The legendary rapper’s highly anticipated debut album serves as a brilliant reintroduction.

By: Sun Noor

André 3000’s first release in over 17 years comes in the form of an ambient record with an emphasis on wind instruments, primarily Mayan flutes. “Warning: no bars,” he mentions in a recent interview with NPR which came with the LP announcement, clarifying rumors surrounding the existence of shelved rap project(s). Getting spotted in random locations with a flute in hand became a quintessential part of his lore in recent years. As well as the subject of many memes, especially during his absence from the public eye. André 3000’s first solo effort arriving in the form of an instrumental record doesn’t seem far off. His newfound musical trajectory feels like a natural step.

In 2006, Outkast released their sixth and final studio album, Idlewild, before an unofficial split. During their heyday, the boundary pushing duo managed to take southern hip-hop to new heights with their expansive artistic palette. The pair were truly ahead of their time, interweaving their sound with elements of jazz, funk, and soul, with a backdrop of eccentrism and afrofuturist visuals, which came organically. The duo’s fresh and innovative ideas not only shaped the culture but pushed it forward. Nearly 20 years following their indefinite hiatus, Outkast remain among the notable figures in hip-hop history, validating 3 Stacks’ point that “the south’s got something to say.” Their commitment to the craft has set the duo apart from their peers. Turning a new page with an album that marks his foray into a new musical style is a testament to André 3000’s devotion to true artistry.

New Blue Sun took form through improvisation with a series of jam sessions with producer/composer Carlos Ninõ, keyboardist Surya Botofasina and multi-instrumentalist Nate Mercereau. Similar to previous OutKast projects, collaboration played a key factor. In an interview with GQ, André mentioned how the album felt most authentic without limitation. The record manifested through collaborative effort with each artist showcasing their strengths, which ultimately resulted in a stunning collection of sounds that somehow presents a cohesive structure. Most of the tracks on New Blue Sun exceed the 10-minute mark, transporting listeners on an unfamiliar path towards a new realm.  

André 3000 credits jazz avant-gardists John and Alice Coltrane, Yusef Lateef and Pharoah Sanders to have been impactful, laying the foundation for the album. “It’s not even like a magical thing. My training was living. My direction was living,” he mentions in his interview with GQ, alluding to the idea of being guided towards creating this oeuvre. The jazz luminaries served as blueprints through exploring the relationship between music and spirituality through their work.  Not only was music a conduit for reaching a higher level of consciousness, but allowing for the music to flow freely became intrinsic to the process. André continues to carry that torch in the present day with their desire to expand the foundations of the genre by allowing art to flow beyond limitation.

New Blue Sun is a personal and audacious journey of profound musical exploration. There’s a sense of freedom that exists within the noisy, emotive, yet minimalist soundscape. It’s almost as though the music transcends the need for words. The lack of lyrics reinforces the sheer power of music and its ability to convey meaning through emotion. Despite coming together unexpectedly, the record captures the moments in between OutKast and André 3k’s prolonged comeback into the public eye. The LP is divided into eight deeply meditative movements seamlessly bound together with the clashing textures. An organized chaos created in community which that feels reminiscent of his early days with the Dungeon Family crew.

New Blue Sun consists of an idiosyncratic blend of noise is presented in a way that is meant to be taken in from start to finish, offering moments of blissful self-reflection. The hilarious and somewhat absurd song titles are a testament to André 3000’s brutal honestly. The tracklist offers a glimpse into the creative process and a recollection of what inspired each song, which ties the body of work together cohesively. The opening track, “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time,” lays the foundation for the immersive listening experience. Not only doesThree Stacks lay it all out by addressing the musical direction but he also reinforces the fact that art knows no bounds, especially when it comes to sharing  a personal narrative.

New Blue Sun doesn’t attempt to make up for “lost time” or convince listeners that it should fill the void of a rap album but instead offers a glimpse into his creative psyche and artistic growth. “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album…” is a dream-like, 12 minute odyssey that evokes a journey across a colourful rainforest, brimming with light. There’s a joyous energy that radiates throughout the track. It’s an gripping introduction for this adventurous album. The mellow synths, subtle bells, wind chimes and cymbals are slowly guide listeners toward the focal point: the flute. The arrangements tone down during the three-minute mark and André’s flute-playing takes center stage, adding depth and character with his graceful and intricate technique. 

Tracks such as, “The Slang Word P(*)ssy Rolls Off the Tongue With Far Better Ease Than the Proper Word” and “BuyPoloDisorder’s Daughter Wears a 3000® Button Down Embroidered,” sound like the perfect themes for space-age films with the balanced mix of off-kilter flute tones and prominent synths, creating a sense of familiarity. Both songs are reminiscent the ambient instrumentals from OutKast’s 1996 album ATLiens, characterized by surrealist, space-age imagery. The futuristic themes can also be traced throughout the hip-hop duo’s catalog through their art direction and innovative approach to rap, which had such an influence on the genre. By fusing digital and analog instruments, André 3000 creates a timeless blend of music led by emotion.

“That Night in Hawaii When I Turned Into a Panther and Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn’t Control … Sh¥t Was Wild,” serves as the albums turning point. It is perhaps the most eerie and unsettling number from the bunch, as the energy shifts and takes a somber turn. The song soundtracks André’s recollection of an Ayahuasca trip, recreating the rattling panther noises. The suspense continues to build up to a crescendo before taking listeners back down to a more peaceful state. The record’s blissful closing track, “Dreams Once Buried Beneath the Dungeon Floor Slowly Sprout Into Undying Gardens,” brings the flute to the forefront, peeling back the layers of noise before culminating with a cacophony of wind arrangements. 

There’s deeply spiritual about the wide range of sentiments that persist throughout the project with experimentations that detail André 3000’s return to music. New Blue Sun’s slow pacing creates a transcendental experience through self-reflection, allowing for contemplation. The musician follows the footsteps of the purveyors of spiritual jazz who found enlightenment through the sheer power of music with enduring bodies of work that demands patience. With each listen, the album paints a clearer picture of what it means to speak freely through music, which holds such a significance. New Blue Sun takes the form of a project that could have only been manifested with time, challenging the idea of making music as a response to the zeitgeist. Not only does this make for a brilliant re-introduction but it also unintentionally details André 3000’s perspective on returning to the spotlight.

New Blue Sun is a testament to reaching new heights by allowing art to speak for itself. Three Stacks’ first solo record offers moment of solace and self-reflection through a beautiful and ominous musical journey with intricately-crafted and deeply personal compositions.