André 3000 recently shared that his unexpected pivot to instrumental flute wasn’t as calculated as it may have seemed. Speaking on LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The Shop podcast on Friday (July 12), he said that he doesn’t want people to think that he’s trying to be a jazz musician. “I kind of look at myself as a sonic displayist. I don’t know what notes I’m playing, to be completely honest. I’m not trying to pretend like I know what I’m doing, in a way. I actually don’t know what I’m doing and that’s part of the art,” he said.
Last November, the OutKast rapper dropped a surprise 87-minute ambient flute record project, marking his first solo album in 17 years. Fans were surprised to discover that rather than the rap album they had been anticipating, they got new direction and sound from André. Explaining the new creative direction of ‘New Blue Sun’, which marks his second creation since his hiatus, he admitted that he felt he’d aged out of the genre that kick-started his career.
At the time of ‘New Blue Sun’s release, other rappers expressed their surprise and heartbreak at André 3000’s decision, such as Ja Rule and Lil Wayne. Even though there may be little direction behind the new tracks, it didn’t stop them from breaking records. Opening track ‘I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a “Rap” Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time’ was the longest-ever song to enter the Billboard Hot 100, clocking in at 12 minutes and 20 seconds.
André 3000 recently announced a fresh series of shows in the US later this year, following the success of his US tour earlier in the Spring. Fans in Europe can also catch André 3000 at Øyafestival and All Points East. He’s also joining We Out Here 2024 alongside Sampha, Corinne Bailey Rae, and more. André 3000 is creating a new path and continues to take steps to ensure he is evolving as an artist. He is always ready to challenge people’s perspectives and shows that he is willing to follow his creative curiosity wherever it leads him
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