André 3000 celebrated his 49th birthday by closing out the 47th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival with a performance that left fans divided. The anticipation was high, with one fan expressing excitement about the free concert, saying, “Anytime you get a free André 3000 concert, you really just have to take advantage of that.” Another expected the “city would turn up” once the Four Brothers actor took the stage.
Contrary to expectations of OutKast hits, André 3000 performed instrumental pieces from his new solo album, New Blue Sun. One fan, amazed by the performance, tweeted, “I saw André 3000; I’m never going to fail.” However, a viral video showed murmurs from the crowd as André focused on his woodwind passion. He prefaced his performance by saying, “Everything we’re doing — the same way that New Blue Sun was made with me and my brothers. We’re completely making everything up as we go along. We never know what the night is gonna sound like.”
This improvisational approach left many attendees confused. Some voiced their dissatisfaction, with one remarking, “I feel like this should be done somewhere with better acoustics and not outside.” Another tweeted, “The crowd so confused they don’t know how to take them vibes. They used to toxic music in Atlanta.”
Reports varied on whether André 3000 was playing the flute or clarinet. Regardless, the crowd’s reaction was mixed. LL Cool J reflected this sentiment: “Flutes? Man, come on, bro […] He’s so gifted. So it’s like, come on, B, not the flute. We not gonna lie. … Don’t gas … that man needs to know the truth. He needs to know the truth,” he said on The Shop.
Despite the mixed reactions, André 3000 remains dedicated to his new musical direction. He told Bitter Southerner, “The thing is, I can only give what I’m feeling. If there’s not any discovery, it doesn’t feel real to me.” He emphasized his preference for improvisational music over returning to rap.
Regardless of public opinion, André 3000 is set to co-headline Robert Glasper’s Blue Note Jazz Fest: Black Radio Experience this August. As he continues to explore his musical journey, fans will have to decide how they feel about his evolution.
