Lupe Fiasco is someone who has consistently made great music. Overall, he is a beloved artist in the hip-hop world, and that will never change. However, not every move he has made has been celebrated. For example, he recently decided to rap over some of Andre 3000’s instrumentals on New Blue Sun. This captured the attention of none other than Joe Budden. Budden took to his podcast and had some strong words for Lupe, noting that it was a bad move. Ultimately, he was not a fan of the new music.
Lupe decided to respond to Budden on Twitter. Below, you can see that he posted some images that displays how Lupe has a lot more listeners than Joe does. ““We don’t chase what’s been already achieved. Victory laps sometimes look like qualifiers especially from the stands @joebudden. New Blue Sun now streaming on all platforms,” he wrote. Subsequently, Budden clapped back, simply saying “Lupe is him. That flute shit was worse than ass… 2 things can be true… stop lying to your favorite artists for 2024, you might get better product.”
Eventually, these tweets were deleted. In their wake, Budden went back on Twitter and simply wrote: “Spoke to Lupe, I still love him. lol.” This was quote-tweeted by Lupe who simply gave a thumbs up. Ultimately, it seems like the two are on good terms right now. However, this is just yet another example of how Budden has always been very critical of his peers. He is not afraid to be critical, and it typically leads to back and forths like the one above.
Now that this situation has been resolved, let us know who you believe is in the right, in the comments section down below. Also, should more artists give their vocals to the Andre album? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will always be sure to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists.
Earlier this month, Andre 3000treated fans to his long-awaited debut album. But for those expecting him to return with a rap album though, he had other plans. As soon as he announced the project, he promised that it had “no bars” and he delivered on that promise. The resulting album New Blue Sun is a series of long ambient jazz compositions that feature Andre himself playing flute quite prominently. That choice in style left fans divided on how to feel about the record.
Despite the experimental nature of the album, plenty of fans decided to give it a listen, enough for its opening track to make its debut on the Hot 100 this week. The self-aware and hilariously titled “I swear, I Really Wanted To Make A ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time” debuted at number 90 on the Hot 100 this week. It’s the first time Andre has appeared on the chart as a solo artist in more than a decade but that isn’t even the most impressive achievement for the song.
Andre 3000 Surpasses Tool And Taylor Swift For Hot 100 Record
André 3000’s “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time” becomes the longest song in history to enter the Hot 100.
Like almost all of the songs on his new album, “I swear” pushes beyond 10 minutes. In its entirety, the song is 12 minutes and 20 seconds, which breaks the record for the longest runtime of any song to ever crack the Hot 100. It takes the record from progressive metal band Tool’s song “Fear Innoculum” which crashed onto the chart in 2019 with a 10-minute and 23-second runtime.
Many fans first became aware of Billboard tracking the Hot 100’s longest entries in 2021. That came when Taylor Swift landed her song “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version) at the number one spot on the chart. The track sports a runtime of 10 minutes and 13 seconds which comfortably made it the longest number one hit ever. What do you think of Andre 3000 breaking the record for longest song to ever chart on the Hot 100? Are you enjoying his experimental new album? Let us know in the comment section below.
As it charted at No. 90 on the Hot 100 this week, André now holds the record for the longest song to do so. It replaced Tool’s “Inoculum” at 10:21, which had held the previous record in August 2019, according to the publication.
Interestingly enough, the three longest-running charting songs have all been released since then. Rounding out the third spot is Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” which reached No. 1 with a run-time of 10:13.
This marks his seventh solo entry on the Hot 100, not including his time in Outkast. “In my mind, I really would like to make a rap album,” he previously told NPR about the eye-catching and humorous title. “So, maybe that happens one day, but I got to find a way to say what I want to say in an interesting way that’s appealing to me at this age.”
Additionally, André’s new LP has taken the top spot this week on the New Age Albums Chart.
New Blue Sun is out now via Epic. Find more information here.
Joe Budden is someone who has hated on a plethora of artists over the years. Overall, he is someone who does not mince words. Even if what he says offends people, he does not care. Ultimately, his attitude towards music criticism has given him a large platform. Although he has gotten into feuds because of this, he has continued to give fans his best, every single week. Recently, his target was none other than Lupe Fiasco. The reason? His remix of the Andre 3000 album, New Blue Sun.
New Blue Sun is an instrumental album in which Andre 3000 plays the flute. Overall, it was a great project that a lot of fans enjoyed. However, Budden took issue with Lupe trying to add vocals to it. In Budden’s eyes, it was a move that just didn’t feel right. Of course, he said that in much worse terms. It turned out to be a humourous segment, however, we are sure Lupe begs to differ on that one.
“Hey Lupe, man, stop. Stop it. He rapping over them damn flutes. I cut that shit right off,” Joe Budden said. “Oh Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Yo dawg, it’s women listening… with vaginas. Please. Why would he do that to that to them? I can’t say nothing ’cause he gonna diss me […] That was some bullshit. That was some clout chasing.” There are a lot of artists out there who were looking at remixing the new Andre album. At the end of the day, it makes sense. He is a massive artist and with some fresh instrumentals, there was a very obvious opportunity here.
That being said, let us know what you thought of the Lupe remixes, in the comments section below. Is Joe Budden right about them backing wack? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will always keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming releases.
On “?,” an underrated gem from Outkast’s Stankonia, Andre 3000 blazes through a relentless verse pondering on what makes humans do horrible things, either to others or themselves. Through the sounds of poured-out bottles towards the end, he seems to hint at his conclusion: alcohol. Excluding the Atlanta native’s latter half of Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, this is one of the very few songs to feature him without his partner Big Boi. On the rapper and flautist’s new album New Blue Sun, he’s asking a different question through a 90-minute ambient, new age, spiritual jazz album: What’s the next phase of his career? Instead of asking the world, Andre Benjamin asks himself and finds the answer from within. The result is a raw, imperfect, gorgeous, and deeply emotional statement of self-discovery.
One thing about New Blue Sun that anyone should be able to appreciate, regardless of their experience with new age, is the sonic craft behind it. Carlos Niño, who acts as producer, percussionist, and Andre 3000’s right-hand man in this album’s creation, brought a surprising aesthetic to the table. The production is heavy and dense despite the woodwinds leading us elsewhere. Bass elements are dark and cavernous and can add real evil to otherwise breezy soundscapes. Often, sharp static feedback, white noise, and hisses during the recording process give this record an earthy, grounded, and very raw feel. It all works together very seamlessly- and so do all the players, given the improvisational nature of these compositions which the production puts at center stage.
In addition, the clicks of Andre 3000’s digital flute and other unwanted sounds as folks play their instruments occupy significant space in the mix. It adds to this feeling that you’re right there in the room with them — or rather, the mystical meadow and fantasy land that the music and the album’s title point to. The track “Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C. / Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, And John Wayne Gacy” highlights Diego Gaeta’s gorgeous piano, while the closer “Dreams Once Buried Beneath the Dungeon Floor Slowly Sprout into Undying Gardens” is the most overt instance of ethereal guitar worship from Nate Mercereau’s playing.
That’s another thing: the production is so enveloping and dense that you can barely tell whether what you’re hearing is a guitar, flute, synth, or someone’s faint voice. Their intent to vary each song structurally when compared to the next is key to this album’s appeal. For example, for every improvisational linear and jazz-like moment, like the head melody and pondering movement of 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,” there’s a song of pure ambient and meditative worship, like the next song “The Slang Word P(*)ssy Rolls Off The Tongue With Far Better Ease Than The Proper Word Vagina . Do You Agree?”
This, plus its aforementioned density, sets New Blue Sun slightly apart from its influences. The tribal, primal, rhythmically patient, and tense hunter mind-state presented on “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” is among this album’s most unique moments. But it’s difficult to identify those when talking about Andre 3000’s album holistically. Each track is a microcosm of the whole experience. Still, this versatility means that some moments will lean heavily enough into an ambient and meditative state that feels uneventful and disengaging. “Ninety Three ’Til Infinity and Beyoncé,” whose four-minute length feels like thirty seconds in the grand scheme of New Blue Sun, still makes an impact. The longer cuts, though, fall victim to their length and static stasis on occasion.
Also, the playing on New Blue Sun isn’t perfect, which is where it falters when compared to influences like Alice Coltrane, Laraaji, and others. In fact, it’s almost an ironic reality. Andre 3000’s flute, which he sometimes plays out of key and too meanderingly, might be the weakest aspect of this album’s composition and musicality. Even though space, meditation, and patience are key tenants of ambient music and spiritual jazz, sometimes this album stretches itself out a bit too thin with its adherence to that vibe. But don’t get it twisted: it’s still very expressive, serene, cohesive, and immersive. It just doesn’t hold up to other improvisational standards. Then again, Andre doesn’t know chords, notes, and music theory like that, which is totally fine.
For what it is, it stands as a great intro to this sound for casual music fans, not the next best thing in it. But what does it matter what a hip-hop writer says about an album that is so explicitly not hip-hop? Well, I’m going to invoke blasphemy and recall Drake’s Honestly Nevermind as a comparison point. The most important thing that album did, regardless of quality, was welcome an audience who might not have known how much they could like house music. So, Andre 3000’s New Blue Sun knows exactly what it’s doing. It ends up being a fitting tribute to these sounds from Steve Roach, Yoshio Ojima, Yusef Lateef, and more, rather than a distilled novelty.
All throughout New Blue Sun, there’s tension, and then release, which these inspirations are true masters at. Subtle key changes, futuristic effects, and melodic variations of each other’s structures do provide some respite for listeners looking for the fine details. As a background listen, it feels unrestrained and tender enough to focus on the bigger picture, so you can check Andre 3000’s album out either way. Just be cognizant of what you’re in for and take it at face value.
Even with little words, Andre 3000 still says a lot. New Blue Sun is deliberately peaceful, often somber, and sometimes chaotic with incredible swells on tracks like “BuyPoloDisorder’s Daughter Wears A 3000 Shirt Embroidered.” Emotionally, the album covers everything under the sun with the same sense of passionate wonder. Take “Ants To You, Gods To Who ?,” for example, with its cold, dreamy atmosphere accentuated by a unique flute tone and melodic direction. It also represents the “She Lives In My Lap” artist’s own role amid all this. This isn’t really a solo album — in fact, none of his work truly is. But his skill and sensibilities shine through on everything he touches, and 3 Stacks is incredibly grateful for all the avenues that championed his artistic freedom, of which this is the latest.
New Blue Sun‘s closer’s title references the Dungeon Family, the first space in which the flautist felt fully free to express himself in his career. Back then, that mode of self-discovery was through rap, which he pondered intensely as he wrote verses. If Andre’s a rap architect, then this is him as a gardener, planting seeds and experiencing how they grow. Those can’t blossom without the company he chose, and that synergy is palpable on this album. In that humility and inspiration, he crafted one of the greatest artistic legacies of all time, in which New Blue Sun is a pivotal piece. There’s nothing more emblematic of Andre 3000, or compelling to him as a human, than the constant search for an answer. He found it, is finding it, and will always seek the way the wind blows him next time.
André 3000’s new album New Blue Sun couldn’t be farther from a rap album in most people’s eyes- or ears, rather. Moreover, many folks took issue with Pitchfork‘s review of it- not because of the score (8.3, Best New Music), but because of the categorization. Instead of “New Age,” “Jazz,” “Ambient,” or other appropriate genres that describe the flute-heavy, fully instrumental project, the publication put it under the “Rap/Experimental” genre. Mariah The Scientist agrees with this criticism, as she reposted a tweet on it on her Instagram Story on Monday (November 20).
“André 300 did NOTHING but play the FLUTE and they STILL labeled it a RAP album,” the tweet in question reads. “Do we not see the problem with this?” However, before we get ahead of ourselves, there’s a legitimate reason for this categorization that might calm Mariah The Scientist down. Pitchfork designed their content management system (CMS) that they use to publish work and organize it in the “backend” so that the genre of an album ties to the principal genre of its artist. As such, since they have the Outkast member as mostly a rap and experimental artist, they couldn’t change the genre to reflect New Blue Sun‘s direction.
So, with that in mind, maybe you understand the music media icons a little bit more. But the criticism itself is very valid and applicable to other people’s discussions around the project. In fact, it’s something that the 26-year-old has addressed about her own music. “I put music out, and it’s automatically supposed to be R&B?” Mariah The Scientist asked Complex during a video interview.
“Anybody that sings and is Black, or they think you Black… they, like, put you in this category of ‘She makes R&B music,’” she continued. “But if Lana Del Rey is singing about heartbreak, why [do they categorize] her album as alternative? But I put music out, and it’s automatically R&B? What if it’s neither of those? I told somebody that I wanted to make a new genre and I wanted to call it A&B for alternative and blues. I don’t know if it will happen, but if I did have to categorize myself, it would be that.” For more news and the latest updates on Mariah The Scientist and André 3000, log back into HNHH.
DJ Vlad is facing criticism on social media for his recent opinion on Andre 3000’s latest instrumental project, New Blue Sun. Responding to the critical praise the album has been receiving, the VladTV founder called attention to its low streaming numbers.
Taking to Twitter, Vlad wrote: “For everyone saying how ‘genius,’ ‘brave,’ and ‘creative’ Andre 3000’s new flute album is, the biggest song on the album has 17,000 streams. The last song has less than 2,000 streams. In comparison, Outkast still gets 20 million listeners a month. So yeah, the numbers speak for themselves.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 16: (L-R) André 3000 and Leon Bridges attend the GQ Men of the Year Party 2023 at Bar Marmont on November 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for GQ)
Fans roasted Vlad for the post. “Imagine missing out on art because you care who else heard it, imagine passing on creativity from a generational talent because you’re focused on how many streams it has. Imagine disrespecting a legend’s sonic space for clout. Yikes. Andre’s flute has more presence than you,” one fan responded. Another wrote: “You’re an idiot. you’re lucky you’re even relevant, let alone getting paid in this. you’re a joke. an embarrassment. a scumbag. shut your mouth and learn about the culture you continuously appropriate.” Chuck D got involved as well, criticizing Vlad’s take. He argued that “we can’t allow the grease of machinery run through our arteries.”
DJ Vlad Reacts To Andre 3000’s “New Blue Sun”
For everyone saying how “genius,” “brave,” and “creative” Andre 3000’s new flute album is, the biggest song on the album has 17,000 streams. The last song has less than 2,000 streams. In comparison, Outkast still gets 20 million listeners a month. So yeah, the numbers speak… pic.twitter.com/lGL5HRoKL2
Andre 3000 dropped New Blue Sun as his first solo album on Friday. The project sees him performing his flute rather than rapping, as he’s done throughout his career. Speaking with GQ, he explained why he hasn’t been motivated to rap. “It actually feels … sometimes it feels inauthentic for me to rap because I don’t have anything to talk about in that way. I’m 48 years old,” he revealed. Be on the lookout for further updates on the Outkast rapper on HotNewHipHop.
Paul Wall has asked for a “chopped and screwed” version of Andre 3000’s new flute album, New Blue Sun. “Does anybody have a screwed and chopped version of Andre 3000 flute album? I need that asap for the slab,” Wall wrote on X, formerly Twitter. As Wall noted in his post, he specifically wanted this version to listen to in his car.
However, Wall isn’t the only person showing love for Andre’s new album. “I am no stranger to the ‘departure album’ […] albums the complete opposite of what the artist is known for. I knew this 3000 jawn was a left turn but I didn’t know it’s the RIGHT left turn. I always said ‘one day imma make the ambient record I’d love to sleep and dream to’ (btw, watching violent shit/sleeping to news/sleeping in stressful environment takes years off your life—-so this is why I invest heavy in stuff like this.). thank you @andre3000 #NewBlueSun,” wrote Questlove.
Does anybody have a screwed and chopped version of Andre 3000 flute album? I need that asap for the slab
— Paul Wall Voted 2023 Houston Zaddy (@paulwallbaby) November 17, 2023
The fact that Andre was releasing an instrumental-only flute album came as a surprise to just about everyone. In fact, the first the track on the album is literally called “I swear, I Really Wanted To Make A ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time.” Furthermore, Andre explained why the album is the way it is in a recent interview with NPR. “That’s why New Blue Sun was something that I realized, whoa, I really want people to hear it. I really want to share it. That’s my only gauge. I have to like it as a person, as an artist myself, because if I don’t like it I can’t expect nobody else to like it. I can’t pretend in that way. That’s always been hard for me,” Andre said.
He also said he was taking fans to “another realm”. “Yeah, it took me to other realms, to be completely honest. Like, I’ve been playing flute for years. It got to a point where it’s kind of Instagram-worthy, where people were kind of sneaking and filming me play — in space, in the public. I might be at Starbucks getting a coffee. I might just start playing. And people would just film it and post it. That started to happen a lot. One person actually came up to me on the street and he was like, “Man, it’s a thing, it’s a game almost like we’re trying to find you and trying to film you play a flute.” And that kind of was sucky because it was like a Where’s Waldo? kind of thing,” Andre explained.
Andre 3000 sat down with GQ earlier this week, opening up about Outkast’s discography ahead of his latest solo instrumental project, New Blue Sun. He spoke on he and Big Boi finding success early on in their careers, describing how they’ve had a unique experience because of how rapidly their success grew. While the duo’s known for their prolificacy, Andre 3000 notes that not everything an artist releases can be a banger, claiming that they may have missed the mark with their final studio album, Idlewild.
“It was a blessing to be successful that young,” Andre 3000 began. “I think our career is kind of interesting because since our very first album, we’ve gone platinum and just kept rising. Like, so next album was double, next three — it just kept rising.” He continued, speaking on their iconic fifth studio album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. The 2003 LP just recently became the best-selling rap album of all time.
“We haven’t taken a fall, y’know what I mean?” he explained. “And I think sometimes you build character or you build something by failure. Idlewild may have been our slip. You never know — the only thing you can do is be honest about what you’re doing at the time.” He went on to describe the “true chemistry” he had with Big Boi at Outkast’s peak, noting how the love they shared still remains.
According to him, Big Boi’s always been Outkast’s “biggest cheerleader” over the years, and would agree to a reunion without hesitation. “I do know I’m not the controller, Big Boi’s not the controller, of any of this. We couldn’t have planned where we are,” he added. “So we can’t plan an ending.” What do you think of Andre 3000 claiming that Idlewild could have been a “slip” for Outkast? Do you agree with him? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
In a moment that has hip-hop enthusiasts rejoicing worldwide, Andre 3000 drops his highly anticipated album New Blue Sun. Earlier this week, Andre 3000 surprised fans by announcing his long-awaited solo debut album. Almost two decades have passed since OutKast’s last album, leaving fans hungry for new material from one of the genre’s most iconic figures. The revelation has sparked a wave of excitement, as listeners now get to delve into a groundbreaking addition to Andre 3000’s already illustrious career.
It’s almost surreal that the world hasn’t witnessed a solo project from the acclaimed rapper in all these years. While Andre 3000 has kept himself in the musical landscape with a handful of notable features, the prospect of a solo album seemed like a distant dream. Fans had, to some extent, resigned themselves to the idea that the elusive solo project might never materialize. However, the recent announcement has shattered those doubts and reignited the excitement for Andre 3000’s solo work.
The title, New Blue Sun, also speaks to the departure from the familiar, signaling a new chapter in Andre 3000’s artistic journey. In a departure from the conventional hip-hop norms, the album consists of an 87-minute sonic experience that defies expectations. This unique project deliberately does not include traditional rap bars. And the packaging boldly warns listeners with a succinct, “Warning: no bars.” According to NPR, André’s foray into this instrumental realm goes beyond the absence of vocals, as he immerses himself in a diverse array of flutes.
The album features a captivating showcase of his musical versatility, with André skillfully playing instruments ranging from contrabass flute to Mayan flutes and bamboo flutes, alongside other digital wind instruments. This departure from the lyrical and rhythmic elements typically associated with hip-hop highlights André 3000’s innovative approach. It’s an immersive journey where the absence of traditional bars doesn’t diminish the richness of the sonic landscape he meticulously crafts. Did you get a chance to check out the album yet?
Tracklist:
1. “I swear, I Really Wanted To Make A “Rap” Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time” 2. “The Slang Word P(*)ssy Rolls Off The Tongue With Far Better Ease Than The Proper Word Vagina . Do You Agree?” 3. “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” 4. “BuyPoloDisorder’s Daughter Wears A 3000 Button Down Embroidered” 5. “Ninety Three ‘Til Infinity And Beyoncé” 6. “Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C. / Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, And John Wayne Gacy” 7. “Ants To You, Gods To Who ?” 8. “Dreams Once Buried Beneath The Dungeon Floor Slowly Sprout Into Undying Gardens”
Shirt Embroidered.” Emotionally, the album covers everything under the sun with the same sense of passionate wonder. Take “Ants To You, Gods To Who ?,” for example, with its cold, dreamy atmosphere accentuated by a unique flute tone and melodic direction. It also represents the “She Lives In My Lap” artist’s own role amid all this. This isn’t really a solo album — in fact, none of his work truly is. But his skill and sensibilities shine through on everything he touches, and 3 Stacks is incredibly grateful for all the avenues that championed his artistic freedom, of which this is the latest.
(@djvlad)