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Andre 3000's surprise album is entirely instrumental; he plays the flute on New Blue Sun on all eight tracks, for one hour and 27 minutes. This is the musician's first album in what feels like eons, especially for his original fans who love his group, Outkast. Andre and Big Boi formed Outkast in the early '90s and received great musical success with five studio albums and the Idlewild soundtrack. Yet, the group's final album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, shocked the duo's fan base—it wasn't officially a group album but two solo projects; Andre's album was The Love Below, and Big Boi's was Speakerboxxx. Nevertheless, GQ reminds us "the album went certified platinum for the 13th time, making it the best-selling rap album in history." Andre's musical interests shifted—he reportedly no longer wanted to tour, interview, or create the same musical projects. Over the years, he's seemed to disappear. His limited public sightings usually go viral. A fan reportedly saw him in Japan, carrying his flute—the rapper gave a warm smiled, a quick acknowledgment, then walked away. Nevertheless, his fans are happy he's returned, even if his album is an instrumental!
In an interview with GQ, 3000 explained his struggle with deciding not to make another rap album; the Atlanta native stated, "I swear, I Really Wanted To Make A 'Rap' Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time." And he did try, he says. "I've worked with some of the newest, freshest, youngest, and old-school producers. I get beats all the time. I try to write all the time." But rap is not what comes. "Even now people think, Oh, man, he's just sitting on raps, or he's just holding these raps hostage. I ain't got no raps like that. It actually feels…sometimes it feels inauthentic for me to rap because I don't have anything to talk about in that way. I'm 48 years old. And not to say that age is a thing that dictates what you rap about, but in a way it does. And things that happen in my life, like, what are you talking about? 'I got to go get a colonoscopy.' What are you rapping about? 'My eyesight is going bad.' You can find cool ways to say it, but…."
The southern rapper reportedly believes another rap album is possible. I suppose we Outkast fans can always hope and dream! To follow this story and other news, click the link to become a Volume 82 site member.
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