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André 3000 And His Magical Flute Are Hitting The Road For The ‘New Blue Sun Live Tour’ Soon

January 23, 2024 by newhiphopnews

After years filled with fans’ pleas, André 3000 finally released his solo debut album, New Blue Sun. Although the project was far from what longtime supporters expected, the public has come to love the multi-instrumental-only body of work. Tonight (January 23), the musician will host an IMAX Live Experience for folks to enjoy the tracks. But the live programming doesn’t stop there.

Moments ago, André 3000 revealed that he and his magical flute are set to hit the road as part of his New Blue Sun Live Tour later his month. Across the 23-date run, collaborators featured on the album, Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina, and Deantoni Parks, have been confirmed as additional tour support.

Unlike André 3000’s thoughts on when rappers should age it up, there isn’t an age restriction on the live shows. Tickets for the New Blue Sun Live Tour go on sale at 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday, January 24. Find more information here.

André 3000’s ‘New Blue Sun Live’ tour dates

01/29 — Brooklyn, NY @ Crown Hill Theatre
01/31 — New York, NY @ Blue Note Jazz Club (8 p.m. show)
01/31 — New York, NY @ Blue Note Jazz Club (10:30 p.m. show)
02/01 — New York, NY @ Blue Note Jazz Club (8 p.m. show)
02/01 — New York, NY @ Blue Note Jazz Club (10:30 p.m. show)
02/02 — New York, NY @ Blue Note Jazz Club (8 p.m. show)
02/02 — New York, NY @ Blue Note Jazz Club (10:30 p.m. show)
02/05 — Brooklyn, NY @ St. Ann & The Holy Trinity Church
02/06 — Brooklyn, NY @ St. Ann & The Holy Trinity Church
02/08 — Detroit, MI @ Cliff Bell’s
02/09 —Detroit, MI @ The Chapel at Masonic Temple (7 p.m. show)
02/09 — Detroit, MI @ The Chapel at Masonic Temple (10 p.m. show)
02/12 — Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
02/13 — Chicago, IL @ 1357 N Elston
02/15 — Chicago, IL @ Garfield Park Conservatory (7 p.m. show)
02/15 — Chicago, IL @ Garfield Park Conservatory (9 p.m. show)
02/20 — San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club
02/22 — San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club
02/24 — San Francisco, CA @ The Independent (7 p.m. show)
02/24 — San Francisco, CA @ The Independent (9 p.m. show)
02/27 — Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
02/28 — Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
02/29 — Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
03/02 — Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage Theater
03/05 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
03/06 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
03/07 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
03/08 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
03/09 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever

André 3000’s ‘New Blue Sun Live’ tour poster

André 3000 New Blue Sun Live Tour flyer — Epic Records

Andre 3000 Taking His New Album “New Blue Sun” On Tour

January 23, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Last year, Andre 3000 shared his long-awaited solo debut. In the lead up to the album he promised that it would have “no bars” and he delivered on that promise. What resulted was an ambient jazz album called New Blue Sun that is entirely instrumental and features long compositions with Andre himself prominently playing flute across the album.

The project proved to be pretty controversial, dividing both fans and critics. Many praised Andre for stepping out of his comfort zone and trying such a bold sound. Others resented that they waited for years for a new album from the Outkast legend and it ended up having no rapping whatsoever.

Andre 3000’s “New Blue Sun” Tour

André 3000 has announced a US tour in support of his instrumental album, New Blue Sun.

He’ll be joined by a live ensemble that includes Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina, Deantoni Parks, Diego Gaeta, Matthewdavid, V.C.R, Diego Gaeta, Jesse Peterson, and Mia Doi Todd:… pic.twitter.com/gdMY2J6qwE

— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) January 23, 2024

Now, Andre 3000 is taking his new project on tour. He’s assembled a collection of live musicians to blend the ambient vision of the record into a real life live performance. The tour starts later this month and runs until early March. Included in the tour dates are a pair of 6 and 5 night residencies in New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club and Los Angeles’ Hollywood Forever respectively.

Tour Dates:
January 29 @ Crown Hill Theatre – Brooklyn, NY
January 31 @ Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY (8:00pm show)
January 31 @ Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY (10:30pm show)
February 1 @ Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY (8:00pm show)
February 1 @ Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY (10:30pm show)
February 2 @ Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY (8:00pm show)
February 2 @ Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY (10:30pm show)
February 5 @ St. Ann & The Holy Trinity Church – Brooklyn, NY
February 6 @ St. Ann & The Holy Trinity Church – Brooklyn, NY
February 8 @ Cliff Bell’s – Detroit, MI
February 9 @ The Chapel at Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI (7:00pm show)
February 9 @ The Chapel at Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI (10:00pm show)
February 12 @ Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL
February 13 @ 1357 N Elston – Chicago, IL
February 15 @ Garfield Park Conservatory – Chicago, IL (7:00pm show)
February 15 @ Garfield Park Conservatory – Chicago, IL (9:00pm show)
February 20 @ Bimbo’s 365 Club – San Francisco, CA
February 22 @ Bimbo’s 365 Club – San Francisco, CA
February 24 @ The Independent – San Francisco, CA (7:00pm show)
February 24 @ The Independent – San Francisco, CA (9:00pm show)
February 27 @ Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
February 28 @ Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
February 29 @ Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
March 2 @ Center Stage Theater – Atlanta, GA
March 5 @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever – Los Angeles, CA
March 6 @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever – Los Angeles, CA
March 7 @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever – Los Angeles, CA
March 8 @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever – Los Angeles, CA
March 9 @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever – Los Angeles, CA

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André 3000 Is Taking Flute Music To Yet Another Level With A ‘New Blue Sun’ IMAX Live Experience

January 17, 2024 by newhiphopnews

A lot of people want André 3000 to release a rap album, whether solo or as an OutKast reunion with Big Boi. André 3000 really wants to do that as well, but it doesn’t seem like that’s happening soon. Instead, he’s offering his loyal fans a pretty awesome consolation prize.

On Tuesday, January 16, André 3000 announced New Blue Sun: An IMAX Live Experience. For those unaware, he released New Blue Sun in mid-November. The purely instrumental album allowed him to flex as a flutist and was widely received positively.

“New Blue Sun: An IMAX Live Experience,” 3 Stacks captioned his Instagram announcement. “Cinematic Album Listening Event & Live-Stream Q&A 01/23/24.” According to the post, it is a one-night-only event on Tuesday, January 23, and it will include “a conversation with André 3000.”

The IMAX website offers the following synopsis:

“Join André 3000 in celebrating the release of his genre leaping debut solo album, New Blue Sun with an album listening cinematic experience and live Q&A. Directed by Terence Nance, witness André’s fusion of improv creativity and musical exploration in vivid detail and unparalleled sound quality through the IMAX Live Experience, blending captivating visuals and instrumentation.”

You can also search for tickets at participating IMAX theaters, including AMC The Grove and AMC Burbank 16 in the Los Angeles area as well as AMC Empire 25 and AMC Lincoln Square 13 in New York City.

Andre 3000’s New Album Is Getting IMAX Listening Experience

January 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Last year, former Outkast rapper Andre 3000 surprised rap fans with his new album. The project was called New Blue Sun and before he released it he warned fans that there were “no bars.” He wasn’t kidding about that as the album is a series of long ambient jazz compositions. Andre is present on the record, though he mostly plays the flute and just as he promised doesn’t deliver any bars. The album was met with a mixed response from fans and critics alike.

Many online gave Andre 300 credit for taking such a bold artistic swing. That included some other rappers who took similar interest in potentially expanding their sound into instrumental territory. But many also criticized the album and Andre’s decision to make it. Many fans felt entitled to hear him rapping after waiting so long for new material. Others who are more familiar with ambient and jazz music criticized the project for being a relatively shallow indulgence into those sounds. Regardless of the criticism, fans who enjoyed the album will have an entirely new way to experience it soon.

Andre 3000’s “New Blue Sun” Hits IMAX

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“New Blue Sun: An IMAX Live Experience. Cinematic Album Listening Event & Live-Stream Q&A. 01/23/24 Ticket info in bio,” the caption of an Instagram post announcing the new screenings reads. It doesn’t reveal precisely what the new visual elements introduced to the album will be. But it does announce that the listening event will be accompanied by a Q&A with Andre himself.

Since releasing his new album Andre has been doing quite a bit of press and interviews. In those clips, he’s told a number of charming stories, including one where he discusses getting his former Outkast partner Big Boi into deep sea fishing. He also revealed that he had been secretly contributing to other artists music which caused fans to search out places he may have contributed. What do you think of Andre 3000’s new album being released through IMAX? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Andre 3000 Has A Rap Album Stashed Away, Big Gipp Claims

January 7, 2024 by newhiphopnews

In November of last year, Andre 3000 unveiled his latest project, New Blue Sun. He went in a new direction with the album, opting to omit bars completely in favor of instrumentals. While the project has been generally well-received by listeners, some can’t help but hope for another rap album from the Outkast icon. Luckily, according to Big Gipp, he could have one tucked away.

During a recent interview with B High TV, the Goodie Mob member shared his thoughts on New Blue Sun. He praised Andre 3000 for the effort, calling it “some of the greatest finessing” that he’s ever seen. Big Gipp went on to describe how the project opened new doors for Andre 3000, as well as others in the industry.

Big Gipp Weighs In On New Blue Sun

Big Gipp continued, revealing that while New Blue Sun was a breath of fresh air, Andre 3000 could drop a rap album whenever he pleased. “I’ma tell you something you don’t know,” he began. “The bruh got a rap album. Bruh, if he wanted to rap, he got that. Organized Noize could go in they vault and pull out a 3000 album. It’s not about that. It’s about where we are in music right now. Him coming out rapping wasn’t gonna change nothing. It was just him joining what’s going on. Now, him coming out doing this and making this successful, he just broke the whole situation down to where now we can go in another direction.”

“At the end of the day, for me, that’s great,” he continued. “Because guess what? He can go out here in theaters, people gonna charge $100, $500, $1000 to see him play his flute. Right? He’s showing you another way to take music and grow gracefully as a man and an MC. ‘Hey, I ain’t got to depend on rap for the rest of my career.’” What do you think of Big Gipp claiming that Andre 3000 has a rap album in the vault? What about his take on New Blue Sun? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

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Andre 3000 In The Studio With Some Underground Rap Stars New And Old

December 21, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Andre 3000 just released his new album New Blue Sun but he doesn’t appear to be done with new material yet. He’s apparently already working on new material and took part in an absolutely star-studded studio session in Los Angeles overnight. According to HipHopDX, he was spotted in some photos shared by former Organized Konfusion MC Pharoahe Monch. But the two veteran MCs are far from the only stars in attendance.

Elsewhere in the pictures fans spotted legendary Beastie Boy Mike D. Eagle-eyed fans also noticed that Detroit underground rap sensation Quelle Chris is also in attendance. The group have reportedly assembled to work with Keyon Harrold, a notorious jazz trumpeter with a pretty impressive roster of collaborations already under his belt. What exactly the nature of the project is and the level of everyone’s involvement is unclear. Check out the photos of Andre and various others in the studio below.

Andre 3000 Shares The Studio With Some Stars

Andre 3000’s new album divided fans and critics. The project boldly chose to depart from rap music entirely instead choosing to focus on ambient jazz with Andre prominently playing flute all over the album. Many fans were disappointed with the choice after waiting so long for him to return and expecting a rap album. In Andre’s defense he announced the project ahead of time and confirmed that it would have “no bars.” He’s also spoken at length in interviews about why he didn’t feel like it was the right time for him to make a new rap album.

Despite fan reservations, the album performed surprisingly well commercially. It sold 24K copies in its first week, far more than almost any other instrumental jazz albums. One of the songs from the record also spent a week on the Hot 100. He actually broke the record for longest song to ever chart on the Hot 100 with the track. What do you think of Andre 3000 being back in the studio working on new music so quickly after releasing his debut album? Let us know in the comment section below.

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How To Buy André 3000’s ‘New Blue Sun’ Vinyl

December 14, 2023 by newhiphopnews

André 3000 desperately wants to deliver the rap album that people have been demanding for at least 15 years. He explained to GQ why “sometimes, it feels inauthentic for me to rap,” and then he doubled down with CBS Mornings (and even offered his thoughts on an OutKast reunion) earlier this month.

“When people ask me about a rap album […] Man, I would love a rap album,” he said. “I’m with you. I want to be with you when I’m really on it, you know what I mean?’

The good news is that people still loved New Blue Sun, his eight-track album featuring lots of his flute-playing. No verses, just instrumentals. The 12-plus-minute track “I Swear, I Really Wanted To Make A ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time” hit No. 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated December 2, becoming the longest song to ever chart on the Hot 100.

The album dropped on November 17, immediately becoming a streaming favorite, but it’s also available on vinyl. A cursory Google search indicates that the New Blue Sun vinyl is available to pre-order on Epic Records’ official online store. The product listing reads, “This limited edition 3-LP set is pressed on 180g black vinyl with printed inserts, fold out poster, and note from the artist,” and it’s “expected to ship on or around January 24, 2024. You can also pre-order at various other places, including Amazon, Lunchbox Records, Rough Trade, and Target.

How Did André 3000 Learn To Play Flute?

December 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Atlanta rap legend André 3000 threw his fans one hell of a curve ball with his new album, New Blue Sun. Technically, it’s his first solo album after years of making cultural classics with Outkast, but rather than rapping, which is what every wanted from him 15 years after Outkast called it quits, it’s a whole album of him playing flute music.

As it turns out, that was just fine for plenty of us, especially after he’d spent the last decade popping up and playing his flutes in random locations, but it did leave fans with a few questions. Fortunately, we’ve got Questlove to ask those questions for us, which he did in a brand-new episode of his long-running podcast, Questlove Supreme, recorded in LA with 3 Stacks but without his usual co-hosts.

In the interview, which finds Amir tossing off what he calls “non sequitur” questions to Dre’s delight, 3K reveals why he started playing the flute in the first place and how he learned.

Why Does André 3000 Play The Flute?

André explains that he “chose” the flute “because of the ‘mobileness’ of the flute.” He says he tooled around with acoustic and bass guitars but because flutes are so portable, he can just pull it out and start playing anytime — including in the backs of Ubers.

How Many Flutes Does André 3000 Have?

He says he has about 30 flutes, all from different makers. The style he has the most of is based on Mesoamerican instruments that were originally made of clay.

How Did André 3000 Learn To Play The Flute?

Dre says he “got schooled by Uber drivers,” since he would often play during rides and learned different cultural approaches to the instrument (it does seem like every culture in the world has a version of the instrument). “If I’m playing and it’s a Chinese driver,” he elaborates, “He’ll turn around like, ‘That reminds me of my country!’ Or if it’s a Japanese driver… or if it’s an African. I’m playing the same flute, but every nationality of driver will turn around and tell me it reminds them of their country.

Does André 3000 Play Flute By Ear?

Quest asks Andre, “When you play… are your hands telling you what to do or do you know that this particular position will yield this note and that note?” André calls this the “fun and scary part” about how he plays, saying he knows that holding his hands a certain way, it makes a certain sound, but musical theory is beyond him.

Joe Budden Apologizes To Lupe Fiasco For “Clout Chaser” Accusation

December 10, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Joe Budden has apologized to Lupe Fiasco for recently calling him a “clout chaser” on his podcast. Budden was reacting to the rapper’s remix of Andre 3000’s instrumental track, “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time,” from New Blue Sun.

“I gotta apologize to Lupe because I called him a ‘clout chaser,’” Budden began. “He tweeted his Grammys and I tweeted some sh*t and then he called me. I answered the phone and said ‘Yo, man, why you tweeting your Grammys at me? What’s going on man?’ He said ‘I didn’t like that clout chaser sh*t. Say what you want about the music. I don’t give a f*ck what you think about music. But, you know I’m not a clout chaser. Come on. I ain’t never done clout chasing.’ I said, ‘I don’t even remember saying that n***a. Who said that about you?’ Freudian slips. I didn’t mean that about Lupe. All I meant to say was that sh*t was ass.”

Lupe Fiasco Performs At Hip-Hop 50 Live Concert

US rapper Lupe Fiasco performs during the Hip Hop 50 Live concert, marking the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip hop, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City on August 11, 2023. A genre, a culture and a lifestyle all at once: hip hop has traveled from the block party to the billionaire’s club, soundtracked protest and celebration, and asserted seismic influence over the course of pop. The reigning music style evolved in rapid, anarchic ways, rocking the industry establishment that long resisted its power, and fully embodying the culture of youth even as it grew. This year hip hop turns 50, an anniversary that’s offered its elders, its fans and the city that birthed it a milepost to reflect on its cultural weight. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

As for Budden’s original criticism, he said: “Hey Lupe, man, stop. Stop it. He rapping over them damn flutes. I cut that shit right off. Oh Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Yo dawg, it’s women listening…with vaginas. Please. Why would he do that to them? I can’t say nothing ’cause he gonna diss me. … That was some bullshit. That was some clout chasing.” Lupe eventually fired back on social media by comparing his streaming number with Budden’s “We don’t chase whats already been achieved,” he wrote. “Victory laps sometimes look like qualifiers especially from the stands.”

Joe Budden On Feuding With Lupe Fiasco

Check out Budden’s apology to Fiasco above. Be on the lookout for further updates on Joe Budden and Lupe Fiasco on HotNewHipHop.

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Yasiin Bey, F.K.A. Mos Def, Gives Andre 3000 Flute Track A Rap Verse At Dubai Show

December 10, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, is one of hip-hop’s all-time greats, a quality that he keeps on proving. Moreover, he recently held a show in Dubai on Saturday (December 9), and he had a very special surprise for the crowd, who seemed to be having an amazing time. At one point of the concert, the other half of Black Star began to rap over the opening track to André 3000’s new album, New Blue Sun. If you didn’t already know, this project is entirely instrumental and steeped in New Age, spiritual jazz, and ambient traditions. As such, it’s quite the treat to hear one rap legend give his own unique take, via a melodic and killer verse, to the new lane that another rap legend ventures into.

Furthermore, Yasiin Bey is not the first to engage in this kind of tribute and genre fusion. For example, Lupe Fiasco also rapped over New Blue Sun‘s opener, which gave Andre 3000’s song some uniquely creative and expertly rapped lyrics to go along with it. This was one point of contention for many in the hip-hop community: why isn’t one of the best rappers alive rapping?! That’s a debate we won’t engage in here, but perhaps it’s more important to celebrate how this new work is clearly still inspiring rappers left and right.

Yasiin Bey Adds Verse To A New Blue Sun Cut: Watch

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Meanwhile, there are other rap exponents in addition to Yasiin Bey and Lupe Fiasco who think that New Blue Sun holds some real weight in the game. One curious and interesting suggestion came from Paul Wall, who gave 3 Stacks major props for his new effort. However, he posited that a chopped-and-screwed version of the improvisational LP could actually be quite compelling and exciting. It certainly wasn’t the first thing that came to mind when we heard “Andre’s flute album,” but who are we to judge?

On that note, though, what do you think of Bey’s verse on this song? Where do you fall on the debate around whether this is an interesting or worthwhile thing for MCs to do? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, stay up to date on HNHH for the latest news and updates on Yasiin Bey and Andre 3000.

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