André 3000 wears a complete piano to the Met Gala and drops an album to match

André 3000 wore his coronary heart on his sleeve to the 2025 Met Gala — and a piano on his again.

The nine-time Grammy-winning musician rolled as much as the crimson carpet — which this 12 months was really a deep shade of blue, courtesy of artist Cy Gavin — of the annual fundraising celebration decked out in a lush Burberry jumpsuit. In his hand, he held what gave the impression to be a typical trash bag, and strapped to his again was a near-full-size piano.

The theme for this 12 months's fundraising profit for the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork, along with the Costume Institute's new exhibit "Superfine: Tailoring Black Type," was impressed by Monica L. Miller's 2009 e book, Slaves to Vogue: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identification. The musician born André Lauren Benjamin exemplified the theme, however the extravagant accent slung throughout his again served a better goal past mere aesthetics.

Whereas the actor, flautist, producer, and former OutKast member strolled up the steps of the Met, he dropped a brand new album, 7 piano sketches, bearing cowl artwork that includes a sketch of his Gala ensemble.

"These piano sketches are improvisations. To conjure them up, I unfold my fingers out on the keys and randomly however with goal transfer them round till I discover one thing that feels good or fascinating," André wrote in a prolonged Instagram put up asserting the album. "These piano items weren't recorded with the intention of presenting them in any formal strategy to the general public. They have been private, at house recordings. I’d typically textual content them to my household and buddies."

André famous that many of the songs have been recorded on his iPhone, and named as inspirations artists like Thelonious Monk, Philip Glass, and Joni Mitchell.

"The unique title for it was The Finest Worst Rap Album In Historical past, and right here is an excerpt from the unique liner notes," he joked, including that this new physique of labor represents "the free-est emotionally and greatest I've felt personally. It's the most effective as a result of it's like a palette cleanser for me."

André 3000 will not attend 2025 Grammys despite 3 nominations Met Gala 2025 red carpet photos: Best and worst looks

The musician was nominated for 3 Grammys at February's ceremony, together with Album of the Yr for his solo debut, New Blue Solar, however he selected to not attend.

"Our album was conceived and recorded in Los Angeles with spirit of openness and artistic collaboration," the artist, who didn’t cite a purpose for his absence, wrote in an Instagram put up. He as a substitute referenced the devastating wildfires that broke out in January, including, "We hope that the rebound of Los Angeles is swift and renewing."

This 12 months's Met Gala co-chairs consisted of Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, British racecar driver Lewis Hamilton, and Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of the occasion's long-time sponsor, Vogue journal.

Honorary chair and NBA G.O.A.T. LeBron James, nevertheless, opted to take a seat his first Met out after sustaining an damage throughout a sport towards the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 30.

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