With a Met Gala theme like “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” one might expect guests to suit up and accessorize with dandy details like a top hat, a pocket watch, or even a cane, as some attendees sported last night. But a baby grand piano? That one came as a total surprise.
André 3000 had heads turning when he stepped onto the Met steps with a piano strapped to his back. The rest of his look—styled by Law Roach and designed by Burberry in collaboration with Benji Bixby—comprised of a boiler suit, red hat, oversized sunglasses, and a garbage bag.
The Grammy-winning rapper and flautist has been a style icon ever since his Outkast days, so he was sure to make a statement with his Met look. Sure enough, there are layers to André’s ensemble.
First, it was a reference to the cover art of his new album, 7 piano sketches, which dropped shortly after he arrived to the gala. There’s no better way to promote your new music than on the Met steps.
The album consists of seven instrumental recordings he performed solo on the piano. (There are no lyrics, so we’ll have to wait for new André 3000 verses. He even joked on Instagram, “warning: no bars.”) He explained in a statement:
“The original title for it was ‘The Best Worst Rap Album In History’ and here is an excerpt from the original liner notes: ‘It’s jokingly the worst rap album in history because there are no lyrics on it at all. It’s the best because it’s the free-est emotionally and best I’ve felt personally. It’s the best because it’s like a palette cleanser for me.’”
According to the press release, André had originally composed some of these songs more than a decade ago, even before he began his flute recordings for the Grammy-nominated New Blue Sun, “whilst staying in a house in Texas with his son that had only a piano, their beds and TV screens.” But he revisited the tracks this spring.
He added in an Instagram post, “These piano sketches are improvisations. To conjure them up, I spread my fingers out on the keys and randomly but with purpose move them around until I find something that feels good or interesting. If it feels really good I will try to repeat it. I cannot name which notes, keys or chords that I’m playing. I simply like the sound and mechanics of piano playing. Some of my favorite piano music composers and players that inspire me are Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, Philip Glass, Stephen Sondheim, Joni Mitchell and Vince Guaraldi.”
Bringing the cover art to life, André wore a custom-made piano by the brand Pink Sparrow to the Met as “a tribute to the impact of Black musicians on American music throughout history,” and to share “a statement to inspire talent and musical excellence for the next generation,” according to a press release from Burberry.
And as if his ensemble couldn’t get more personal, it also marked the debut of his brand Benji Bixby, an “evolution” of his late 2000s fashion line, Benjamin Bixby. The full look was a collaboration between Burberry and the new brand, including the jumpsuit, which reworked an aviator’s flight suit from the early 20th century, embroidered with umbrellas and raindrops. (It’s like he knew it was going to rain on Met Gala night!) The hat, too, was a collaboration between Benji Bixby and Demure Amsterdam.
Leave it to André 3000 to make an unusual Met Gala look feel so layered at the same time. The musician did change his outfit inside the venue, so he could party without a massive instrument attached to his person. He kept the trash bag, though.
Listen to his new album here.
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