A.D. Carson, Guest Columnist

André 3000’s Flute Album Is Exactly What Hip-Hop Is About

Rappers have been playing instruments since the early days of the genre. The new project should inspire fans to look at the musical archives.

November 17, 2023 at 2:00 PM UTC

By A.D. Carson

A.D. Carson is an associate professor of hip-hop and the Global South at the University of Virginia. His albums include "V: Illicit" and the academically peer-reviewed "I Used to Love to Dream."

Turn the volume up.
Photographer: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

Provide news feedback or report an error

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

This article is for subscribers only.

One of the year’s most anticipated hip-hop releases is an instrumental flute album.

After 17 years, André 3000, half of the legendary Atlanta rap duo OutKast, released new music: An album titled New Blue Sun. The palpable excitement that one of the most gifted lyricists in hip-hop history put out new music is tempered by the caveat André is offering with the project— there is no rapping, nay, any lyrics featured.