Dedicated fans of André 3000 have long awaited a new solo album, and their patience is about to be rewarded. The iconic artist, also known as 3 Stacks, recently revealed that he will release a fresh instrumental album titled New Blue Sun on November 17th.
While many fans will undoubtedly celebrate this announcement, there's a catch – the album, described by NPR as a "stunning 87-minute mind-bender, minimalist and experimental, tribal and transcendent," is devoid of vocals. The first track humorously titled ‘I Really Wanted To Make A Rap Album, But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time’ sets the tone for the unique musical experience.
For those eager to immerse themselves in this avant-garde project, pre-saving, pre-adding, and pre-ordering options are available here. In a recent interview with NPR, André 3000 addressed the potential disappointment for fans expecting traditional rap elements, stating:
I don’t want to troll people. I don’t want people to think, Oh, this André 3000 album is coming! And you play it and like, Oh man, no verses. So even actually on the packaging, you’ll see it says, “Warning: no bars.”
It’s letting you know what it is off the top. But also, I love rap music because it was a part of my youth. So I would love to be out here with everybody rapping, because it’s almost like fun and being on the playground. I would love to be out here playing with everybody, but it’s just not happening for me. This is the realest thing that’s coming right now. Not to say that I would never do it again, but those are not the things that are coming right now. And I have to present what’s given to me at the time.
The artist further expressed his love for rap music, acknowledging its significance in his youth. Despite his affinity for the genre, he emphasized that the current release reflects the artistic direction he's compelled to take at this moment. In his own words, "This is the realest thing that’s coming right now. Not to say that I would never do it again, but those are not the things that are coming right now. And I have to present what’s given to me at the time."