André 3000, one of hip-hop’s most respected figures, recently shared insights into his involvement with Kanye West’s track “Life of the Party” from Donda. The OutKast legend admitted that he initially wanted his verse removed from the song due to disagreements with Kanye over the use of curse words. Speaking on The New York Times’ Popcast, André explained that Kanye was in a period of his life where he wanted to create a clean album with no explicit language. “Kanye was at a point in his life where he didn’t want any curse words on the album,” André said. He went on to express his willingness to adjust his verse but insisted that if the song was going to be edited, a version with explicit content should also be released. When Kanye refused, citing his desire to avoid profanity in the album for the sake of his children, André made it clear that he was fine with his verse being removed.
The track, which featured a heartfelt tribute to Kanye’s late mother, Donda West, eventually made it onto the revised version of Donda, but not without some drama. André’s verse had originally been scrapped, but the song was leaked by Drake during their infamous feud. Although the leak wasn’t planned, André expressed no ill feelings towards it.
“I was like, ‘Woah!’ I actually don’t understand why he did it […] I kind of have to thank Drake for letting that song see the light of day,” he said, revealing his gratitude for the leak.
While the leak allowed fans to hear the song, it also stirred up tension between Kanye and Drake, especially given the presence of a subtle diss aimed at Drake in the song. André, however, was aware of the diss before the song was released and had a conversation with Kanye about it. “I had my feelings about it. I was like, ‘Man, do you really want to do this on this type of song? It’s kinda like going and shooting up your mom’s funeral,’” André recalled, comparing the tone of the diss to something inappropriate given the song’s emotional nature.
Before the song was officially released, “Life of the Party” was a pivotal piece in the ongoing back-and-forth between Kanye and Drake, with Drake leaking the track on his SiriusXM radio show. André, however, remained focused on his own feelings about the song, distancing himself from the drama surrounding Kanye and Drake’s feud. Despite the song’s controversial context, André expressed that he was simply focused on the music and the personal tribute it represented.
In a statement released after the song’s leak, André explained his initial involvement with the project. “A few weeks ago Kanye reached out about me being a part of the Donda album,” he shared, explaining that the concept of making a musical tribute to his own mother, who passed away in 2013, resonated with him deeply. He wanted to honor both Kanye’s loss and his own, which made his contribution to the album feel meaningful.
However, André also made it clear that he was unaware of Kanye’s plan for a clean version of the album before writing his verse. “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,” he said, admitting that he was disappointed the clean version didn’t capture the essence of his original lyrics. “It was clear to me that an edited ‘clean’ format of the verse would not work without having the raw, original also available,” he added.
Despite the issues surrounding the song’s release, André expressed no ill will towards Kanye or the situation in general. In fact, he continued to show respect for both Kanye and Drake, two figures who have had a significant impact on the hip-hop world. He even shared his desire to collaborate with other influential artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lil Baby, and Tyler, The Creator in the future. “I just want to work with people that inspire me,” he said, emphasizing his desire to create music that resonates with both himself and his collaborators.
André’s comments highlight the complexity of his relationship with Kanye West, Drake, and the music industry as a whole. Despite the controversies and the tension between some of the biggest names in hip-hop, André 3000 remains focused on the music and the deeper, more personal connections it can create. The saga surrounding Life of the Party is just another chapter in the ongoing narrative of André’s illustrious career, where art, conflict, and personal growth collide.
