Vault: Andre 3000 Joins The Show

Summary

The Bert Show: Vault - Andre 3000 Joins The Show

Date: March 25, 2026
Main Guests: Andre 3000
Hosts: The Bert Show cast

---

Episode Overview

In this engaging vault episode, The Bert Show welcomes Atlanta’s own Andre 3000 (also credited as Andre Benji) for a wide-ranging conversation. The focus is on his creative adventures, especially bringing the beloved animated series Class of 3000 to a live stage adaptation at Atlanta’s Alliance Theater. They also address Outkast rumors, creative process, collaboration with John Legend, and music industry musings—delivering candid moments, humor, and inspiration.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Class of 3000 Takes the Stage

• Background & Premise:

  • Andre 3000 recaps Class of 3000—an animated show where his character, Sonny Bridges, leaves stardom to teach music to kids at a performing arts school in Atlanta.
    • “Class of 3000 is an animated show that was on Cartoon Network… music superstar… comes back home to Atlanta… these kids… decide, hey, why don't we get this superstar… to be our music teacher.” (00:55 - 01:28, Andre 3000)

• Stage Adaptation:

  • Alliance Theater is adapting it for the stage, casting adults as the kid characters for comedic effect.
    • “It is hilarious to see, like, these grown people playing kids and embodying a cartoon character.” (01:40, Andre 3000)

• Hopes for Broadway:

  • Alliance Theater’s prior success (e.g., The Color Purple) prompts hopes for Class of 3000 to go even further.
    • “I want it to go as far as it can go. If it goes, I'd love it.” (02:02, Andre 3000)

2. Andre 3000 on Creativity and Motivation

• Creative Restlessness:
  • Andre likens his drive to “creative ADD”—always seeking to excite and challenge himself, not motivated by money but by fresh ideas.
    • “I have to keep myself excited in a way. You know, I have to kind of keep myself alive… I seldom start anything and say, oh, man, this would make great money.” (02:23, Andre 3000)
• Role of Arts in Schools:
  • Stresses the importance of music education and laments its decline.

3. Outkast: Future and Friendship

• Solo Projects & Band Dynamics:
  • Candid about Outkast’s current status—both he and Big Boi are focused on solo projects but visit each other's studios and maintain genuine friendship.
    • “It's almost like you growing up in the same house with a brother and eventually… you have to go out and get your own house and family.” (03:27 - 04:44, Andre 3000)
• Likelihood of New Outkast Music:
  • Leaves the door open but emphasizes that making music has to be organic and meaningful, not contractual or forced.
    • “We never… put out… two, three albums a year… it was always… what do you have to say right now? What do you wanna present right now?” (05:16, Andre 3000)
    • “I might not even put out an album. You just… really don't know. It all depends on how you feel.” (04:52, Andre 3000)
• Notable Quote:
  • “I don't wanna just feed people some mess, you know, so it's always open.” (05:57, Andre 3000)

4. Collaborating with John Legend ("Green Light")

• How the Collab Happened:
  • Producer let Andre hear the finished track, which inspired him to contribute; praised the song’s energy as a departure for Legend.
    • “It was kind of like an up beat jam, and I like the song. And so I said, hey, I got something for it.” (06:05, Andre 3000)
• Writing vs. Freestyling:
  • Clarifies only the end of his verse was freestyle; most of it was written.
    • “I'm not gonna sit up here and act like I made up the whole thing completely. A lot of people will do that, but I ain't gonna lie to you like that.” (07:00–07:53, Andre 3000)
  • “I'm not even a great freestyler… Big Boi will freestyle you all day long. But I'm more of a writer, to be honest.” (08:09, Andre 3000)
• Clip Played:
  • They play Andre’s verse from “Green Light;” Bert Show members compliment how he “steals the show” in that part. (08:17)

5. Anecdotes & Humor

• Bert Show hosts recall disastrous attempt at group freestyle, highlighting the artistry in Andre’s approach.
• Andre jokes about not being able to freestyle “that early.”
• Gentle teasing about taking kids to shows versus indoor playgrounds provides a warm, relatable ending.
  • “You can only go to Monkey Joe’s so many times…” (09:25, Host C)

---

Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On creative motivation:
  “I always kind of start things saying, ‘Oh, this would be cool.’… It’s all about trying it, you know.” (02:23, Andre 3000)

• On music with Outkast:
  “It's almost like you growing up in the same house with a brother and eventually… you have to go out and get your own house and family.” (04:02, Andre 3000)
  “I don't wanna just feed people some mess, you know, so it's always open, you know.” (05:57, Andre 3000)

• On improvising:
  “I'm not even a great freestyler… But I'm more of a writer, to be honest… more just like a having fun kind of thing.” (08:09, Andre 3000)

• On Class of 3000 live:
  “Bring the kids. They'll really enjoy it.” (09:19, Andre 3000)

---

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Class of 3000 Live Adaptation — 00:55 to 01:53
• Outkast & Solo Projects — 03:17 to 05:57
• Green Light/John Legend Collab — 06:05 to 08:09
• Freestyle vs. Writing — 06:55 to 08:09
• Closing/Alliance Theater Plug — 09:19 to 09:46

---

Summary

This podcast episode offers an intimate look at Andre 3000’s evolving creativity and philosophy. Listeners gain insight into the artist’s explorative process, get the inside scoop on Outkast’s status, and learn the backstage story behind a standout John Legend collaboration. The vibe is humorous, warm, and real—just what fans of Andre and The Bert Show have come to love. Whether you're curious about Atlanta’s theater scene, Outkast’s legacy, or hip-hop artistry, this episode delivers inspiration and plenty of genuine moments.

Transcript

[A]

If you work in university maintenance, Grainger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Grainger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need all in one place, from H VAC and plumbing supplies to lighting and more. And all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock. So your team always gets the win. Call 1-800-GRAINGER visit grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[B]

Tyler redick here from 2311 Racing, Victory Lane. Yeah, it's even better with Chumba by my side.

[C]

Race to chumbacasino.com let's Chumba.

[B]

No purchase necessary. VTW Group void where prohibited by law. CTNCs 21 plus, sponsored by Chumba Casino.

[C]

You're on the Birch Show. What's going on, Andre? How you doing, man?

[D]

Well, I'm all right. How y' all doing this morning?

[C]

Doing okay. So what's been going on in your world, man?

[D]

A lot. Class of 3000 right now, you know, been ready to put this thing on stage and see class of 3,000, which was the animated show. A lot of people know about that, you know, through their kids. Class of 3000 is an animated show that was on Cartoon Network. The premise is this music superstar, which is voiced by myself, he leads the business and comes back home to Atlanta, Georgia. And at the same time, there's these kids at a performing arts school and they decide, hey, why don't we get this superstar, his name is Sonny Bridges. Why don't we get him to be our music teacher? And so they devised a plan to get him to come and teach at their school. And that's the basis of the whole animated show. And so the Alliance Theater has taken that and they're putting it on stage. So you actually have real people playing these children. And it is hilarious to see, like, these grown people playing kids and embodying a cartoon character.

[E]

Now, the Alliance Theater is responsible for getting the Color Purple up to Broadway. Is that something that you are hopeful for for class of 3,000?

[D]

Well, I want it to go as far as it can go. If it goes, I'd love it. You know, that'd be great.

[C]

You seem to have, like this creative add to me. Like you're always trying to stretch it a little bit. And I don't want to use the word bored, but you always are always stretching yourself a little in so many different areas. And everything that you seem to touch just seems to be successful.

[D]

Well, thank you. And it's funny you say that it is kind of, you know, like a creative add because it's. Have to keep myself excited in a way. You know, I have to kind of keep myself alive. So, you know, I always kind of start things saying, oh, this would be cool. You know, I seldom start anything and say, oh, man, this would. This would make great money, you know, so it's like just ideas. You just try them out and sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. It's all about trying it, you know. Whose idea was it to go and put class of 3000 as a live show? This was the Alliance Theater. That's awesome. You know, they were looking for something to put on stage for their kids and they felt like it was a perfect marriage, you know, the show took place in Atlanta. I'm from Atlanta. It was about music. And of course, you know, music education and just the arts in school, you know, it's kind of dying out right now. They just felt like it was a perfect thing to do. So they contacted Cartoon Network and got me involved. Is amazing.

[C]

It's a great concept, you know. You know, people are going to be curious what's going on with you and outkast because people love to say that the band's not happening anymore, that you guys are done. So why don't you set the record straight?

[D]

Well, right now we're concentrating on. On what? Always record music, man. Right now we're concentrating on these solo albums. And maybe there will be another outcast. We really don't know. It's all about, you know, how do you feel at the time, to be honest. And, you know, we're kind of getting up there in age. I know I'm only 33 when it comes to. When it comes to music, that's like a. Like a hip hop uncle. But it's like, you know, you're always trying to keep yourself excited. So right now I'm just concentrating on, you know, what I feel that's really important. And so I have songs that I really feel like, you know, people need to hear. And Big Boy has songs that he feels like people need to hear right now. And, you know, I go by the studio and check Big Boy out all the time and see what's going on, you know. So it's always, you know, a love kind of thing. But I think, you know, people have to just, you know, realize that it's almost like you growing up in the same house with a brother and eventually, you know, you have to go out and get your own house and family, you know. And I think a Lot of times, because people have seen you together, together for so long. You know, it may seem odd if you go out and, you know, do your own thing, but, you know, I welcome it all. But it's all. It's all good music, man. And then, you know, hopefully we. Another outcast album.

[C]

I want to be totally clear on something here. So you're saying you're open to an outcast album, but there's always the chance that that's never going to happen again.

[D]

Yeah, it's always. It's always. I might not even put out an album. You just. You really don't know. It all depends on how you feel. You know, when we started it, it was just something that, you know, we love to do out of high school. You know, it was never like, you know, okay, we got to do this or we got to do that. You know, it's just however you feel at the time.

[C]

Does quote, unquote, outcast. Just feel like a muscle that's already been flexed to you and you're just ready to start working out? I mean, in a different way now?

[D]

No, because I just feel like if we have something to say, it was always if you have something to say. That's why, I mean, if you look at the Outkast history, we never, like, just, you know, put out, you know, two out, two, three albums a year or anything like that. It was always like, okay, let's do this album, okay? We feel like we got these songs. We feel like we got something to present. Let's do it. You know, it was never, like, you know, contractual. We gotta do two, three albums a year. Okay, let's go ahead and just try to make it, you know, it was always like, okay, what do you have to say right now? What do you wanna present right now? So, you know, I don't wanna, you know, just feed people some mess, you know, so it's always, always open, you know.

[E]

Well, Andre, I love your feature on the John Legend greenlight song. I wanna know how about how that came about, you working with John Legend.

[D]

Really, it was a blessing because the song was done. You know, John had done his part. You know, he sang the Give me the green light part. And the producer of the song, who actually is from Atlanta, he was in the studio and he let me hear the song, and I was like, oh, man, this is something totally different for John. And I felt like it was, you know, such a departure from what he. From what he would. What he's known to do, you know, from just sitting behind the piano. And, you know, singing these great songs. It was kind of like an up beat jam, and I like the song. And so I said, hey, I got something for it. And so he said, yeah, sure, come on in. And so I put down, you know, my little bridge part and then put down, you know, the little lyric rap part, and it just turned out to be what it is now.

[C]

So you did not freestyle that?

[D]

I freestyled the end of it, the tail end.

[C]

I want to play this for you guys. If you don't know what you can.

[D]

If you can hear, it kind of goes. I think it starts when I don't remember. So y' all get to asking people about lyrics, and they like what you do when you're in the studio. You have prepared pieces, and it's supposed to end, but you, like, you're excited, so you just kind of keep going and you just make up stuff. So you can kind of tell when it starts to freestyle because, you know, the rhythm pattern is kind of just, you know, more primitive, and you just kind of just throwing, like, words out, and it starts to sound like a freestyle. And then I just let them know, hey, that was just a freestyle. So, no, the whole thing is not a freestyle. So, you know, I'm not gonna sit up here and act like I made up the whole thing completely. A lot of people will do that, but I ain't gonna lie to you like that. Then the next question would be, okay, freestyle something for us right now. As good as that go. Oh, man, I could not do that too early. This is what's funny. What's funny is I'm not even a great freestyle. Like. Like big boy now. Big boy will freestyle you all day long. But I'm more of a writer, to be honest. And when I did that, it was more just like a having fun kind of thing.

[C]

It's a brilliant piece of the song. And this is the clip that he's talking about. This is the John Legend song. But Andre starts to steal the show here.

[F]

So I went hard like Medusa staring at me. I told her, let's go, let's blow this lame factory. She said, what kind of girl do you think that I are? The kind that you meet in a bar, you think you can get whatever you want. Cause you some kind of star. No, I'm a comic. I just want you, woman hey, if I were you, it'd be would be me that I go home with three the one and only One thing you ain't considered I heard you when you told your girl Ooh we can get it. Admit it, you did it. Let's hop a cab and split it. I'm kidding. We both going to where you living? I got you giggling like a piglet. Oh, that's the ticket. I hope you're more like Anita Bakers than Robert Gibbons. No, I don't know that.

[C]

We all tried spontaneously freestyling on the show one day and we all came up with about two lines and that was. It was the worst 10 minutes of radio we've ever done in our lives.

[D]

The first one was hard.

[C]

The first line, it's brutal. Well, we appreciate your time and we're gonna link on up to the Alliance Theater and we urge you guys to go check out class of 3,000. It's Andre Benji, and we're keeping it here in Atlanta. All right, man.

[D]

Appreciate it. So contact the Alliance Theater to get tickets and come on out. Bring the kids. They'll really enjoy it.

[C]

Yeah, I mean, and I've got kids and I'm always sort of at a loss on weekends what to do with them. There's only. You can only go to Monkey Joe's so many times, you know, and you're sort of like searching for things to do. This is the place that's gonna be now for the next couple of weeks at Alliance Theater. That's right.

[D]

That's right. So we're giving you a little time to take a nap.

[C]

All right, Andre, thanks a lot, man.

[D]

All right, take care, man. Thank you.

[C]

You're on the Birch show.

[B]

It is Ryan Seacrest here. There was a recent social media trend which consisted of flying on a plane with no music, no movies, no entertainment. But a better trend would be going to chumbacasino.com. it's like having a mini social casino in your pocket. Chumba casino has over 100 online casino style games online, all absolutely free. It's the most fun you can have online and on a plane. So grab your free welcome bonus [e-mail] sponsored by Chumba Casino.

[D]

No purchase necessary. VGW Group void where prohibited by law, 21 plus terms and conditions apply.

[E]

With VRBill's last minute deals, you can save over $50 on your spring getaway. So whether it's a mountain escape city break or a week at the beach, there's still time to get great discounts. Book your next day now. Average $72. Select homes only.

[G]

If you're a therapist listening, you already know your work doesn't magically end when the session does. There's scheduling, notes, billing, insurance, follow ups all of the admin that happens before and after the work you actually care about. That's where SimplePractice comes in. SimplePractice is an all in one EHR built specifically for therapists with HIPAA compliant tools and high trust certification. No juggling systems or cutting corners, just to keep things moving. Scheduling, documentation, billing, insurance, client communication, even automated appointment reminders. It all lives in one place. And if you're starting or growing a practice, SimplePractice also offers a credentialing service that helps simplify insurance enrollment, which can be a huge lift alone. It's no surprise SimplePractice is trusted by over 250,000 health and wellness professionals. Start with a seven day free trial, then get 50% off your first three months. Go to SimplePractice.com to claim the offer. That's SimplePractice.com.