Outkast’s Andre
“Andre 3000” Benjamin appeared at the Democratic National Convention
and the Republican National Convention to conduct interviews for an upcoming documentary.
The untitled project
is being made for HBO and focuses on the rapper’s change from musician
to voter registration activist.
Benjamin interviewed
John Kerry’s daughters and on Tuesday, he interviewed current President
Geoge Bush Jr.’s daughters Jenna and Barbara Bush.
The two mentioned
mentioned Outkast and alluded to the group’s big hit “Hey Ya” in
their convention speech to the Republicans.
“Contrary
to what you might read in the papers, our parents are actually kind of cool,”
Jenna Bush said. “They do know the difference between mono and Bono. When
we tell them we’re going to see Outkast, they know it’s a band and not a bunch
of misfits. And if we really beg them, they’ll even shake it like a Polaroid
picture.”
Benjamin works
with the nonpartisan group "Declare Yourself," the organization founded
by legendary TV producer Norman Lear. Benjamin will vote for the first time
in November.
"Stuff came
up," Benjamin told The Atlanta Journal Constitution in May. “I was
out of town, I couldn’t see how my vote would matter. It just wasn’t that important
to me.”
Benjamin said he
was enthusiastic about casting his first vote.
"Sometimes
entertainers — movie stars and rappers — have even more power than
politicians,” the rapper reasoned. “Sometimes all it takes is one
or two people in the public eye to get people to vote.”
Declare Yourself
was also the group behind the “Declaration of Independence Road Trip,”
which showcased an original copy of the historic document at a number of venue’s,
including Sean “P. Diddy” Combs’ annual “White Party.”
