Photo by Harrison Jacobs

—

While Big Boi has been fairly open about his excitement for the ongoing OutKast reunion tour, his bandmate André 3000 hasn't been as forthcoming.

In a new interview with The New York Times, 3 Stacks finally discusses the reunion and some of his thoughts on his own solo album, which has been in the works for some time.

Read the full interview here and some of the key quotes below.

Getting Older:
"I remember, at like 25, saying, 'I don’t want to be a 40-year-old rapper.' I’m 39 now, and I’m still standing by that. I’m such a fan that I don’t want to infiltrate it with old blood."

The Reunion:
"I never planned to go onstage again in that way. If I feel like I’m getting to a place where it’s mimicking or a caricature, I just want to move on. But I felt like: Let me do it now ’cause these kids [in the audience], it feels good to know that they’re happy. I really don’t actually get anything from performing … I feel good in being able to look at Big Boi and say, 'Hey, man, we did it.' Big Boi’s got these great records on his own, but this means something else for him."

The Lackluster Coachella Performance:
"I think people could see it at Coachella, the very first show. It was foreign. My head wasn’t there. I kind of fluffed through rehearsals. A few hours before the Coachella show, I get a message that Prince and Paul McCartney are going to be there. My spirit is not right, and idols are standing side-stage, so as the show started, I’m bummed. This is horrible. In my mind I was already gone to my hotel room halfway through."

Prince's Advice:
"Prince called a couple days after [Coachella]. It was my first time actually talking to Prince. He said: 'When you come back, people want to be wowed. And what’s the best way to wow people? Just give them the hits.' I’m explaining to him that I really didn’t want to do it. He said: 'I’ve been there. I’ve tried to do other things. After you give them the hits, then you can do whatever.' He broke it down like this: 'You’re a grown man. You’re either going to do it or you’re not.’"

His Rumored Solo Album:
"It’s hard to say [if it would be sung or rapped]. [Laughs.] I’m just going to call it honest. I know this may sound morbid, but I was like, if I were to die today, I have all these half-songs on my hard drive, and I don’t want that. When you feel it, it’s right. If you don’t feel it, then why? Honestly, think about it. Why do it? Why?"