André 3000 to release first album since Outkast break-up 17 years ago
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
New album FILE PHOTO: André 3000 of 'Dispatches from Elsewhere' speaks onstage during the AMC Networks portion of the Winter 2020 TCA Press Tour on January 16, 2020 in Pasadena, California. He is dropping a new album this week, the first full album in 17 years. (Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
(Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
For the first time in nearly two decades, André 3000 is releasing a new album.
“New Blue Sun” will drop on Friday. It is the first album the performer has released since his former group Outkast broke up 17 years ago. He made the announcement during an interview with NPR.
The album is not what Outkast fans may be expecting or be used to.
As NPR described it, “New Blue Sun” is a stunning 87-minute mind-bender, minimalist and experimental, tribal and transcendent.
The album is instrumental, highlighting woodwinds. It will have no rap lyrics. Deadline reported that the album will come with a label warning as such.
It will feature André 3000 on various woodwind instruments, including digital flutes, Carlos Niño on percussion and Nate Mercereau on guitar, the artist told NPR.
The opening track is called “I swear, I Really Wanted To Make A ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time,” USA Today reported.
While this isn’t the first music André 3000 has released over the past 17 years, it is the first full-length album, the outlet reported.
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Through the years Big Boi and Andre Benjamin of Outkast during The 1999 Source Hip-Hop Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc) (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
Through the years Andre 3000 of OutKast performs during The 28th Annual American Music Awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage) (Steve Granitz/WireImage)
Through the years THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO -- Episode 1974 -- Pictured: (l-r) Musical guests André 3000, Antwan "Big Boi" Patton of Outkast during an interview with host Jay Leno on January 9, 2001 -- (Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via)
Through the years Andre 3000 of OutKast during 2001 MTV Video Music Awards - Arrivals at The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage) (Theo Wargo/WireImage)
Through the years Gwen Stefani of No Doubt and Andre 3000 of OutKast (Photo by KMazur/WireImage) (KMazur/WireImage)
Through the years Andre 3000 during Official Celebrity Gift Lounge - Super Bowl XL - Produced by On 3 Productions - Day 3 at Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan, United States. (Photo by Mychal Watts/NFLPhotoLibrary for ON 3 PRODUCTIONS) (Mychal Watts/Getty Images)
Through the years INDIO, CA - APRIL 18: Andre 3000 (L) and Big Boi of Outkast perform onstage during day 1 of the 2014 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 18, 2014 in Indio, California (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella) (Kevin Winter)
Through the years DOVER, DE - JUNE 21: Andre 3000 of Outkast performs onstage during day 3 of the Firefly Music Festival on June 21, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Firefly Music Festival) (Theo Wargo)
Through the years CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 02: Andre 3000 of Outkast performs at Samsung Galaxy stage during 2014 Lollapalooza Day Two at Grant Park on August 2, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images) (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 22: Actor Andre Benjamin arrives to the Los Angeles premiere of "Jimi: All Is By My Side" at ArcLight Cinemas on September 22, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Through the years SANTA MONICA, CA - FEBRUARY 21: Andre Benjamin poses outside the Heineken tent during the 30th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards at Santa Monica Beach on February 21, 2015 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Heineken) (Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Heineken)
Through the years PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 09: Actor Andre Benjamin listens onstage during ABC's American Crime panel as part of the ABC Networks portion of the 2016 Television Critics Association Winter Tour at Langham Hotel on January 9, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JUNE 23: Rapper Andre 3000 (R) speaks onstage as (L-R) Cheryl Boyce-Taylor, mother of the late rapper Phife Dawg, rappers Q-Tip, Jarobi White, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest accept the ASCAP Golden Note Award during the 2016 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on June 23, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Getty Images) (Earl Gibson III/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 02: Robert Pattinson and Andre Benjamin attend the 56th New York Film Festival screening of "High Life" at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on October 2, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Through the years PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 16: André Benjamin of 'Dispatches from Elsewhere' attends the AMC Networks portion of the Winter 2020 TCA Press Tour on January 16, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images) (Andrew Toth/Getty Images)
