Latest news with #André3000
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
André 3000's No Bars Era: What It Means For Hip-Hop And Jazz Fans
As André 3000 turns 50, the backlash over his refusal to rap on recent projects like 'New Blue Sun' and '7 Piano Sketches,' reveals more about the hip-hop community's resistance to artistic growth than any failure on his part. People were expecting the 'Da Art of Storytellin'' 3K. The 'Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik' 3K. The 'Ms. Jackson' 3K. The 'Hey Ya!' 3K. However, that was over two decades ago. André was in his early thirties when Outkast released their last album, Idlewild, in 2006. Before dropping his first solo album, he certainly dropped bars across the hip-hop universe. Three Stacks and Big Boi reunited Outkast for the highly anticipated 2007 UGK collaboration 'International Players Anthem,' hopped on Erykah Badu's 2015 'Hello,' worked with Frank Ocean twice ('Pink Matter' and 'Solo'), appeared on N.E.R.D.'s 'Rollinem 7s,' and made several more surprise features with Rick Ross, Anderson .Paak, and James Blake. His last collaboration before 2023's New Blue Sun was with Kanye West, where he dropped bars on 'Life of the Party,' once again fueling hip-hop fans' desire to witness a living 3 Stacks bless the masses with profound, modernized bars. However, they were not prepared for what the Outkast emcee had in store. On Tuesday, the world commemorated André 3000 as he welcomed the ripe age of 50. For an adult man, this is typically a time for thorough self-reassessment. According to a German study by Dr. Kurt Seikowski on men and midlife crisis, as a man approaches 50, he is poised to qualitatively reorient himself. I am not suggesting that André 3000's recent projects are a reflection of the negative aspects often associated with a midlife crisis. Rather, I advocate the view that these works are the product of a legendary emcee's personal reinvention as he officially enters the next phase of his life—also a testament to his intellectual rigor. Moreover, the backlash that New Blue Sun and its successor EP, 7 Piano Sketches, received from a fraction of the hip-hop community suggests a growing forgetfulness of hip-hop's long-standing relationship with jazz. New Blue Sun was foreseen as the highly anticipated solo debut of André 3000, a man who, alongside Big Boi, is solidified as a hip-hop legend as a member of one of the most influential duos in hip-hop history, Outkast. Of course, it is 3 Stacks' signature cadential flow, displayed throughout the Outkast discography, that hip-hop heads were anticipating an aural blessing from. As warned on the cover of the work—adorned with an outline of the seasoned flutist and featuring a hard-to-miss lime green label: No Bars. The album is almost entirely instrumental, featuring a polyphonic blend of percussion, strings, keyboards, synths, and woodwinds, with André's flute driving the downbeat. There are only faint, textural vocals performed by Mia Doi Todd. Other than that, no vocals. No bars. This ruffled some hip-hop heads, who utterly dismissed André's official foray into jazz musicianship. Not only did a portion of hip-hop heads criticize the lack of rapping, but others accused the album and its various movements of lacking rhythm—a critique reminiscent of Western composers who once dismissed the advent of jazz. This is ironic, given that jazz is a precursor to hip-hop culture, forms a subgenre within it, and is heavily in classic hip-hop records, from Duke Ellington and John Coltrane to Miles Davis. The defining mark of jazz music is the act of improvisation. André 3000's recent works, including 7 Piano Sketches, feature an elementary approach to improv, as the hip-hop icon describes it, he simply spreads his 'fingers out on the keys and randomly but with purpose moves them around until' he found 'something that feels good or interesting.' This same 'feel good' spontaneity is present in Louis Armstrong's trumpet cadenza on 'West End Blues,' in Miles Davis' open trumpet solo on 'So What,' and in the four-note motif John Coltrane springs in 'A Love Supreme.' For those who listen to Fela Kuti, the Afrobeat pioneer and jazz enthusiast—improvisation is also the signature of his infectious musical movements. Some 20th-century critics held biased views about jazz, deeming it unoriginal, nonlinguistic, and musically untutored, ultimately suggesting a certain feebleness in the genre due to its embrace of improvisation. Sociologist William Bruce Cameron described jazz 'non-literate,' while others, such as British composer Constant Lambert, initially expressed a racist, anti-jazz bias. Lambert later conceded that a 'small section' of the jazz technique was 'genuinely negroid' and based on 'sophisticated material,' ultimately acknowledging its intellectual rigor. The criticism of the lack of rapping on André 3000's recent works is telling as to a certain forgetfulness, or perhaps unawareness, among some hip-hop heads, particularly those who value lyrical virtuosity, regarding hip-hop's historical connection to jazz. During hip-hop's golden era in the late 1980s and early 1990s, jazz rap emerged just as gangsta rap and pop rap were dominating the airwaves and climbing the charts. Thanks to crews like the Native Tongues (A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, etc), Digable Planets, and Gangstarr, jazz class acts like Ron Carter, Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker, Herbie Hancock, alongside a plethora of jazz-infused funk records (including the drum breaks on Bill Wither's 'Use Me' and the horn licks from Kool and the Gang's 'N.T')—jazz rap came into fruition through sampling and brewed a profound subculture. This subgenre stands out for its socially, politically, and spiritually charged lyrics and themes rooted in Afrocentricism. The culture of jazz rap often thrived in underground cafés, jazz clubs, record stores, niche unauthorized radio stations, and college campuses—including HBCUs like Howard, R1 institutions like NYU, and Ivy Leagues like Columbia. Its grand favor among college students is attributed to the subgenre's lyrical complexity, philosophical depth, and pro-Black rhetoric, all of which are seen as intellectually engaging. Jazz rap has frequently been regarded as an elite cerebral art form, with a magnetic pull for a highbrow, cultivated, and educated audience. With the documented history between jazz and hip-hop, it's reasonable to expect any practitioner of the genre to pursue a jazz musicianship in singularity. André 3000 appeared at this year's Black Dandyism-themed Met Gala, dawning a seven key piano shaped ensemble—a clever marketing ploy for his latest work, 7 Piano Sketches. Time and space are central to this work, as André revealed, most of the album was recorded over a decade ago on his iPhone and laptop while he and his son were renting a house in Texas. The music was recorded through pure emotional trial and error, rendezvousing his favorite piano composers, including Thelonious Monk, Phillip Glass, and Joni Mitchell. Though the release may have seemed sporadic and impromptu, it ultimately moreover solidifies the Outkast emcee's commitment to creating and releasing instrumental movements, professionally. These last two works are not the first time he is showcasing this ability. It has been burgeoning since the prime of Outkast. On Outkast's 2003 'My Favorite Things,' 3 Stacks played and arranged the piano which was a tribute to the great John Coltrane. In 2018, he released the EP Look Ma No Hands, featuring James Blake on the piano, which André himself on the base clarinetist—a straight up jazz piece and ode to his late mother, marking his first true jazz project which also shocked hip-hop heads. Over the past decade, he has also been spotted amid the wilderness of American civilization, unapologetically playing his flute on the corners of Soho, on church steps in Philly, and at airports throughout. New Blue Sun was nominated for two Grammys this year—Album of the Year and Best Alternative Jazz Album. While a portion of hip-hop heads disfavored the absence of rapping, jazz enthusiasts and abstract music lovers embraced the work. It is a reality to face regarding the nature of this backlash: although hip-hop heads are under no obligation to favor the work, it is fair to suggest that objectivity should be applied when evaluating the work. Consider the stage of life 3 Stacks is in, and acknowledge a potentially haunting reality for hip-hop heads: one of your top three might just evolve out of rap.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Miley Cyrus, André 3000, Tyla, and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week
Welcome to our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more. This week, Miley Cyrus shows off her powerhouse vocals on a twinkling ballad, André 3000 ditches his flute for the piano, and Tyla finds a slice of paradise just in time for summer. Plus, new music from the Weeknd, Playboi Carti, Doechii, Fiona Apple, and Karol G. Miley Cyrus, 'More to Lose' (YouTube) More from Rolling Stone Miley Cyrus Unveils Raw, Emotional Video for New Single 'More to Lose' André 3000's Piano Record Is a Bold Example of Not Knowing Exactly What You're Doing André 3000 Wears a Grand Piano to Met Gala, Drops Surprise Album André 3000, 'And Then One Day You'll …' (YouTube) Tyla, 'Bliss' (YouTube) The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti, Doechii, 'Timeless' (YouTube) Fiona Apple, 'Pretrial (Let Her Go Home)' (YouTube) Karol G, 'Milagros' (YouTube) Kali Uchis, 'All I Can Say' (YouTube) J Balvin feat. Omega, 'KLK' (YouTube) Moses Sumney, Hayley Williams, 'I Like It I Like It' (YouTube) MIKE, 'Sin City' (YouTube) Billy Woods feat. ELUCID, 'Dislocated' (YouTube) Becky G feat. Manuel Turizo, 'Que Haces' (YouTube) Maren Morris, 'Cry in the Car' (YouTube) Avril Lavigne, Simple Plan 'Young & Dumb' (YouTube) Cuco, 'Para Ti' (YouTube) PinkPantheress, 'Stars' (YouTube) Jay Wheeler, 'Mejor Que Tu' (YouTube) RaiNao, 'Sofocón' (YouTube) Ambar Lucid, 'Angel' (YouTube) Rosé, 'Messy' (YouTube) f5ve feat. Kesha, 'Sugar Free Venom' (YouTube) Blusher, 'Whatever Whatever' (YouTube) Trace Mountains, 'The Line' (YouTube) Sunday 1994, 'Silver Ford' (YouTube) The Living Tombstone, 'Orphans' (YouTube) Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band, 'New Threats From the Soul' (YouTube) Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Harrison Ford Talked Miley Cyrus Out of Filming ‘Something Beautiful' in a Forest
Harrison Ford may have played a role in the creative direction of Something Beautiful. In a new interview for The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music 1, Miley Cyrus shared that the iconic actor made a suggestion about her film, which she ended up following. Cyrus explained that the pair of stars (who have known each other by 'just growing up in Disney and [being] in the same circles') were catching up on their respective projects when Cyrus decided to show him a PDF about her vision. More from Rolling Stone Miley Cyrus Unveils 'Something Beautiful' Track List, Featuring Brittany Howard, Naomi Campbell Miley Cyrus' 'Something Beautiful' Visual Is Getting A Cinematic Release Miley Cyrus, André 3000, Tyla, and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week 'I show him my idea of Somewhere Beautiful, which is performing in all the forests and at the pyramids and all these things. He goes, 'You really want to go and set up in a forest and do what?' He's like, 'You going to bring a crew? You got to…' He's like, 'Looks expensive,'' Cyrus told Lowe of the conversation. The pop star shared that the conversation led her to make changes to the music film, which she hopes will be a replacement for touring Something Beautiful. 'I came back to the trailer, I was like, 'Guys, we're not performing in the forest anymore. Harrison Ford made a lot of sense,'' Cyrus said. 'That's why I want to create this film, the film is my way of touring.' She added: 'That's why I'm putting it into theaters, because it's something you can watch night after night after night and you get to discover and you get to feel like you're a part of a performance but I don't have to tax myself in that way.' During the interview, Cyrus explained that she was laying off touring due to the strain it puts on her body and vocal cords, especially after being diagnosed with Reinke's Edema, a condition caused by vocal cord overuse. She added that she would not undergo surgery, as 'the chance of waking up from a surgery and not sounding like myself is a probability.' 'I have this very large polyp on my vocal cord, which has given me a lot of the tone and the texture that has made me who I am, but it's extremely difficult to perform with because it's like running a marathon with ankle weights on,' Cyrus said. 'So even when I'm talking sometimes, at the end of the day I'll call my mom and she'll go, 'Oh, you sound like you're talking through a radio.' And that's how you know I'm really tired because it creates that ultimate vocal fry.' Cyrus unveiled the track list for her album Something Beautiful earlier this week. It'll feature 12 songs, including collaborations with Naomi Campbell and rock star Brittany Howard. Cyrus is set to release the LP on May 30, followed by its short film premiering on June 6 at the Tribeca Film Festival before it hits theaters nationwide on June 12. A synopsis of the project describes it as 'a unique visual experience… including 13 original songs from the upcoming album. A one-of-a-kind pop opera from the mind of Miley Cyrus.' Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Andre 3000 Reaches Some Very Unexpected Charts
André 3000 charts for the first time on Billboard's jazz rankings with 7 Piano Sketches, a surprise ... More instrumental EP featuring solo piano compositions. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 05: André 3000 attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images) Later this year, André 3000 will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He and his former OutKast bandmate Big Boi will then rank among the few names from hip-hop to make it into the hallowed hall, which was once reserved only for rock acts. While Big Boi has continued to deliver his signature style of rap music since the duo split, André 3000 has taken a different musical path. Last year, he shared New Blue Sun, an instrumental project – and one of the most unexpected returns to music in recent memory. Now, he's back on the Billboard charts with an EP that once again takes him in a new direction, and to rankings he's never seen before. On Monday (May 5), André 3000 released 7 Piano Sketches. The EP's name is a perfect fit, as the short collection features seven completely instrumental piano compositions by the Grammy winner. The project arrived with little to no warning, and while it is certainly not what most fans were expecting when they heard new music was on the way, the title has become a surprising commercial success, at least in some areas covered by Billboard. 7 Piano Sketches debuts on a pair of tallies this frame. It opens highest on the Traditional Jazz Albums chart, where it starts at No. 13. It also lands on the more all-encompassing Jazz Albums ranking, launching at No. 18. In both instances, André 3000 collects his first placement on Billboard's two jazz-focused lists. Despite his popularity, André 3000 does not score the top debut on either tally. On this frame's Traditional Jazz Albums chart, he comes in just behind the Count Basie Orchestra, which launches Basie Rocks at No. 12 — one spot ahead of the rapper. On the Jazz Albums tally, he earns the third-highest start, with Basie once again edging him out by a single position, while Animaru by Mei Semones comes in at No. 13. 7 Piano Sketches is the latest release by André 3000 to take him in an unexpected musical direction. In late 2023, he dropped his first solo album, New Blue Sun. That effort was completely instrumental and blended ambient music, new age styles, and flute performances from the rapper throughout. While it was not a major commercial success, New Blue Sun did earn André 3000 several Grammy nominations and showed that the music industry remains interested in whatever he has to share.
Buzz Feed
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Weirdest Met Gala Celebrity Accessories
The Met Gala has always been home to the weird and wonderful, and in recent years, we've certainly seen celebrities take it up a notch. The 2025 Met in particular saw some super exciting and extravagant looks — but one thing in particular I always look forward to is seeing the accessories. Did you guys spot that Norwegian billionaire with the briefcase full of flowers? So pointless… I'm obsessed. Anyway, it got me thinking that celebrities have really been bringing their A-game with accessories, but are some of these iconic, or just plain weird? I'll let you decide. 1. André 3000's piano, 2025 It's symbolism for how he carries the music industry, actually. According to me. 2. Frank Ocean's green baby, 2021 Incredible stuff. 3. Jaden Smith's dreads, 2017 And if I said he was the most on theme that entire year... 4. Ezra Miller's mask, 2019 Hate how much I love this. 5. Jon Batiste's saxophone, 2025 Not the first instrument we've seen at the Met, and definitely won't be the last. 6. Lizzo's flute, 2022 If there's one thing we can count on, it's Lizzo playing the hell out of that flute. 7. Hunter Schafer's face spider, 2021 Don't even have words for how much I need a face spider. 8. Lady Gaga's huge brick phone, 2019 Never gagged harder, will never gag this hard again. 9. Sarah Jessica Parker's Nativity hat, 2018 Oh look, I can see baby Jesus from here. 10. Tracy Ellis Ross's frame, 2019 Toooooo good. 11. Janelle Monae's many hats, 2019 So many! 12. Camila Cabello's ice cube, 2024 Girl, is your hand not wet? 13. Grimes's sword, 2021 She came prepared for any scenario. 14. Olivier Rousteing's sewing machine, 2025 He, too, came prepared for any (fashion) scenario. 15. Tyla's hourglass, 2024 In case anyone wanted to play Pictionary inside. 16. Katy Perry's lightbulbs, 2019 Serving Lumière. And of course, 17. Jared Leto's head, 2019 I can't even fault it. And that's everything! Now that I look back at this list, I actually can truly say I'm obsessed with every single one of these. Thanks for doing the Met Gala right, ladies and gents. Let me know if I missed any strange accessories down below.
