André 3000 has dusted off the flute for a new collaboration with celebrated jazz musician Kamasi Washington, a frequent Kendrick Lamar collaborator.
The duo have teamed up for “Dream State,” which features Three Stacks highlighting the experimental jazz composition with his new favorite instrument. The song will be featured on Washington’s new album, Fearless Movement.
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“When you receive a text from a wind friend something beautiful usually transpires,” the Outkast legend said regarding the collaboration. “The day Kamasi invited me to a session for Fearless Movement I was so geeked and honored. Now, every time we get together something interesting happens. We first played during a recording session for New Blue Sun and it’s been fruitful ever since.”
Check out the video for the track below.
Though musicians have been generally supportive of André’s transformation into a flutist, one MC has hoped he eventually gets back to his roots.
Earlier this week, Kid Cudi sent a message to 3000, imploring him to record a new rap album that will “save us all.”
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In an episode of Complex‘s “GOAT Talk” series alongside skateboard icon Tony Hawk, the Cleveland rapper shared his desire to hear new bars from 3 Stacks.
When asked by Hawk who the greatest rapper of all time is, Cudi wasted little time in naming the OutKast lyricist.
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“He’s just the illest,” he said. “I would really love to see a rap album from him. I know he’s in a different place [but] I know he can create something that’s just so wild and feels fresh and new. He can save us all. Save us all, Dre!”
Heaping more praise on André 3000, Cudi also named OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below as his G.O.A.T. album, describing it as “masterful” and the “template” for his debut album, 2009’s Man on the Moon: The End of Day.
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The Atlanta legend has flip-flopped on whether or not he’ll record rap music again.
In an interview with NPR last year, 3 Stacks admitted that writing rhymes doesn’t come as naturally to him as it once did.
“I love rap music because it was a part of my youth. So I would love to be out here with everybody rapping, because it’s almost like fun and being on the playground,” he said. “I would love to be out here playing with everybody, but it’s just not happening for me.”
Referencing his instrumental album New Blue Sun, he added: “This is the realest thing that’s coming right now. Not to say that I would never do it again, but those are not the things that are coming right now. And I have to present what’s given to me at the time.”
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Months later, though, André appeared to make a U-turn and left the door open for a return to rap.
Asked in an interview with Highsnobiety if he missed rapping, he replied: “I do.”
