Throughout his nearly 30-year music career, André 3000 has largely avoided much Rap beef. At the 1995 Source Awards, where Suge Knight symbolically declared war on his cross-country rivals, Dre of OutKast simply wanted to assert to a chippy audience that “the South got somethin’ to say,” after his group’s big win was met with some boos in Madison Square Garden. OutKast achieved massive success with an emphasis on skills, art, and lyricism—not confrontation or combat.

Andre 3000 has not released a song in 2021. However, recently, a guest appearance on Kanye West’s “Life Of The Party” leaked (a version shared online is embedded below). The song, which has not been formally released, first appeared as a snippet. According to Billboard, it debuted at a Las Vegas, Nevada Donda pre-release event July 18. Then, today (September 4), Drake played the full version on his radio show for SiriusXM’s channel 42. Drake, who had released his sixth album, Certified Lover Boy on Friday (September 3), was presumably playing the unauthorized song as a chess move in his longstanding feud with Kanye West.

Drake Blasts Kanye West On A New Certified Diss Record

West used the song to address Drake while asserting his strength. “I put Virgil and Drake on the same text, and it wasn’t about the matching Arc’teryx or Kid Cudi dress / Just told these grown men stop it with the funny sh*t,” West raps on the song. He then spits, “Thought we was the new Abu Dhabi / Told Drake don’t play with me on GD, and he sent that message to everybody / So if I hit you with a ‘WYD,’ you better hit me with, ‘Yessir, I’m writing everything you need.‘” The lyrics seemingly criticize Drake for behaviors while possibly threatening him with a double-entendre that alludes to God and the Gangster Disciples street organization.

Those lyrics came as a contrast to Andre 3000’s contributions to the song. Hours after the broadcast, the OutKast veteran released a statement, seemingly upset at the track being used as a pawn in a beef. That statement is as follows:

Andre 3000’s First 2 Songs Of The Year Are In Loving Tribute To His Mother (Audio)

“A few weeks ago Kanye [West] reached out about me being a part of the Donda album. 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. It’s unfortunate that it was released in this way and two artists that I love are going back and forth. I wanted to be on Certified Lover Boy too. I just want to work with 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.”

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Andre 3000 has used his own guest verses to address significant relationships in music. In 2012, his feature on T.I.’s “Sorry,” 3 Stacks confronted his break from recording and OutKast’s hiatus.

Both Drake and Kanye have traded barbs on their respective new albums. New music from both artists currently appears on the Ambrosia For Heads playlist: