DJ Vlad has found himself in the hot seat after an ill-received critique of André 3000’s new album went viral.
On Saturday (November 18) Vlad took to X, where he suggested the long-awaited project was a flop in comparison to projects by André’s duo OutKast.
“For everyone saying how “genius,” “brave,” and “creative” Andre 3000’s new flute album is, the biggest song on the album has 17,000 streams. The last song has less than 2,000 streams,” he began.
He continued: “In comparison, Outkast still gets 20 million listeners a month. So yeah, the numbers speak for themselves.”
The slight caused an uproar from followers who felt Vlad was off base and displayed a lack of understanding of what it means to be an artist.
“Imagine missing out on art because you care who else heard it. Imagine passing on creativity from a generational talent because you’re focused on how many streams it has. Imagine disrespecting a legend’s sonic space for clout. Yikes. André’s flute has more presence than you,” wrote “multi-hyphenate creative” Pierre King.
Writer Michael Stover commented: “You’re an idiot. you’re lucky you’re even relevant, let alone getting paid in this. you’re a joke. an embarrassment. a scumbag. shut your mouth and learn about the culture you continuously appropriate.”
“Music isn’t about numbers. It’s about artistic expression. He did that for him. If ppl like or don’t like it, it’s fine either way,” musician Brooks Anderson II chimed in.
Even Chuck D got in on the action and offered a metaphor of sorts to bring his point home. “Dr V they say that Pete The Cat is genius but nobody compares the numbers lol . Also the amount of push button cars vs turn ignitions . Lol sometimes we can’t allow the grease of machinery run through our arteries,” he wrote via X.
Others didn’t find an issue with Vlad’s sentiments, and suggested the drop was a miss for true fans.
“Ain’t nobody listening to that shit. His target audience are ppl that into mediation and shit. Which is fine but majority of his fans love him for his LYRICS!!!!,” wrote one user.
New Blue Sun has received major praise from at least one high-profile listener. Questlove took to social media to offer his thoughts on the “next level” instrumental project.
“I am no stranger to the ‘departure album’ […] albums the complete opposite of what the artist is known for,” The Roots co-founder wrote on Instagram. “I knew this 3000 jawn was a left turn but I didn’t know it’s the RIGHT left turn.”
Referring to the new record as “good medicine,” he added: “I always said ‘one day imma make the ambient record I’d love to sleep and dream to’ (btw, watching violent shit/sleeping to news/sleeping in stressful environment takes years off your life—-so this is why I invest heavy in stuff like this.)
“thank you @andre3000 #NewBlueSun”
3k isn’t above criticism some of his fans are becoming delusional. He’s one of the most talented rappers ever but he hasn’t done anything consistent in 17 years.
I agree with Vlad. I skipped through the flute album. Its basically the same type of backround music they play at a museum in any archeology exhibit. Super talented, but also super boring. When a rapper starts calling themselves an “artist” its time to look elsewhere for rap. If I wanted “art” Id go to an opera or a museum.
The good rappers are artists though, at least they used to be.
Pretty small minded there. Andre is a man whose always been a little out there. He has an interest outside of rap music, and wanted to put that on wax. It’s not a rap album, and he didn’t put it out so you could enjoy rap music. From the same angle that you were coming from; if you want rap music, listen to it. But don’t listen to a non-rap album based on a man’s passion and expect rap music.
Exactly! That’s what I’m trying to get across to people. People like that are the reason I cried like a baby,when David bowie dies. Another artist artist lost. I stand with Dre on this ! The most interesting artist are usually the ones who can chew gum and walk ,at the same time
VLAD TOLD NO LIES!!!
If Vlad was black, the uproar from other rappers and artists would’ve been extreme
No it wouldn’t. The album is a snooze fest, everyone knows it 😴.
I randomly wanted to listen to Andre 3000’s new album and checked it out in YouTube yesterday. I was like ok, let me skip ahead to the vocals in the first song. There was none. Skipped to the next. The next. The next. Look, it’s cool and it’s art and I dig he’s doing his own thing but it’s not for me…
Was he trying to turn up and find bangers on here? I feel everyone got the disclaimer that this album was going to be experimental. So naturally everyone who listens to OutKast wasnt gonna be on board with this from the door.
This whole culture of being bullied into certain opinions is wack and counterproductive. I don’t care what any of you say, NONE, and I mean NOT ONE of you has or will listen to that Andre album beginning to end more than once. It’s like listening to a 4th grader’s flute recital. It’s a pretentious joke of an album. But we’re all supposed to act like it’s some profound piece of art? Why? Because a rapper that we listened to 25 years ago made it? If somebody you never heard it made this album you’d have zero interest in it. Just be honest.
I agree. I listened to it. It’s relaxing but I’m not really putting it on unless I’m tripping or trying to fall asleep.
Taken for what it is, I like it. It’s relaxing. Sounds like something that suits vinyl and some good headphones. Also ideal to put on in the background while exploring in Elite Dangerous. Definitely not going to be for anyone that strictly listens to rap but that’s not who it’s for anyway.
I hope that Andre 3000 doesn’t purposely not release a rap album because of comments like this .
Andre 300 fans = Russel Simmons lookin ass muthafvckers. Only a whole fanook ass noqqa played this ass bomb and liked it😂
Andre 3000 clearly stated that he’s done with rap/hip hop so why did everyone assumed that he was doing a hip hop album.? The album wasn’t marketed towards hip hop/rap fans. Smh..
Andre 3000 clearly stated that he’s done with rap/hip hop so why did everyone assumed that he was doing a hip hop album.? The album wasn’t marketed towards hip hop/rap fans. Smh..
Rare Vlad W
Andre 3K is like Miles Davis of Hip Hop. Great Album, even tho it’s not Hip Hop. At least it’s a great piece of ART work of music.
all those numbers let me know is theres 20 million plus i diots tha never heard of a microsd card
Hard pass on the album, but fuck Vlad on GP.
People are pissed off. They want a proper outkast album. Period. Trust me. He’ll make one next year after he realizes he disappointment.
He coulda at least spit some smooth pimpin’ poetry over the music
He coulda at least spit some smooth pimpin’ poetry over the music
This album is gonna be a sample goldmine. If in a producer or rapper I’m gonna have a Andre 3k flute sample on my next joint
Not fair to get mad at vlad for saying its trash. Same with all the latest Jay z music. Can we call out our favorite artisits when its bad?
Some of yall listened to that album because of the name attached. I know what to expect so I ain’t touching it. Just because a famous hip hop artist goes a different direction, stop calling shit genius. Like Kanye’s 808, shit was horrible but yall act like Kanye walks on water.
Yall are missing the point! The subliminal shots at his rap peers on the first track. When he went ‘toot toot *pause* toot da toot?’ Yall don’t respect the culture nor the artist. He straight up went at Jay, Drake, Kendrick and Cole. He goes at Yeezy at the last track. The Nas dig was crazy. He went ‘toot da doot dooo’. Yall keep playing. The deluxe going to give Electronica, The Dump Gawds as well as Griselda a run for their money. Roc Marci better hide his purse. Yall are witnessing Hit ‘Em Up as an album. My personal fav jab was ‘too to the too too dum.’ That wordplay via air is up for discussion as the greatest intro since Lupes Mural or Deck on Triumph.
Somebody, please bite dis nukka ear off!!!
What was the name of that Vlad album again?
Or was it a movie?
Book of poetry?
Trying to remember what he actually artiscally created….
Anybody?
That part.
When Kid Cudi heard Nirvana once, he made ‘Speeding Bullet’. When Andre heard Kenny G once, he made this bs. This is NOT hiphop. This is NOT even rap. Andre is NOT a genius, just an ex-rapper with a weird hobby album that would’ve had 50 plays in 1 year on Soundcloud. Stop the hype, focus on good hiphop music. A new Homeboy Sandman has just dopped, a new Blockhead has just dropped, V1C has released an EP with E-40 and some other Bay Area legends. Why do you even care about a flutist? Because he’s black? Because he was a part of Outcast? Well in this case you should write about Godfather Don who has plenty of jazz stuff, but you don’t care. Maybe because he kept it hardcore and hasn’t got a wack pop rap hit.
So I understand what you’re getting at. But why should it be not care for a flutist? Because he’s black? Andre it’s always been considered a weirdo, but because he’s a good lyricist, he won people over. I always liked the guy because he was outside of the box, and people like myself can relate. He gave you guys what you wanted, and yet was still able to walk, and chew gum at the same time. The guys also interested in painting, so is it any surprise that he wants to be a musician? He gave you what you wanted, and he mastered that. Any true artist wait, will explore other avenues. That’s why I missed the hell out of people like David bowie. Always experimenting, moving ahead. But you guys are so stuck and rap, and that’s not a crime in itself, that most people are stuck in there, seem to not have any other interests outside of that. That is self exile, and must be excruciating. Especially when you have no other hobbies to explore. But you are right, and there are other rappers, who do nothing but rap, and recycle the same wraps all day. But if someone like Eminem decides to play the cello, you guys will be all there praising him as well. As a matter of fact, most of you already consider him a rap god. Sadly, he probably will be the last man standing, a hundred years old, and still the only one rapping. That would be ironic. But not surprising.
How wild is it that we are here now? We’ve gotten so accustomed to markets giving us products to consume that we believe that everything that is created has to satisfy our want to consume it. This is happening with TV shows, Movies, and Music. We wonder why these industries don’t put out anything creative. Why would they do that at all?
3k has made it very clear he does not want to make the music YOU want. He wants to make the music HE wants. When he goes out and does it, he gets trashed for it. Vlad complaining is pretty rich. I guess he likes his black people in the form that he can digest(and make money from). I’m not saying that you have to like this new album. Its not my thing either, but Andre 3000 is making something outside a box he has been fighting against from the beginning, and Vlad is talking about “get back in your place and dance how I like”. And some of yall are really saying the same thing.
It seems like nobody is allowed to criticise now. Everyone as an opinion. Everyone is entitled to have one. We in the black community really need to grow up. We cannot take criticism.. mentally weak. It’s always seen as a diss.
WOW, folks on here blown for no reason at all including DJ VIAD. If pone paid close attention before the release he basically stated it was not a Rap record. But folks listened for Rap, and now in their feelings. I’m like this if it does not fit for you close you ears and mouth and move on. I give you information & knowledge taken from one of the GREATEST Artist Ever Stevie Wonder Sir Duke
Music is a world within itself
With a language we all understand
With an equal opportunity
For all to sing, dance and clap their hands
But just because a record has a groove
Don’t make it in the groove
But you can tell right away at letter A
When the people start to move.
What one might not like others may vibe off of it! Thinking Out of the Box!
True Andre 3000 fans know he’s not a rapper… He’s a musician.
F$ck Vlad like why is anyone still interviewing w dude ..that’s the problem
I personally thought it was a joke when I heard he just dropped a new album I was off my rocker I was born in 1975 I grew up in hip hop seen a lot of greats but I was took back on this I skipped threw every song waiting for the lyrics but was sadly disappointed hey if this is something you got to do at this point in you’re life Do You but please let the rest of us know before hand im a real street kind of guy so for me it gets no play if I want ti relax that’s when I go to my R&B music just saying