I thought this year’s Met Gala was one of the better ones. It was one of those rare occasions where more people than not knock it out of the park. One of the notable ones that I saw talked about a lot on my social media feeds was Andre 3000’s. It was really cool. He wore a black Burberry x Benji Bixby jumpsuit with a giant piano on his back. In an interview with GQ, he said that it was his own interpretation of dandyism, having interpreted it as ”your own personal outburst in fashion…You don’t really have to try for it if it’s something that you are doing.” I thought his outfit was so symbolic, and was meant to serve as a commentary on how Black music has shaped so much of society for centuries. He was carrying arts and culture on his back. Turns out there was one other significant meaning behind Andre’s outfit: he also used the moment to announce that he simultaneously dropped a new album, a collection of raw piano recordings called ”7 piano sketches”.
Andre 3000 may have pulled off one of the most fashionable product reveals of all time. The Grammy-winning rapper and musician wore a piano on his back for Monday night’s Met Gala and released his latest project, a collection of “piano sketches.”
He explained the new music in a post on Instagram.
“These piano sketches are improvisations,” the caption reads. “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. If it feels really good I will try to repeat it.”
He added: “Some of my favorite piano music composers and players that inspire me are Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, Philip Glass, Stephen Sondheim, Joni Mitchell and Vince Guaraldi.”
“These piano pieces weren’t recorded with the intention of presenting them in any formal way to the public,” Andre 3000 wrote. “They were personal, at home recordings. I would sometimes text them to my family and friends.”
He also revealed that the most all of the new music was recorded with his iPhone, almost a decade before his 2023 alternative jazz instrumental album, “New Blue Sun.”
“New Blue Sun” marked the debut studio album for the artist who is one half-of the famed rap duo Outkast. The album was nominated for multiple 2025 Grammys, including album of the year.
Andre 3000 concluded his social media post by explaining that the original title for the piano album was “The Best Worst Rap Album In History” before sharing an excerpt from the original liner notes.
“It’s jokingly the worst rap album in history because there are no lyrics on it at all,” the excerpt reads. “It’s the best because it’s the free-est emotionally and best I’ve felt personally. It’s the best because it’s like a palette cleanser for me.”
Well, that was certainly a big way to get attention for your new album. It was a statement and an announcement. I love the concept, especially the whole “free-est emotionally” description. I’m also fascinated by how eclectic his list of favorite piano composers and players is. Those are some solid picks. I’m a big fan of piano compositions, so I listened through a few of them on Tuesday when I had a few minutes, and they were good! The title of the third song is “when you’re a 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,” and the attempt to read the title at the top of the track takes just as long as the song itself.
As for the rest of the fashion…like I said I thought this year’s crop of outfits was amazing. It was extremely difficult to pick favorites, but Colman Domingo aside, I loved Zendaya’s white suit, Demi Moore’s clever necktie dress, and Jeremy O. Harris’s tribute to the original dandy. And yes, this changes every time I look at pictures. Like an hour from now, I could be listing Jodie Turner-Smith, Caleb McLaughlin, Teyana Taylor, and Diana Ross. Bah, so much good fashion to choose from.
photos credit: Doug Peters/PA Images/INSTARimages, Matt Crossick/PA Images/INSTARimages, Getty
I love him. And I loved how effortlessly cool he looked. Just walking around with a piano you know. His jumpsuit was fantastic. And just to add I actually loved the daffodil carpet and walls. Sometimes the carpet feels gross or dinghy but this flower one really popped.
Is he carrying trash bags?
I love Andre and squealed when I saw he attended. I can’t wait to see him at the Grammy’s with a trophy in each hand.
I love Andre 3000, and I squealed when I saw pictures of him on the red carpet. I can’t wait to see what he wears to the Grammys as he collects multiple awards.