André 3000 is most recognized for his contributions to the hip-hop group Outkast, with whom he collaborated with Big Boi to produce chart-topping singles such as “Ms. Jackson,” “Hey Ya!” and “The Way You Move.” Together, the pair won a Grammy for their work. Although he has rapped with artists such as Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and Erykah Badu, he has not released an album under his own name until now, and it is not what anybody anticipated it to be.
On Tuesday, André shared the news that he will soon release his first solo album, titled New Blue Sun. This collection of songs would only include instrumental woodwind music. The eight-track compilation, which is scheduled to be released on Friday, is a significant departure from his prior creative output, something he is well aware of. (And don’t worry: he is not going to stop making rap music altogether.)
“I’ve been interested in winds for a long time, so it was just a natural progression for me to go into flutes,” André, 48, said in a statement. André had previously shown his woodwind abilities on the song “She Lives in My Lap” by Outkast from 2003 and on “Where’s the Catch?” by James Blake from 2019.
The performer of “Roses” is aware that his fans have been expecting him to release a full-length rap album during his decades-long career. He makes a reference to this fact in the title of the first track, which is 12 minutes long and is called “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a Rap Album But This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time.”
In a second statement to the press, André referred to the belief held by certain of his followers that he would never release a solo rap album as a “misconception” among those followers. “I think people feel like I’m sitting around on rap albums, or sitting around and I’m just not putting them out in that way,” he said. “I think people feel that way because I’m not putting them out in that way.” “And no, it’s not like that,” he said. “No, it’s not like that.”
André was honest enough to declare, “In my mind, I really would like to make a rap album.” “So maybe that happens one day, but I got to find a way to say what I want to say in an interesting way that’s appealing to me at this age.”
Andre wanted to give fans something familiar to connect with on New Blue Sun, so he devised various tongue-in-cheek track names such as “The Slang Word P(*)ssy Rolls Off the Tongue with Far Better Ease Than the Proper Word Vagina.” Despite the fact that his creative wordplay is not evident on this album, Andre wanted to offer fans something familiar to connect with on New Blue Sun. Are You in Agreement?”
He elaborated on this idea by releasing a statement in which he said, “A lot of times I think people, especially Black people in the hood, look at it like, ‘Oh, those people over there.'” It’s almost like a physical disconnect. Because of this, we tried to keep the song titles lighthearted and humorous a good deal of the time. Or, since I wanted to maintain a sense of buoyancy, we got a little bit rough at times. Or you could simply strike a balance between the two and make it so that people can’t resist coming in.”
Upon the announcement of the album, André gave an interview to the All Songs Considered program on NPR. During the course of the conversation, he spoke on how he did not want his listeners to be surprised by the genre shift on his next album.
“I have no intention of trolling anybody. I don’t want people to assume, “Oh, this André 3000 album is on the way!” because I don’t want it to happen. And when you play it, you’re like, ‘Oh man, there are no verses.’ “So even actually on the packaging, you’ll see it says, ‘Warning: no bars,'” he told the site. “So even on the packaging, you’ll see it says, ‘Warning: no bars.'”
“It is informing you right away what it is,” the speaker says. In addition to this, I have a deep appreciation for rap music since I grew up listening to it. The rapper continued by saying, “Therefore, I would give anything to be out here with everybody rapping, because it’s almost like having fun and being on the playground.” “I would love to be out here playing with everybody, but it’s just not happening for me.”
In reference to New Blue Sun, he made the following assertion: “This is the realest thing that is coming right now.” That is not to say that I would never do it again in the future, but such things are not on the immediate horizon. And I am obligated to provide whatever it is that I am given at the moment.”