ANDRE 3000 IS BACK AND HE BROUGHT HIS FLUTE

It's been years since the rap legend released new music. Now, on his own creative terms, he's unveiling his first solo project-and talking candidly about where he's been, how he's changed, and why he made an album that nobody could have expected.

- ZACH BARON

WHEN ANDRÉ 3000 was a kid, he used to get on his knees and recite what he called the Rapper's Prayer, which was what it sounds like it was: Lord, we just want to be good rappers. Then he grew up a little and, with his friend Big Boi, who used to kneel and pray beside him, formed OutKast. OutKast turned out to be more than good-the group was great, among the greatest of all time. This year, the duo's fifth album, 2003's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, was certified platinum for the 13th time, making it the best-selling rap album in history. André has been wrestling with the consequences of that childhood prayer ever since it was answered. "That's life: You want what you want until you don't want it," he says, laughing a little. "I don't regret any of that, but it's kind of like now that I'm at a certain level, I miss certain things about normalcy."

That's why he comes here, to this laundromat on the Westside of Los Angeles, not far from his house in Venice. One of the reasons, anyway. "It gives me a chance to be out in the world," he says. (Another reason: The industrial washers and dryers are faster than the ones he has at home.) The other customers notice him but don't recognize him, usually. "I'm older now, so a lot of people, they see me: 'You look like him, but nah, that ain't 3000.""