Hip-hop has been in a tough place over the years, and a lot of it has to do with the negative and troubling vibes of the world around it. In 2014, both the unwarranted deaths of Mike Brown and Eric Garner by police officers sparked intense protests around the country, and outrage, pain, and fear within the minority community. Police brutality has been a fiery topic of discussion ever since, and racial discrimination has been brought to the evident surface.

Despite the tragic events occurring from police brutality incidents, in every dark cloud, there comes a silver lining. These issues and high emotions have brought some of the best work rap has seen in a long time. J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, King Los, and so many more have put out some of their best work by channeling that pain and outrage, mainly sparked by racial discrimination by police, corporations, and populations of people. This may be the perfect time for Andre 3000 to join in with his impeccable wisdom.

While performing last year with Big Boi, Three Stacks sported a black jumpsuit with a different message on each one. One of the most memorable read, “Across cultures, darker people suffer most. Why?” If that’s any consolation of Andre’s daily brain pickings, then it’s only evident this is the year he needs to be heard.

The youth that has been so widely criticized for their music taste is finally proving that their ears are open, and there’s no reason for them to turn down the necessary knowledge Andre will give. The world is finally giving hip-hop a deeper listen. Why would he let that opportunity slip away again? Beats me. The time is now for Andre to release the magic, and for us to cling to his every word. –Lindsey India