André 3000 caught his fans off guard with the revelation that his latest musical endeavor, "New Blue Sun," last year, where he made use of his flute skills rather than his usual rap style.
Despite this unexpected shift, the instrumental album defied expectations. It significantly impacted the music industry, securing a spot in Billboard history and solidifying André 3000's status as a jazz and rap icon.
In search of a personal musical experience, the latest album indicates a close, attentive audience-and this is precisely the essence captured in André's accompanying film.
On August 29, André Benjamin, the 49-year-old Atlanta-born musician, shared a 90-minute video on YouTube accompanied by a subtitle detailing its purpose. Titled "Listening to the Sun," this "intimate album film for New Blue Sun" was captured during a recording session on November 11, 2023.
Opening the 90-minute feature, André sets the stage by presenting the album, igniting a candle, and allowing the music to guide his emotions throughout the session.
Opening the 90-minute feature, André sets the stage by presenting the album, igniting a candle, and allowing the music to guide his emotions throughout the session.
"I hope you enjoy the ride as much as we did," the former Outkast member said. "What you hear is what we did as it was happening."
From the beginning until the end of the film, Andre 3000 commands the screen without any breaks. His musical and physical movements seamlessly unfold in a continuous shot, creating a smooth transition from one scene to the next.
Despite the overall positive reception of his album, "New Blue Sun," André's remarks on rapping beyond the age of 40 during its promotion caused some controversy.
Lil Wayne told Tyga on his Young Money radio podcast last year that André's thoughts were "depressing," whereas LL Cool J disagreed with the notion that creativity dwindles after reaching 40 years of age.
According to HotNewHipHop, André 3000 and Frank Ocean are known for their frequent work together. Their collaboration spans multiple albums, with André often embodying a reclusive persona akin to Ocean's.
They said that drawing parallels to Ocean's work, Andre's "Listening to the Sun" exudes a vibe reminiscent of his version of "Endless."
The outlet further explained, "Ocean built a staircase over the course of an hour in Endless, as new music soundtracked his process. André 3000 has a bit more focus with his film (and 30 minutes more to fill), so it's admittedly a more engaging watch."
