As reported by Rock and Roll Guitar, in a surprising twist, André 3000’s innovative flute album New Blue Sun has earned a prestigious nomination for Album of the Year at the upcoming 2025 Grammy Awards. This nomination is particularly significant as it marks the first time the Outkast member has entered this category since his remarkable win with partner Big Boi in 2004 with Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.
The announcement has taken many by surprise, including André himself. "I'm used to people feeling a way, but at the same time, it's just proof for me that I can only do what I'm into," he expressed in a conversation with Variety shortly after the news broke. "I think that's why I'm here. I get up on trying to expand myself. I have to be fun and be into what I'm doing. That's it."
New Blue Sun, released in November 2023, significantly veers from André's traditional hip-hop background, showcasing a collection of instrumental pieces that center around flute performances. This unconventional approach makes the album's nomination even more impressive, as projects of this nature seldom receive such high-caliber accolades.
In addition to the Album of the Year nod, New Blue Sun has also been recognized with nominations for Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Instrumental Composition. The latter includes a track boasting one of the longest titles this year: "I Swear, I Really Wanted To Make A 'Rap' Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time."
Facing tough competition in the Album of the Year category, André 3000 will contend against notable pop sensations, including Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter, Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department, and Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet.
This nomination is particularly remarkable considering André's 17-year hiatus from releasing new music, with his last album, Idlewild, coming out in 2006 as part of Outkast. The recognition of New Blue Sun underscores the Recording Academy’s celebration of artistic innovation and the courage to transcend conventional genre boundaries.
As the Grammy Awards draw closer, the music world eagerly anticipates whether André 3000's adventurous musical exploration will achieve yet another groundbreaking victory for the visionary artist.
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