André 3000 Issues a Statement in Response to the Drake + Kanye West Feud, addressing “Life of the Party”
It’s unusual to see André 3000 on social media these days. These days, the Outkast frontman mostly prefers to stay solitary, occasionally playing his flute and minding his own business throughout various cities. However, while acting as a guest DJ for SiriusXM’s Sound 42 radio program, Drake inadvertently leaked an unreleased Kanye West and André 3000 song called “Life Of The Party.”
Kanye freestyled the track, which was originally supposed to be on Donda, and addressed Drake directly. It’s very likely he decided to release it as part of their social media tussle.
Three Stacks explained why his verse wasn’t included in a statement shortly after the song started circulating.
“A few weeks ago Kanye reached out about me being a part of the Donda album,” he wrote. “I was inspired by his idea to make a musical tribute to his mom. It felt appropriate to me to support the Donda concept by referencing my own mother, who passed away in 2013. We both share that loss. I thought it was a beautiful choice to make a clean album but, unfortunately, I didn’t know that was the plan before I wrote and recorded my verse. It was clear to me that an edited ‘clean’ format of the verse would not work without having the raw, original also available.
“So, sadly, I had to be omitted from the original album release. The track I received and wrote to didn’t have the diss verse on it and we were hoping to make a more focused offering for the Donda album but I guess things happen like they are supposed to.
André went on to say how disappointed he was that “Life Of The Party” was released at the height of Kanye and Drake’s perceived rivalry.
“It’s unfortunate that it was released in this way this way and two artists that I love are going back and forth,” he continued. “I wanted to be on Certified Lover Boy too. I just want to work people that inspire me. Hopefully I can work with Kendrick on his album. I’d love to work with Lil Baby, Tyler and Jay-Z. I respect them all.”
Donda was given her name in honor of Kanye West’s late mother Dr. Donda West, who passed away in 2007. André 3000 understands this all too well. He mentioned that he had lost his own mother in 2013 and dedicated the lyrics to her memory.
“Hey Miss Donda, if you ran into my mama, please tell her I said, ‘Say something,’” he raps. “I’m starting to believe ain’t no such thing as Heaven’s trumpets/No after-over, this is it, done/If there’s a Heaven, you would think they’d let you speak to your son.”
I was surprised to hear this response from Kanye. His album was all over the place.