André 3000 is finally speaking out about the drama surrounding the release of “Life of the Party,” a track that was supposed to be on Kanye West’s Donda album. On a recent episode of The New York Times Popcast, he spoke about the creative journey behind the song and the surprise leak that caused controversy between two of hip-hop’s biggest names: Kanye West and Drake.
It started about nearly three years ago when Kanye, now referred to as Ye, contacted André 3000 for his take on Donda. He inquired whether André would like to contribute to the project. André was initially unsure, but while listening to different beats, including “Life of the Party,” he finally got inspired. That song is particularly meaningful for him as a tribute to his late mother; he expressed feelings many can identify with.
When Kanye wanted to keep the album free of explicit language, things started to take a turn for conflict. The verse André performed had some curse words, and he felt it was important to keep it raw and as emotionally honest as possible. Insisting that Kanye remove the profanity, André would have preferred to step away from the track rather than compromise in lyric integrity.
“I wanted my verse to reflect my truth,” André stated. “It was about my mother and the conversations I wish I could still have with her.”
Things took a dramatic turn in the very public fight between Kanye West and Drake. Last September, Drake appeared as a guest DJ on his SiriusXM Sound 42 show and played the never-officially-released “Life of the Party,” which included André’s untouched verse and Kanye shots aimed at Drake-which André has since clarified he had no part in writing.
“I didn’t know about the diss ’til the song leaked,” André says. “My verse wasn’t supposed to add to their beef-it was an ode to my mom and Kanye’s mom. It was never about the drama.”
After all of that, however, André seemed to enjoy this leak because it gave his verse the audience it warranted: “I’m thankful Drake shared it. Now people can hear the message I poured my heart into.”
After all of that, however, André seemed to enjoy this leak because it gave his verse the audience it warranted: “I’m thankful Drake shared it. Now people can hear the message I poured my heart into.”
The verse also extends to Kanye’s late mother, Donda, thus bringing together two artists who lost someone in their lives. This universality and raw emotion are exactly what André had hoped to convey to his fans, and it is quite evident that the verse has struck an emotional chord with many.
When Donda Deluxe finally materialized in late 2021, “Life of the Party” arrived officially—sans Drake diss. The final version kept André’s stirring verse, and Kanye dialed up reflections over the beef that had powered the leak.
This move returned the song to its original purpose: an ode to family and a reflection on loss. Critics praised André’s contribution for its rawness, which made him one of the most introspective lyricists in hip-hop. In this frank talk, André 3000 brought forth the idea that more than a means of entertainment, music can interface with people; one can let out one’s soul by revealing one’s story to fans through songs.
Though the leak was highly criticized, it also led to discourse on vulnerability in hip-hop. More than entertainers, artists such as André are storytellers who can bring personal experiences to the world to create and design their artistic work.
