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André 3000 may have shocked us all by releasing an album full of his talent on the flute; however, he just picked up a Grammy nomination for Album Of The Year.
Though 3Stacks took home rap’s last Grammy in the category back in 2004—for Outkast‘s Speakerboxx/The Love Below—the talented wordsmith didn’t expect that his departure from rhymes would put him back in the running.
“I felt that we tried to campaign to see if we could get into the alternative jazz or ambient category,” he explained. “So this morning, when the album of the year category popped up, I was really, really surprised because I didn’t think that that many people even knew about it. So I’m just happy that the votes came in that way and that people were paying attention, more than anything.”
According to Complex, 3Stacks is still seeking validation for his art, despite being one of the most heralded artists of his generation.
“Of course I’m not thinking of the Grammys when I’m making an album,” he continued. “That’s not a thing. But yeah, even on the street when someone tells you, ‘Man, I love this album, me and my kids listen to this album every morning,’ that’s validation. So it’s just validation or proof of infiltrating people, proof of people enjoying that. I can dig that.”
Real. André will have his work cut out for him in the stacked category as he’ll face off against Beyoncé for her genre-defining country album, Cowboy Carter, as well as Grammy darlings Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish.
Fans of the Outkast founding member have been treated to some of the album’s tracks in a series of festival appearances that André made throughout the summer. No word yet on whether he’ll perform during the broadcast or not. He also showed up to present his baby mama, Erykah Badu, with the prestigious CFDA Fashion Icon award on October 15.
Well, whether spitting or fluting, it’s nice to see a rap icon thriving in his next chapter.