André 3000 had some reservations about his involvement in Kanye West’s ‘Life of the Party.’
Back in the day, the song wasn’t part of Kanye’s ‘Donda’ because of explicit lyric concerns. André 3000 shared his thoughts on The New York Times’ Popcast, saying, ‘Kanye was at a point in his life where he didn’t want any curse words on the album.’ For André, this was a sticking point since it meant his verse wasn’t fitting the new direction without some heavy edits.
André was totally fine with a ‘beeped’ version but insisted, ‘You have to put the dirty version out, too.’ When Kanye decided that he wouldn’t release a version with explicit language because of his promise to his daughter, André requested to be removed from the track. ‘We weren’t in agreeance with how the song would come out,’ he noted.
The OutKast icon was also looped in on Kanye’s decision to diss Drake on the track, contrary to popular belief. ‘I’d heard the diss part and me and Kanye had a conversation about it,’ he clarified. André admitted he had mixed feelings, comparing it to ‘shooting up your mom’s funeral.’
While the track was caught in the middle of Kanye and Drake’s public feud, Drake shockingly leaked ‘Life of the Party’ on his SiriusXM show. André’s reaction? A mixture of surprise and gratitude. ‘I kind of have to thank Drake for letting that song see the light of day,’ he reflected, even though he couldn’t fathom how Drake got hold of the track.
Having released a statement after the track’s leak, André expressed he was initially inspired by Kanye’s concept for ‘Donda’ – a touching tribute to Kanye’s mom. It made André reflect on his mother’s passing, saying it inspired him to contribute a personal verse. However, he was up front about his disappointment, feeling caught between two artists he deeply respects.
‘I thought it was a beautiful choice to make a clean album,’ André revealed, but admitted, ‘An edited ‘clean’ version of the verse would not work without the raw, original also available.’ He hasn’t taken sides in the Kanye-Drake feud and instead focuses on artists he’d love to work with, like Kendrick Lamar, Lil Baby, Tyler the Creator, and JAY-Z. It’s clear that for André, collaboration is about music and inspiration, not drama.
In the end, André 3000’s experience with ‘Life of the Party’ underscores the complexities artists face when their creative work intersects with personal values and industry drama. Though the track’s journey was unexpected, it emphasized André’s commitment to authenticity, family, and collaboration.
