Name	Andre Benjamin
Height	5' 10"
Naionality	American
Date of Birth	27 May 1975
Place of Birth	Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Famous for

Andre Benjamin, along with Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, immediately signed “Outkast” to the LaFace label in 1992. With Organized Noize, a group of local producers, Outkast released their debut album titled Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994) and dispatched the Billboard Rap Chart No.1 single “Player’s Ball.” Offering a blend of hip-hop, southern guitar and laid-back 70’s-style soul, the album debuted at No.3 on the Hip-hop Album Chart and received platinum certification. It also earned a 4.5 mic rating, out of 5, from The Source Magazine, making Outkast the winner of the 1995 Source award for Best New Rap Group.

Branching out to acting, Benjamin appeared in an unaccredited role as a street radical in the sci-fi series “Sliders” (1995). After having minor parts in the comedy Urban Safari (1996, as a homeless man) and the TV drama In the Lake of the Woods (1996, played Weatherby), he was cast as Barry Clout in the drama Mother Trucker: The Diana Kilmury Story (1996, TV). The artist was also seen as Willie the Guard in the drama thriller Profile for Murder (1996).

Outkast’ successful debut was ensued by the group’s sophomore recording ATLiens (1996), which featured Outkast’s first self-produced single “Elevators (Me & You).” Selling 1.5 million copies, the album went platinum within a few weeks after release and peaked at No.2 on the Billboard Top 200. In 1998, Outkast launched the album Aquemini with the lead song “Rosa Parks.” The phenomenal single, which was nominated for a Grammy, apparently triggered a lawsuit from the titular activist’ offspring over the “unlawful appropriation of her name.” Meanwhile, Benjamin also made episodic performance in several series, like “Poltergeist: The Legacy” (1997) and “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show” (1998).

Stankonia (2000), Outkast’s fourth album, fared better for its tuneful mix of classic P-Funk beats with rock. Soon, it reached multiple-platinum status and won critical recognition, such as a Grammy for Best Rap Album and a World Music award for World’s Best-Selling Rap Group. Its first single, “Ms. Jackson,” received another Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, and an MTV Video Music award for Best Hip-Hop Video. “Ms. Jackson,” which was addressed to the mother of Andre Benjamin’s lover Erykah Badu, also earned a MTV Video Music award nomination for Best Direction. Stankonia also featured the tracks “Bombs Over Baghdad (B.O.B.)” and “So Fresh, So Clean.”

The duo resumed their success with a greatest hits album titled Big Boi and Dre Present...OutKast (2001), in which Benjamin and Big Boi introduced three new songs, including the Grammy-winning “The Whole World.” The same year, Benjamin and Big Boi joined hip-hoppers Snoop Dogg and Mya to make an English dub of the Korean film WaSanGo (2001).

The recipient of a BET award for Best Group (2002) and an American Music award for Favorite Hip-Hop/R&B Group (2003) hit the jackpot after issuing the double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003). The Outkast’s release consisted of Benjamin’s funk, R&B and pop elements in his The Love Below, as well as Big Boi’s hip-hop and party sound in his Speakerboxxx. Aside from Big Boi’s single “The Way You Move,” the double recording earned heavy rotation for Benjamin’s international track “Hey Ya.” The catchy latter song was granted a Soul Train Music award, a BET award, two MTV Europe awards, four MTV Video Music awards and a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice award. Furthermore, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below swept up three Grammys, an American Music award and a Soul Train Music award, whereas Outkast received numerous Best Group awards.

Benjamin, who previously appeared in the detective thriller Hollywood Homicide (2003) and an episode of “The Shield” (2004), acquired his first major role in the sequel of Get Shorty (1995), Be Cool (2005, as Dabu). The same year, the performer joined director Guy Ritchie and played Avi in the thriller Revolver before making his landmark turn in John Singleton’s Four Brothers, in which he costarred as Jeremiah Mercer, alongside Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson and Garrett Hedlund.

After being cast as Jack in David Zucker’s spoof movie Scary Movie 4 (2006), Benjamin reunited with Big Boi to star in the drama Idlewild (2006). For the music-themed movie, the two artists also provided the soundtrack. Also in 2006, Benjamin’s voice will be heard as Elwyn the Crow in the family movie Charlotte’s Web.

Benjamin is set to voice Sunny Bridges in the upcoming, self-produced animated series “Class of 3000.”