CONDOLENCES SENT TO ANDRE 3000 AFTER SUFFERING THE LOSS OF HIS MOTHER ON HIS 38TH BIRTHDAY

ANDRE "3000" BENJAMIN

Andre "3000" Benjamin is suffering the loss of his mother Sharon Benjamin-Hodo, who passed away earlier this week.
The cause and time of death are both unconfirmed, but Billboard.com received confirmation of Benjamin-Hodo's passing from a representative for the rapper, actor and music producer. According to unconfirmed reports, she died at her Atlanta home on Monday, Andre's 38th birthday.

Benjamin-Hodo founded the Starlight Camp for underprivileged children, an organization that she ran out of the New Morning Light Missionary Baptist Church in Conley, Georgia. The Benjamin family respectfully asks that well-wishers support the Starlight Camp instead of sending flowers.


SHARON BENJAMIN-HODO

Andre began his career in rap as a teenager when he and his partner Antwan "Big Boi" Patton formed the group OutKast and released their 1994 debut Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.

His mom played a role as one of the duo's managers early on. Together they've released five multiplatinum group albums, plus a soundtrack to their film "Idlewild." In the seven years since the Idlewild soundtrack was released, Andre has done a number of solo musical appearances and has also starred in a number of films like "Be Cool," "Four Brothers" and "Semi-Pro" with Will Ferrell.

A number of hip-hop figures logged on to Twitter to send their condolences to Andre 3000 and the Benjamin-Hodo family.

"My condolences go out to Dre, and the entire Benjamin-Hodo family," Jermaine Dupri wrote Tuesday morning.

"Pray for the good brother Andre 3000 and his family...," added producer 9th Wonder.