Andre 3000 Defends His Flute Album From LL Cool J‘s Criticism

Andre 3000 has responded to LL Cool J’s criticism of his new album after the hip-hop legend took issue with his decision to transition into making ambient instrumental music. “Listen, he is amazing. His bars are all the way up. Not the flute, B. Not the flute,” LL Cool J had said during an appearance on LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The Shop. “Let’s not lie to ourselves. I don’t wanna hear him do the flute. You wanna hear me do a violin album?” Appearing on the latest episode of the show himself, Andre defended his latest album, New Blue Sun.

“To me, I feel like if it’s in you — ’cause I got homies my age and older than me that still rap — so if it’s in you, you should rap until you die. You should perform until you die,” he said. “But what I’m saying is, what it takes for me to do it, I’m always looking for the next. I’m not trying to uphold a thing that I’ve done before. Of course, I have things to say now, but if I can’t say them in a fresh, innovative way, if I feel like I’m just hanging onto the same flow that I used to do, it’s not enough for me. So I can’t talk for another rapper about what they doing. I just say, ‘Man, go for it. If it’s in you.’”

Read More: LL Cool J Criticizes Andre 3000 For Playing Flute: “Come On, Bro”

Andre 3000 Performs At Blue Note Jazz Club

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 02: André 3000 performs at Blue Note Jazz Club on February 02, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images for ABA)

Andre dropped New Blue Sun back in November of last year after going 17 years without releasing a new project of his own. It received mixed responses from fans as Andre shifted away from hip-hop with the album. During an interview with GQ afterward, he admitted that he didn’t feel like he had anything interesting to rap about at his age.

Andre 3000 Sits Down With LeBron James, Sexyy Red, & More

Check out Andre’s latest comments on his musical direction on HotNewHipHop. Be on the lookout for further updates on Andre 3000 on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Andre 3000 And Sexyy Red Will Appear On A New Episode Of The Shop

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Andre 3000 Tour 2024: Tickets, Dates & More

Following a series of highly praised intimate performances and major festival gigs, Andre 3000 is set to embark on a comprehensive North American tour this fall. This tour will promote his solo album, New Blue Sun, which dropped in November under Epic Records to critical acclaim. Co-produced by André and renowned multi-instrumentalist Carlos Niño, the album is entirely instrumental and showcases a variety of skilled musicians. New Blue Sun is an improvisational and celebratory auditory experience that has enthralled both audiences and critics. The tour aims to bring this distinct sound to some of the most iconic venues across the country.

Read More: Andre 3000 Reveals Smart Reason Why He Has An Instagram Account

Promoting New Blue Sun: A Focus On Jazz

Andre 3000’s tour is designed to showcase his solo jazz project, New Blue Sun, which marks a departure from his iconic work with Outkast. Released last year to critical acclaim, New Blue Sun is a fully instrumental album that highlights André’s versatility and creativity as a musician. Unlike his Outkast efforts, which are rooted in hip-hop and funk, this album embraces jazz influences and showcases André’s skills as an instrumentalist and composer. The tour will bring this unique, improvised, and celebratory piece of work to life, providing fans with an entirely new and immersive musical experience.

Tour Details

This special run of shows will feature the exceptional talents of Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina, and Deantoni Parks. The tour kicks off in New Orleans and will include performances at renowned venues such as The Greek Theater in Los Angeles, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, among others. Tickets will go on sale on Andre 3000’s official website on Friday, June 28th at 10am local time.

Read More: Andre 3000 Announces Summer Tour Dates

Tour Dates

New Orleans, LA – September 19 – Orpheum Theater
Dallas, TX – September 21 – AT&T PAC – Winspear Opera House
Austin, TX – September 22 – ACL Live at The Moody Theater
Houston, TX – September 25 – The Hobby Center For The Performing Arts
Albuquerque, NM – September 27 – Kiva Auditorium
Mesa, AZ – September 28 – Mesa Arts Center
San Diego, CA – October 1 – Humphreys By The Bay
Los Angeles, CA – October 2 – The Greek Theatre
Santa Barbara, CA – October 4 – Arlington Theatre
Oakland, CA – October 5 – Fox Theater
Seattle, WA – October 9 – Paramount Theatre
Vancouver, BC – October 11 – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Portland, OR – October 14 – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Salt Lake City, UT – October 16 – Eccles Theater
Denver, CO – October 17 – Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Minneapolis, MN – October 19 – Northrop
Chicago, IL – October 21 – The Salt Shed
Detroit, MI – October 22 – Masonic Cathedral Theatre
Brooklyn, NY – October 25 – BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
Boston, MA – October 30 – Boch Center Wang Theatre
Philadelphia, PA – November 1 – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
Akron, OH – November 2 – Akron Civic Theatre
Richmond, VA – November 8 – Altria Theater
Washington, DC – November 9 – The Kennedy Center
Durham, NC – November 12 – DPAC
Atlanta, GA – November 14 – Fox Theatre

The post Andre 3000 Tour 2024: Tickets, Dates & More appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Andre 3000 Announces North American Tour For “New Blue Sun”

Andre 3000 will officially be performing his new solo album, New Blue Sun, across North America for an upcoming tour between September and November of this year. He announced the dates for the New Blue Sun — Live In Concert tour on Tuesday afternoon. The series of shows includes stops in Chicago, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and many more cities before concluding with a hometown concert in Atlanta.

On the road, Andre will be joined by Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, and Surya Botofasina with Deantoni Parks. Tickets for the tour will go on sale on June 28 at 10:00 AM, local time. The announcement comes after he already announced a summer tour with appearances at several global music festivals.

Read More: Andre 3000 Delivers Sobering Update On Potential Outkast Reunion Album

Andre 3000 Performs During 2024 Roots Picnic

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 02: Andre 3000 performs New Blue Sun during the 2024 Roots Picnic at The Mann on June 02, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Live Nation Urban)

Andre released New Blue Sun as his first solo album following the indefinite hiatus of Outkast. It features a dramatic stylistic change from his time working with Big Boi. Rather than a hip-hop effort, New Blue Sun sees Andre operating purely with instrumentals and performing on his flute. Check out the full list of tour dates below and be on the lookout for further updates on Andre 3000 on HotNewHipHop.

Andre 3000 Reveals Schedule For “New Blue Sun – Live In Concert”

  • 09/19 — New Orleans, LA @ Orpheum Theater
  • 09/21 — Dallas, TX @ AT&T PAC – Winspear Opera House
  • 09/22 — Austin, TX @ ACL Live at The Moody Theater
  • 09/25 — Houston, TX @ The Hobby Center For The Performing Arts
  • 09/27 — Albuquerque, NM @ Kiva Auditorium
  • 09/28 — Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Arts Center
  • 10/01 — San Diego, CA @ Humphreys By The Bay
  • 10/02 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
  • 10/04 — Santa Barbara, CA @ Arlington Theatre
  • 10/05 — Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
  • 10/09 — Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater
  • 10/11 — Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
  • 10/14 — Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
  • 10/16 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Eccles Theater
  • 10/17 — Denver, CO @ Ellie Caulkins Opera House
  • 10/19 — Minneapolis, MN @ Northrop
  • 10/21 — Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
  • 10/22 — Detroit, MI @ Masonic Cathedral Theatre
  • 10/25 — Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
  • 10/30 — Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
  • 11/01 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
  • 11/02 — Akron, OH @ Akron Civic Theatre
  • 11/08 — Richmond, VA @ Altria Theater
  • 11/09 — Washington, DC @ The Kennedy Center
  • 11/12 — Durham, NC @ DPAC
  • 11/14 — Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre

Read More: Andre 3000’s “New Blue Sun”: OutKast Icon Shares Big Boi’s Reaction, Talks Making More Rap Music

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André 3000 Announces Fall North American Tour in Support of ‘New Blue Sun’

André 3000 Announces Fall North American Tour in Support of 'New Blue Sun'

Following the release of his critically acclaimed solo album “New Blue Sun” on Epic Records, André 3000 has unveiled a North American tour set for this fall. The instrumental album, co-produced with Carlos Niño and featuring a talented ensemble including Nate Mercereau and Surya Botofasina, marks a new sonic territory for the celebrated artist.

The tour will kick off in New Orleans, including performances at renowned venues such as The Greek Theater in Los Angeles, the John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts in Washington D.C., and BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn. Tickets for the tour go on sale Friday, June 28th, at 10 a.m. local time.

Fans can expect an immersive experience showcasing André 3000’s innovative approach to music, blending improvisation with a celebratory atmosphere. This tour is a must-see for music enthusiasts eager to witness André 3000’s artistic evolution firsthand.

NEW BLUE SUN – LIVE IN CONCERT

September 19 – New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theater 

September 21 – Dallas, TX – AT&T PAC – Winspear Opera House

September 22 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theater

September 25 – Houston, TX – The Hobby Center For The Performing Arts

September 27 – Albuquerque, NM – Kiva Auditorium 

September 28 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center

October 1 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys By The Bay 

October 2 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre

October 4 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre

October 5 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater

October 9 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theater 

October 11 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre 

October 14 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall 

October 16 – Salt Lake City, UT – Eccles Theater 

October 17 – Denver, CO – Ellie Caulkins Opera House 

October 19 – Minneapolis, MN – Northrop 

October 21 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed

October 22 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Cathedral Theatre 

October 25 – Brooklyn, NY – BAM Howard Gilman Opera House

October 30 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre

November 1 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark

November 2 – Akron, OH – Akron Civic Theatre

November 8 – Richmond, VA – Altria Theater

November 9 – Washington, DC – The Kennedy Center

November 12 – Durham, NC – DPAC

November 14 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre

The post André 3000 Announces Fall North American Tour in Support of ‘New Blue Sun’ first appeared on The Source.

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André 3000 Will Set Out On A North American Tour Thanks To ‘New Blue Sun – Live In Concert’

andre 3000
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André 3000 surprised the world last year with New Blue Sun, his debut solo album that’s jazzy, flute-based music and definitely not the hip-hop for which he’s best known. Whatever the case, folks are just happy to see him making music again, and now they’ll get to do it on the road: Today (June 25), André announced New Blue Sun — Live In Concert, a North American tour that kicks off in September and ends in November.

On the road, André will be joined by a band featuring Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, and Surya Botofasina with Deantoni Parks. Tickets go on sale starting June 28 at 10 a.m. local time. More information is available on André’s website.

This follows a tour André had earlier this year.

Find the list of tour dates below.

André 3000 2024 Tour Dates: New Blue Sun — Live In Concert

09/19 — New Orleans, LA @ Orpheum Theater
09/21 — Dallas, TX @ AT&T PAC – Winspear Opera House
09/22 — Austin, TX @ ACL Live at The Moody Theater
09/25 — Houston, TX @ The Hobby Center For The Performing Arts
09/27 — Albuquerque, NM @ Kiva Auditorium
09/28 — Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Arts Center
10/01 — San Diego, CA @ Humphreys By The Bay
10/02 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
10/04 — Santa Barbara, CA @ Arlington Theatre
10/05 — Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
10/09 — Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater
10/11 — Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
10/14 — Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
10/16 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Eccles Theater
10/17 — Denver, CO @ Ellie Caulkins Opera House
10/19 — Minneapolis, MN @ Northrop
10/21 — Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
10/22 — Detroit, MI @ Masonic Cathedral Theatre
10/25 — Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
10/30 — Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
11/01 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
11/02 — Akron, OH @ Akron Civic Theatre
11/08 — Richmond, VA @ Altria Theater
11/09 — Washington, DC @ The Kennedy Center
11/12 — Durham, NC @ DPAC
11/14 — Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre

Andre 3000 Announces Summer Tour Dates

Andre 3000 will be embarking on the New Blue Sun Live Tour this summer to perform his latest solo album. The shows will span June to September with appearances at several global music festivals. The former Outkast rapper announced the tour in a post on Instagram, on Saturday, sharing a video of himself getting a teeth cleaning. Andre will be performing with Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina, and Deantoni Parks, although he noted in the post that the lineup is “subject to change.”

During the tour, Andre will be promoting New Blue Sun, his first full-length venture into ambient jazz music. Marking the end of his 17-year hiatus, it was met with generally positive responses from both critics and fans alike. Despite the acclaim, however, it only peaked at number 34 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Read More: Andre 3000 Delivers Sobering Update On Potential Outkast Reunion Album

Andre 3000 Performs During Roots Picnic

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 02: Andre 3000 performs New Blue Sun during the 2024 Roots Picnic at The Mann on June 02, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Live Nation Urban)

Despite the stylistic change, a new release from Andre still has fans hopeful for an Outkast reunion. Speaking with legendary poet Hanif Abdurraqib during an appearance on The Bitter Southerner recently, he lowered those expectations. “People ask, ‘So, will there be another Outkast album?’” he shared. “I really can’t say, man. I do realize that our chemistries have changed. We’re different people. We’re totally different people. Not to say that we won’t be able to make any kind of music, but I think, yeah, people have to realize, like, even in relationships, man… chemistry should change after a while. And I think people think there’s this one thing that has to stay a way, but we are ever-changing, man.”

Check out the full list of dates for the New Blue Sun Live Tour below. Be on the lookout for further updates on Andre 3000 on HotNewHipHop.

Andre 3000’s New Blue Sun Live Tour Schedule

June 7–9 — Joshua Tree, CA @ Pappy + Harriet’s
June 28 — Toronto, ON @ Toronto Jazz Festival
June 30 — Montreal, QC @ Montreal Jazz Festival
July 8–10 — Paris, FR @ La Gaîté Lyrique
July 12 — Ghent, BEL @ Gent Jazz
July 13 — Rotterdam, NL @ North Sea Jazz
July 15 — Montreux, CH @ Montreux Jazz Festival
July 20–21 — Sydney, AU @ Volume Festival
Aug 2 — Newport, RI @ Newport Jazz Festival
Aug 8 — Oslo, NO @ Øya Festival
Aug 9 — Copenhagen, DK @ Syd For Solen
Aug 10 — Gothenburg, SE @ Way Out West
Aug 14 — Paredes De Coura, PT @ Paredes De Coura Festival
Aug 17 — London, UK @ All Points East
Aug 18 — Dorset, UK @ We Out Here
Aug 30–Sept 1 —Napa, CA @ Blue Note Jazz Festival
Sept 3–5 — Big Sur, CA @ Henry Miller Memorial Library

Read More: Andre 3000 Gets Emotional Paying Tribute To Rico Wade During Atlanta Jazz Festival

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Andre 3000’s “New Blue Sun”: OutKast Icon Shares Big Boi’s Reaction, Talks Making More Rap Music

Andre 3000 and Big Boi paved the way for many of today’s hip-hop superstars thanks to their tireless work together in OutKast. Of course, recent years have seen the pair turn their energy toward solo projects, though they remain supportive of each other in all that they do. During a new interview with High Snobiety, 3 Stacks revealed what his partner in rhyme thought of last year’s New Blue Sun flute album, along with some other interesting music updates.

“He was smiling. He was like, ‘Man… I played it for a lot of buddies, even my son. They were like, ‘It’s the real thing. It’s not a mimic.’ You really did this,’” Andre told the outlet of Big Boi. Elsewhere, the prolific creative played his work for other pals like Tyler, The Creator and Frank Ocean. “We’re all sitting there listening to it. I’m wondering what the young people’s opinions would be. And I’m so happy that what I’m hearing is really good feedback.”

Read More: Andre 3000 Says Ludacris Took “Fast & Furious” Role He Auditioned For

Andre 3000 Chats with High Snobiety About His Flute Album and Future Music

When asked about the possibility of returning to writing rhymes, 3000 sounded hopeful. “I would love to make a rap album. I just think it’d be an awesome challenge to do a fire-a** album at 48 years old,” he noted. “That’s probably one of the hardest things to do! I would love to do that. That’s the cool thing about my whole ride; it really is a ride.”

Andre 3000 knew that not everyone who loves the rest of his discography would understand his vision for New Blue Sun. Still, the response has been positive enough for the OutKast member to take his instrumental LP out on tour over the past few weeks, and perform some of his songs on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert back in January. Read all about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

Read More: Andre 3000 Performs “That Night In Hawaii When I Turned Into A Panther…” On “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert”: Watch

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How Long Is André 3000’s ‘New Blue Sun Live Tour’ Concert?

Andre 3000 2016
Getty Image

André 3000 held his one-night-only New Blue Sun IMAX Live Experience on January 23. Luckily, it won’t end there. On January 23, André 3000 also announced he would support his purely instrumental album with a run of dates billed as New Blue Sun Live, beginning on January 29 in Brooklyn before hitting Blue Note New York in New York City from Wednesday, January 31 until Friday, February 2.

How Long Is André 3000’s New Blue Sun Live Tour Concert?

According to a Reddit user who attended the first show in Brooklyn, André 3000 and his band “played for 90 minutes, cellphones weren’t allowed, and at no point did it get boring.”

Read the full review below.

“Native ATLien and lifelong ‘Kast devotee who just happened to be in NY this week for a work trip, so I was able to catch the inaugural show in Brooklyn.

It was really pure and beautiful — it’s clear that not one iota of it is contrived, and it’s not a display of virtuosity on Dre’s part, but of exploring the joy of finding beautiful ways to express what he’s been thinking and feeling (he’s arguably the biggest virtuoso ever at rap, so nothing to prove).

All the players in the band are stone cold killer and kept a vibe going all night. Dre worked thru technical difficulties and nerves early on by talking a pretty good bit about what joy the journey of playing flute (with no real intention) has brought him and others around him. This man redefined a genre, made a diamond-selling album, and is approaching this new thing with the joy and curiosity of a child, in the best way.

He also specifically thanked the rap fans in the audience for coming to support and expressed that he hoped they dug it in some way.

They played for 90 minutes, cell phones weren’t allowed, and at no point did it get boring. It’s an utterly unique experience, and if you go in with an open spirit, you might just unlock a new core memory.

Can’t wait to see what others think as the tour rolls on.”

André 3000 Had A Hilarious ‘Pause’ Moment While Discussing His Flute Holes On ‘Colbert’

For the most part, André 3000 has largely stayed out of the public eye since the end of Outkast. He resurfaced in a major way last year, though, with New Blue Sun, his first-ever solo album. He also just announced a tour in support of the project, an album consisting of lengthy, flute-driven instrumentals. André popped up on The Late Show last night, and while the conversation was mostly serious in tone, he did have one particularly funny moment.

Towards the end of the first segment, Stephen Colbert asked if André ever plays more than one flute at the same time. He said no and mentioned another flautist who does, declaring he hasn’t “gotten to that level.” Then, showing off the two-chambered flute he was holding, he continued, “I’m still trying to manage… like, I have two holes, you know, so it’s like…”

André noticed Colbert cracking a subtle smile at “I have two holes,” so he hit the host with, “Pause,” which got a big laugh from Colbert, the studio audience, and himself.

After the interview, André also delivered a ten-minute performance of “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.” Check out clips of the interview and performance above and below.

André 3000 Announces Intimate Tour in Support of ‘New Blue Sun’ Album

André 3000 Announces Intimate Tour in Support of 'New Blue Sun' Album

Grammy-winning artist André 3000 has unveiled a series of intimate live shows to support his acclaimed instrumental album, New Blue Sun, released in November on Epic Records. Co-produced with the talented multi-instrumentalist Carlos Niño, the album features a stellar lineup of musicians, creating a unique, improvised sonic experience.

The tour is set to commence on January 29 in Brooklyn, NY, followed by a three-night residency at the iconic Blue Note Jazz Club in Manhattan, featuring two shows per night. The journey continues with stops in Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, and San Francisco, concluding with a five-night engagement at The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever in Los Angeles.

“New Blue Sun” is André 3000’s latest venture into instrumental expression, offering fans a living, breathing, and celebratory auditory experience. Tickets for the tour will be available starting Wednesday, January 24, at 10 am local time, promising audiences an intimate encounter with the musical brilliance of André 3000 and his collaborators.

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