrics too but it just seems too boring compared to the other tracks, and I think "If U Can't Dance" is definately superior compared to "Switch", which is fun too but doesn't display much of Will's skill at all, I wouldn't mind if there was a video to that 'cause the Pussycat Dolls are sexy too lol, but let's compare "If U Can't Dance" to "Switch, how could you call these lyrics wack?: "She thought my name was Billy, I told her it was Willie She said she watch my TV show & I was very silly Told her I was from Philly she looked at me said, ‘Really?’ & judging from her t-shirt, I could tell that she was chilly So I gave her my sweater, she said her name was Etta She said she come from Cuba and she just had bought a Jetta She said she was glad I met her, let’s go somewhere together She said she’d ride in my car cause she knew that it was better The conversation cookin’, attention getting’ tookin’ My Spidey senses tinglin’, I felt somebody lookin’ Now who this brotha lookin’, & now he runnin’, bookin’ I’m mad I’m like a fisherman, I almost had my hook in I figured I should get up & quickly clear my head up, Cause Etta got a man & I’m feelin’ kinda set-up Now Dude was really fed up & yo, he wouldn’t let up Homey if I hit you, you might never ever get up Now he was not a dancer, plus he wasn’t handsome Comin’ like Mel Gibson, like I had his girl for ransom Yo, Pedro wanna go out side, yo amigo, tranquillo… slide" Look how simple this is now: "Uh uh uh I gotta question, I need to ask somebody Why is it that when y'all see me at the party Y'all be looking like 'Ooo he a movie star He ain't supposed to be out on the floor with everybody' But oh wait, whoa y'all forgetting When I was, amateur spitting before the scripts were written First one in, last one out the club Bursting in, passing out in the club Back at it, this cat is the wit and the charm Taking you higher like a syringe hittin ya arm Bringing the fire, making you Benz ring the alarm Let me see you clap, spin baby come on Switch!"

"If You Can't Dance" is a classic JJFP type track to me, it's a fun track and Will rips the flow, if you hate that you must hate ol' school hip-hop, that'd made a better single than "Switch", this shoulda been a double album since we had to wait so long for it, hopefully one day all the unreleased tracks'll be released, especially the ones with Jazzy.

What's wrong with "If You Can't Dance"? He's paying homage to "Roxanne Roxanne" with the fast ol' school flow, that's dope! I think "Scary Story", "Wave 'Em Off" and "Switch" are weaker than "If You Can't Dance".

Well they should've put "The Rain" on there then, that was an influential track, on the most part it's a great list but when you have a big list like that there's always gonna be debate on what you shoulda left out or put in.

They should've put "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" since it was more popular but I guess that would be Hype Williams bias since he directed the video. ← Gettin' Jiggy Wit It wasn't a JJFP song tho, so maybe that's why... ← Yeah they didn't put any Will Smith tracks on there, figures, "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" and "Men In Black" were as big of hits as "Mo Money Mo Problems" and "Been Around The World" though at that time and they mentioned them, well at least they mentioned JJFP, "Ring My Bell" and "I Think I Could Beat Mike Tyson" were bigger hits than "Here We Go Again" too if you were gonna mention another JJFP track.

We had a topic like this on here a couple months ago: http://jazzyjefffreshprince.com/forum/inde...opic=3781&st=40

They should've put "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" since it was more popular but I guess that would be Hype Williams bias since he directed the video.

Well if JJFP did another album together with no major features it probably wouldn't sell much but I think it'd be the best album to listen to, I wanna hear more of Jazzy's scratching than I do catchy hooks, that's what matters anyway, most albums that sell much now are kinda wack too, I don't think people consider "Encore" classic, "The Chronic" was at least a high quality album, '93 was one of the last years of most of dope hip-hop being on the mainstream, now most great albums get slept on.