In a move that surprised fans and the music industry alike, André 3000 has unveiled a new instrumental project titled 7 Piano Sketches. The seven-track collection, released late on May 5, 2025, showcases his evolving artistic direction through piano compositions. The project was launched in tandem with his eye-catching appearance at the Met Gala in New York City, where he sported a bespoke outfit featuring a piano design by Burberry and Benji Bixby.
Known for his boundary-pushing creativity, André shared insight into the making of 7 Piano Sketches through a press statement. He originally planned to title the project The Best Worst Rap Album in History, a humorous nod to the absence of lyrics in the music. “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,” André explained. The album serves as a personal reset and continuation of his experimental journey that began with 2023’s New Blue Sun, a flute-centered album that earned him three Grammy nominations including Album of the Year.
The music on 7 Piano Sketches has been gestating for nearly ten years. During a stay at a sparsely furnished Texas home with his son—where only a piano, two beds, and some televisions were present—André began composing these pieces. The minimalist environment and the rejuvenating energy of spring inspired him to explore piano melodies, laying the groundwork for this latest release.
Having kept the recordings to himself for years, André felt the timing was right to share them now. “Having lived with the recordings for a time, I was drawn to the idea of creating more and sharing them in the Spring,” he said, emphasizing the seasonal symbolism of rebirth and inspiration.
The album’s release was carefully timed with André’s standout appearance at the Met Gala. This year’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, celebrated Black creativity and craftsmanship. Styled by Law Roach, André walked the red carpet wearing an outfit that featured a piano on his back—a design that drew from his earlier fashion label Benjamin Bixby, now reimagined as Benji Bixby.
The striking ensemble wasn’t just fashion—it mirrored the themes of 7 Piano Sketches. The visual synergy between his music and appearance offered a comprehensive artistic statement, reflecting his commitment to innovation across disciplines.
The album is purely instrumental and brims with emotion and spontaneity. Each track opens with a spoken-word reading of the title—delivered by André, Emmy Paalman, or Fatima Robinson—setting the mood for the reflective piano pieces. The artist described his approach: “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.”
Though devoid of lyrics, André infused the music with meaning. The tongue-in-cheek warning “NO BARS” playfully acknowledges the absence of rap verses, further cementing his desire to break away from convention and let emotion guide his creativity.
Tracklist for 7 Piano Sketches:
- Bluffing in the Snow
- And Then One Day You’ll …
- When You’re an 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
- Hotel Lobby Pianos
- Blueberry Mansions
- Off Rhythm Laughter
- I Spend All Day Waiting for the Night
Reactions to the surprise drop have been overwhelmingly positive. Many fans and critics have embraced André’s continued evolution, applauding his courage to move beyond rap and into more experimental territory. His previous project, New Blue Sun, set the tone for this transformation, and 7 Piano Sketches further reinforces his commitment to artistic growth.
Beyond his latest release, André is poised for additional recognition. On May 10, 2025, he will receive an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music. Later this year, he is also scheduled to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside fellow OutKast member Big Boi—an acknowledgment of his lasting impact on music and culture.
With 7 Piano Sketches, André 3000 once again proves his ability to surprise and inspire. The album serves not just as a musical project, but as a deeply personal expression of freedom, creativity, and reinvention. By combining sound, fashion, and a spirit of vulnerability, he continues to redefine what it means to be an artist in the modern era.
Fans and observers now look forward with great anticipation to his next artistic move, confident that whatever André does next will be as bold and boundary-breaking as ever.
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