Outkast’s Hey Ya! is one of a small subset of early-2000s pop songs that have since become universally recognizable (in 2021, Rolling Stone named it the 10th greatest song of all time). But this bouncy chart-topper overshadows an aspect of Outkast’s—and especially co-founder André 3000’s—artistry. Before ATLiens (1996) and Aquemini (1998), Southern hip-hop lacked definition. André 3000 characterized a geographical sound, and with each new release has added something new and authentic to the genre. He is now pioneering once again, but in a medium highly divergent to the rapping for which he is most known. New Blue Sun, the debut solo album he released last month, includes no vocals at all. Its jazzy setlist is comprised entirely of ambient flute—an instrument that André 3000 has focused on over the last several years. For those who appreciate variety and originality, as André 3000 does, this album is a breath of fresh air from a true “artist’s artist.” —Jack Sullivan