Hip-hop icon André 3000 has addressed the criticism from fellow rapper LL Cool J regarding his recent instrumental album, New Blue Sun. André asserts that his creative evolution extends beyond traditional rap, showcasing his growth as an artist.
In November, André 3000 surprised fans with the release of New Blue Sun, a significant departure from his familiar sound with Big Boi during their Outkast days. The album, inspired by his passion for woodwinds, received mixed reactions, including disapproval from LL Cool J, who expressed his preference for André’s return to rap during a May interview.
In a recent appearance on The Shop, speaking with LeBron James, Sexyy Red, and others, André 3000 addressed the criticism, stating, “If it’s in you, you should rap until you die. You should perform until you die … but what I’m saying is, what it takes for me to do it, I’m always looking for the next. I’m not trying to uphold a thing that I’ve done before.”
Directly addressing LL Cool J’s critique, André continued, “Of course, I have things to say now, but if I can’t say them in a fresh, innovative way, if I feel like I’m just hanging onto the same flow that I used to do, it’s not enough for me.”
The 49-year-old artist elaborated, “I’ve been interested in winds for a long time, so it was just a natural progression for me to go into flutes.”
Despite the album’s departure from conventional hip-hop, André hinted at the possibility of returning to rap, noting, “There is a misconception that a solo rap album will never see the light of day. Maybe it will.”
Previously, LL Cool J had criticized André’s instrumental project on The Shop, declaring, “Let’s not lie to ourselves. I don’t wanna hear him do the flute.”
André 3000 is scheduled to perform his new music live in concert across the U.S., starting in September.
