Today (May 27), we celebrate the birthday of one of music’s most enigmatic and innovative talents — André 3000. As one-half of the iconic duo OutKast and a cultural icon in his own right, André 3000 continues to be a blueprint for artistry that exists unapologetically outside the box. Check out a gallery of Andre’s style over the years inside. 

Born André Lauren Benjamin on May 27, 1975, the Atlanta native has long defied the limits of genre, style, and expectation. From the moment OutKast burst onto the scene in the early ’90s with Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, André 3000’s distinctive voice and poetic lyricism captured ears — and hearts. Alongside Big Boi, the duo crafted timeless classics like “Hey Ya!,” “Roses,” and “Ms. Jackson,” blending Southern rap with funk, soul, jazz, and rock in ways few had ever dared. Their groundbreaking 2003 double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below catapulted them into superstardom and earned them six Grammys, including Album of the Year.

But beyond his music, André 3000 has always been a master of reinvention. Whether it was showing up to award shows in kilts and turbans, rocking shoulder pads and feather boas, or strumming a guitar in vintage band uniforms, his style has been as unpredictable and brilliant as his rhymes. He made it cool to be eccentric in hip-hop — challenging toxic masculinity and paving the way for artists to embrace individuality.

In recent years, while André has stepped away from the mic, his presence remains powerful. In 2023, he released New Blue Sun, a surprising yet mesmerizing instrumental album featuring only woodwind instruments — no bars, no hooks, just meditative flute compositions. The move, though unexpected, felt perfectly André: thoughtful, spiritual, and free.

Beyond the music, fans have spotted him in grocery stores and train stations, often with a flute in hand, exuding peace and humility. Despite his legendary status, André 3000 has always chosen authenticity over attention, a quiet brilliance in a world obsessed with noise.

As he celebrates another trip around the sun, we honor André 3000 not just for what he’s given to music, fashion, and culture — but for the ways he’s inspired generations to dream deeper, think differently, and move to their own beat. Happy Birthday, Three Stacks. There will truly never be another like you.

Check out theses photos of Andre’s eclectic style over the years: