Fridae

Outkast's Andre 3000 does the ATL proud. The savvy hip hop artist took a few questions in the backstage press room at MTV Video Music Awards 2006 after he presented the award for Best Hip Hop Video to The Black Eyed Peas. Casually dressed in a white shirt, baseball cap and brown leather knee boots, he took the opportunity behind the podium to talk about Outkast's new movie "Idlewild." He also dispelled rumours that he and Big Boi split and plan to put an end to Outkast. "That is not going to happen," he said.

He also revealed that he has written three songs for Gwen Stefani's new album that she is currently recording. He hopes she will use the tracks he's submitted for her.

Andre 3000 is widely recognized as an innovator in hip hop music. I was curious what his thoughts were about Kanye West's remarks last year about putting an end to homophobia in rap and hip hop. Without any hesitation, Andre used this very public (and mainstream) VMA forum to show his support for gays as well.

"Honestly, when I was younger I used to be in the same position that most people in hip hop feel about it because you just don't know, you don't know a lot about it," Andre 3000 said in response to my question.

"As I got older, I had to step back and say, well, the name of my group is Outkast and I represent all kinds of outcasts so it would be crazy for me to down a group of people [who] have their own viewpoints, and so my thing is that whatever floats your boat that's your thing. I'm not with downing people."

Listen to his entire statement: