André 3000 is set to star in his first TV role, ABC’s American Crime, the ABC drama whose first season was nominated for 10 Emmy Awards and three Golden Globes. He plays an architect and husband to series star Regina King’s character. Three Stacks states that his relationship with director John Ridley is what got him interested in the role. The two worked together on Jimi: All Is by My Side, where André played legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix.

In an interview with Billboard, the rapper discusses his yearning to do more music and how his surprise collaboration with Erykah Badu came about.

“I still get time to think about music. [Shooting TV and film projects] is not so bad — it kind of puts you in the place where you’re fiending to do music. I’ve been holding [back] for a long time, so now I’m really interested in figuring out some type of music to do. I’m always recording.”

He also talks about current music that he enjoys, “The new Kid Cudi album [Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven] is awesome to me. That’s kind of like the most recent thing that I think is really great.”

Referencing the origins of his collaboration with Erykah Badu, “Our son Seven and I were trying to figure out songs that could help her — songs that were related to the subject of the mixtape: phones. We came across [The Isley Brothers’ 1974 cover of Todd Rundgren’s] Hello, It’s Me. Ron Isley repeats the phrase “hello, hello” as if he was answering the phone. I told Erykah, “You should make this into a new song and get somebody to rap on it.” She was like, “Well, you should rap on it!” I’m happy it happened. It was a great reunion because I don’t think people have heard a song from us in ages.”

Check out Hello here.

• Words: Livelle Mobley