Andre 3000 Claims Flute Album Doesn't Count Towards Record Deal

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2004 MTV Video Music Awards - Show
Andre 3000 of Outkast during 2004 MTV Video Music Awards - Show at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Three Stacks has something cooking.

Andre 3000 has taken one of the most fascinating left turns in hip hop history. The rapper and former Outkast superstar decided to put the mic down and pick up a flute. The resulting album, New Blue Sun, has sparked widespread debate among listeners. Some consider it a daring musical triumph, others an attempt at being "artsy." Andre 3000 discussed the album during a recent interview with Toure, and he shed light on a fascinating technicality about the album. A technicality that could pose enticing possibilities for his future.

Andre 3000 explained that New Blue Sun actually didn't count towards his record deal. It was not an attempt to circumvent the label system, the way that people like Frank Ocean have. Three Stacks was actually confused by this technicality when he discovered it. He told Toure that the label did not view New Blue Sun as a viable commercial product, and therefore did not fulfill the terms of the contract Andre 3000 signed. "You have to have some type of legal stipulation that stops you from doing that," Three Stacks revealed.

Andre 3000 Plans To Drop New Music In 2025

The rapper's lawyer told him that the stipulation was brought about in the 1970s. Andre 3000 noted, however, that record label was not critical of his decision to release a jazz flute album. In fact, they were encouraging. "They congratulated me on the process, they congratulated me on what the work was, but contractually, it’s very interesting," he told Toure. "My label will not count this album against my contract — this is as a solo artist." The rapper's revelation is especially interesting given his recent announcement regarding new music.

Andre 3000 was interviewed during the Camp Flog Gnaw Festival, and confirmed that he has new music on the way. He told the interviewer that he intends to drop in 2025, and challenge normal conventions as to how fans consume music. "New music for sure," he explained. "New ways to distribute and express… I just want to express more." It'll be fascinating to see whether Andre's new music news closer to the hip hop we know and love from him. Pharrell seems to think it will. The fellow creative told GQ that Andre is coming back to rhyming sooner or later, and when he does, it will be "hot."

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About The Author
Elias Andrews is a music and entertainment writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH in 2024 as the lead night shift contributor, which means he covers new music releases on a weekly basis. In the year since joining, Elias has covered some of the biggest and most turbulent stories in the world of music. He covered the Drake and Kendrick Lamar battle, and the release of the disses “Family Matters” and “Meet the Grahams,” in particular, in real time. He has also detailed the ongoing list of allegations and criminal charges made against Diddy. Elias’ favorite artists are Andre 3000, MF Doom, pre-808s Kanye West and Tyler, The Creator. He loves L.A. hip-hop but not L.A. sports teams. The first album he ever bought was Big Willie Style by Will Smith, which he maintains is still a pretty good listen.
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