André 3000’s newest project might just be back-breaking work.
When the former OutKast member arrived at the Met Gala steps Monday night, his look, which featured a small piano strapped literally onto the back of his suit coat jacket, may have seemed like just another over-the-top sartorial choice — part and parcel of an evening built on experimental design.
But fans of the rapper were soon made hip to something different — the piano was an intentional choice, a preview of the 7-track surprise album he would drop that same evening.
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Entitled aptly “7 piano sketches,” the project features several wordless songs played on the instrument.
The album is just the latest installment in a series of moves that represent a departure from André 3000’s signature sound.
The musician, who rose to fame on the arm of quick-witted bars, released back-to-back flute albums in 2023, surprising fans and critics alike who were impressed by his skills as a flautist.
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His Met Gala look, which paired the baby grand on his back with a navy jumpsuit and red beret, caught fans’ attention, doing double duty as both a buzzy moment and advertisement for “7 piano sketches.”
The album is as enigmatic as the musician behind it, featuring one track entitled “when you’re a ant and you wake up in an awesome mood, about to drive your son to school, only to discover that you left the lights on in the car last night so your battery is drained,” and another called simply “hotel lobby pianos.”
The cover art is a fine line sketch of André 3000 in his Met Gala outfit.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: André 3000 shocks after Met Gala with surprise album drop
