Something utterly unexpected has just occurred: André 300, the beloved rap legend from the Outkast duo, finally released a solo album yesterday, after more than seventeen years. What's even more surprising is that the album is anything but rap.

Featuring a diverse array of colorful characters from the rap, jazz, and various other musical scenes such as Carlos Niño, Surya Botofasina, and Nate Mercereau, they all convened at André's house to improvise using his collection of flutes. There was no initial intention to create an album together, but André was so enamored with the result that he decided to publish it.

The method employed is improvisation, a shared characteristic in both jazz and rap. However, despite boasting a jazz experimental virtuoso like Carlos Niño and the presence of rap legend André, these tracks defy categorization—they're neither jazz nor rap, nor something in between.

Some reviewers describe this album as "meditative" and suitable for "studying," yet the outcome is so dynamic and weighty that it transcends being simply "chill." In an interview with NPR, André mentions that the whimsically titled tracks are his way of distancing his music from these misleading labels.

While the songs carry a contemplative weight, they also invite movement and fervor at certain points. Personally, I'd find it challenging to study with these tracks playing in the background; the material constantly evolves thematically, shifting colors, far from minimalistic tendencies of those “Music for study” styles and genres, and demands significant attention from the listener. It somewhat resembles the characteristic sonic landscape of a typical Tzadik-record-labeled song but lacks the harshness and aimlessness often associated with "experimental music." Instead, it feels purposeful and beautiful, leaning more toward playful than a purely experimental journey, largely due to the influence of the sentimental flute passages from the musicians and Carlos Niño's intriguing production. Some flute passages remind me of the compositions by the classical composer Takashi Yoshimatsu, particularly when Yoshimatsu references birds in many of his musical pieces.

This album is a gem, a must-listen for any music enthusiast—a creative, beautiful, and deeply personal expression. In his NPR interview, André mentions that after all these years, he released this album because he genuinely loved the outcome. He's the type of artist who doesn't publish anything unless it resonates deeply on a personal level. So, here it is—an invitation not just to listen to a musical album but to experience the latest manifestation of André 3000's soul.

Author: Martín Cacho

Martín is a video game composer, producer and writer from Sonora, México.