Outkast wanted Anita Baker on album

Outkast stars Andre 3000 (pictured) and Big Boi are such big fans of soul veteran Anita Baker, they asked her to appear on their hit album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.

But Baker, who recently made a return to the music world after a 10-year absence, decided to decline the offer, even though she was flattered.

She says: "Andre and Big Boi's people called me long ago, when I didn't have a record deal, to work on Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, and I was honoured, but I declined.

"I respect their expression. But I'm only interested in singing my own expression. That's just what's in my heart and gut. I'm just trying to be who I am and be comfortable in that. That's just all I want to do."