Comeback player of the year: Andre 3000

At the 2007 BET Hip-Hop Awards taping last Saturday, Oct. 13, DJ Drama spun his usual Gangsta Grillz mix during the event’s frequent production intervals. (During the three-hour taping, there was a performance and an award presentation, followed by a short intermission while BET’s producers set up the next performance.) I wish DJ Drama had reflected the international spirit of the awards by incorporating music from other regions, but he frustratingly stuck to his all-Southern, all-gangsta repertoire. One track he played perked my ears, however: a killer cut from Mr. Three Stacks.

Yes, Andre 3000 has destroyed yet another remix this year. It’s the remix to Jay-Z’s “30 Something” cut from Kingdom Come, and Andre breathes fire on it. I know it’s only October, but can we just give the Comeback Player of the Year award to him already? If you need more convincing, read Rodney Carmichael’s story on Andre 3000 in CL’s Aug. 1 issue here.

Today, MTV.com’s Mixtape Monday column reported that DJ Drama is releasing a new Gangsta Grillz mix CD (Gangsta Grillz 17: The Album B4 the Album) as a prelude to his Gangsta Grillz album, which finally drops Dec. 4. (More on that later.) The mix CD will include Andre 3000’s take on “30 Something.” But if you can’t wait that long, Concreteloop.com just posted a version of the track for your downloading pleasure.