André 3000, for the first time since his OutKast days, has declared November 17 as the release date for his debut solo album, New Blue Sun.

Prior to this, the rapper was a member of the hip-hop duo OutKast, which, with his collaborator Big Boi, produced some of the most critically acclaimed rap music of the 1990s and early 2000s. 3000’s career has been limited to guest verses since their separation in the middle of the 2000s, dropping bars for Beyonce, Anderson Paak, and Gorillaz, among others.

As per 3000’s account to NPR, the album originated during collaboration with Tyler, the Creator: “At the time, I believe there were no more than four songs on board; I was merely conducting a test run to gauge the reception of it among a younger demographic.” Now that I reside in California, I requested Tyler to inspect it and proceeded to his residence.

Although this will be his inaugural solo album, it is not the first time that 3000 has released a studio album in his own right. Many fans consider the double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below to be the first legitimate 3000 solo album, despite the nomenclature. The duo released separate solo efforts on a single disc.

Regarding his musical philosophy, 3000 elaborated on the importance of discovering music that evokes a strong emotional response within him. Instead of approaching music from a position of strength, the rapper stated, “I’ll simply leave it there if I can’t find a way to rock on it.” This reflected in his inclination to create songs inspired by his inspiration.

Aside from his numerous guest appearances, 3000 has been engaged in acting, most notably starring in the 2013 film All Is By My Side as Jimi Hendrix. In addition to performing eccentric musical endeavors during public appearances, he has been observed playing the flute on public transportation. 

In anticipation of the album’s release, 3000 expressed a desire to disseminate the music globally, stating, “When I first heard New Blue Sun, I thought, Whoa, I really want people to hear it. I am extremely interested in sharing it. Such is my sole indicator. As an artist, I must personally and personally enjoy it; otherwise, I cannot expect others to do the same.” The anticipated arrival date of New Blue Sun is November 17, 2023.