Welcome to the 121st insertion of DEMUR®, an analytical series highlighting the intricacies of the artistic world and the minutiae lying within. In this episode, we reveal the untold truth behind André 3000’s signature black jumpsuits; how a self-proclaimed ‘sellout’ revived his legacy.
Back in 2014, André Benjamin, better known as ‘André 3000’, reunited with rapper Big Boi for the return of Outkast. Following an acclaimed hip-hop career through the ’90s and early 2000s, the duo suddenly split in the midst of 2006. Shocked, the public hoped for one last EP, or even a single, but were left only with a golden discography and a new appreciation for soul music.
Fast forward eight years and the duo rekindles their partnership for one last world tour, embarking on 48 festival dates around the world. Anticipation grew as their first gig, a headlining act at Coachella, quickly approached. In striped overalls and collegiate crewneck, the artists stepped on stage for the first time in nearly a decade, delivering “a horrible show” in Andrés's own words.
Scrutinized for a lack of energy, fans were underwhelmed with Outkast’s return and were certainly unapproving of the prisoner-chic aesthetic, “I didn't know what to wear on stage, so it was my overalls.” André humorously recalled. Having bombed the first leg of a forty-eight-part tour, changes needed to be made, and quickly.
The artist was battling internally, feeling as if he had sold out by profiting off of old classics. However, following a phone call with Prince, André 3000 opted to instead promote new messages in the wake of vintage hits. Plastering captions across the chest of a black nylon jumpsuit, the musician would create prolific on-stage experiences for the next forty-seven performances to come.
Simple yet gripping, sporadic phrases like “I’ve Never Been to Afrika”, “Have You Stopped Growing” and “Can One Rest in Peace and Violence” would soon overtake the tour itself. Lacking space, each stanza was forcefully brief yet concise and effortless, speaking on topics of hardship and politics, among random thoughts.
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