André 3000 is set to miss the Grammys ceremony, despite being nominated for multiple awards, including Album of the Year.
‘New Blue Sun’, the OutKast rapper’s debut solo album, was released in November 2023 and has been nominated in three categories at the Grammys: Album of the Year, Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Instrumental Composition for ‘I Swear, I Really Wanted To Make A ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time’.
With the ceremony taking place in Los Angeles on Sunday night (February 2), André has confirmed he will not be in attendance. Writing on Instagram on Saturday, he said: “Unfortunately, I’m not able to attend the Grammys tomorrow, but some of the ‘New Blue Sun’ musicians, friends and supporters will be in attendance.”
“Our album was conceived and recorded in Los Angeles with the spirit of openness and creative collaboration,” he added. “We hope that the rebound of Los Angeles is swift and renewing. Congrats to all the musicians and collaborators being acknowledged. Keep playing.”
In the Album of the Year category, ‘New Blue Sun’ is up against Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’, Billie Eilish’s ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’, Chappell Roan’s ‘The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess’, Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’, Jacob Collier’s ‘Djesse Vol. 4’, Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet’ and Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’.
After receiving his nominations in November, André spoke about his surprise at making the shortlist for such a major category. “We were trying to be nominated in some type of way for alternative jazz or ambient, possibly,” he admitted. “But I was totally surprised by this. So yeah, it was super, super, super duper cool.”
‘New Blue Sun’ is an 87-minute ambient jazz flute album that includes no beats or raps. “I’ve always kind of been analysing it or figuring out how I wanted to approach it… I have to feel happy about sharing it,” he said about his approach to the album.
“That’s why ‘New Blue Sun’ was something that I realised, whoa, I really want people to hear it. I really want to share it. That’s my only gauge. I have to like it as a person, as an artist myself, because if I don’t like it I can’t expect nobody else to like it. I can’t pretend in that way. That’s always been hard for me”.
André has told fans to expect “new music for sure” in 2025. “I don’t wanna pinpoint what it is, but I just want to express more…put it like that,” he told Amazon Music in November.
He has also said that OutKast are “further away” from new music “than we’ve ever been” in December.
NEWS
Panic! At The Disco are preparing to release a special deluxe anniversary edition of A Fever You Can't Sweat Out.
The I Write Sins Not Tragedies icons marked the 20th anniversary of their groundbreaking 2005 debut album during their performance at When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas over the weekend, and have now confirmed the new edition.
On January 23, the group — originally formed by Brendon Urie, Spencer Smith, Ryan Ross and Brent Wilson — will unveil a limited edition box set that features a remastered version of the record.
The package, priced at £164.99 and available for pre-order, includes 11 unreleased demos and a vinyl pressing of 2006’s Live In Denver. The full live set has also been uploaded to YouTube.
On the band’s UK store, they shared a message:
“To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Panic! At The Disco’s seminal debut album, this limited edition box set brings together a comprehensive time capsule celebrating the record's impact.
This release includes the original album remastered for the first time ever, 11 unreleased demos, plus the legendary 2006 Live In Denver performance — never before released on vinyl or CD.
The box set also includes a 12-page zine with never before seen photos from the era, a sticker set, a door hanger, and a paper doll set.”
By 2023, the band had essentially become a solo project for Urie. Their final show was held in Manchester, UK, where the frontman said: “Sometimes a journey must end for a new one to begin.
“We’ve been trying to keep it to ourselves, though some of you may have heard… Sarah and I are expecting a baby very soon!
The prospect of being a father and getting to watch my wife become a mother is both humbling and exciting. I look forward to this next adventure.”
Panic! returned to the stage at WWWY over the weekend, performing A Fever You Can't Sweat Out in full alongside fan favorites like This Is Gospel and Nine in the Afternoon.
To end the night, they performed I Write Sins Not Tragedies once again, as Smith reunited with Urie for the emotional closing moment.
