I feel kinda….bad…that I said my spill about 3000 rapping with the “same cadence”. During a Twitter spaces with The Soul Qurators some months ago, we spoke about his energizing verse on Killer Mike’s song ‘SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS’ and how it has sparked the Rap world back up. I asked the crew if they thought a full album of 3000 rapping in the robotic cadence would suffice with the people. At the moment, I didn’t think so, but sitting at the helm of his new album ‘New Blue Sun’ and having listened to two of his interviews, I wonder…if.
Why would I even question his ability to hold an album down with a robotic cadence? I mean, he’s Andre 3000. It’s in his name for Pete’s sake. He’s only given us this cadence since….Southernplayalistic?? Why would I?
Now he’s coming out with an album…with the infamous flute…and my first thought was…I don’t want to hear it. I want bars…
…a shallow way of thinking, I must say.
Andre 3000 has been placed in the G.O.A.T. museum for a minute and I’ve dismissed it due to him not giving us a rap album. Not an album…a rap album. To add on to the misunderstandings I have, I’ve always defended Big Boi because 3000 is America’s champion. It’s also my personal preference: Big Boi is my favorite out of OutKast (for my own reasons). All of these reasons added to my disdain for robotic flows and…flutes.
…*dodges daggers*…
But those interviews did it for me. It put me right back in place. I humbled myself. Why? Because damn near everything he was saying, I related to. The artist side and the personal side. Plus, it was great to see him active and comfortable. Rodney Carmichael and Zach Baron did a pleasing job interviewing him. It was almost like the intent was there to make him comfortable…I don’t know.
This is the man that has held my life down since their first album. I’ve never questioned his abilities and ranking until I was immersed in the rap world. My experiences dealing with insecurities of being accepted in [Duval’s] rap world had me playing the other side: the “popular/famous/I can have an opinion because I’ve been rapping for a minute and grabbed these accolades" side. The crazy part about all of this is that I strive to be the artist that Stacks has become. Free from any doubts and acceptance from my peers (I’m getting better with that because the people before me are going to do what they want…and I need to do what I want and what’s right by me). I also have people that champion my rap side. I need to champion them (reference the support he gets from Big Boi…talk about brotherhood).
Friday, November 17th, 2023
So yeah…as I’m listening to the last track of his album (which I played first), I’m sitting here sorta regretful, but respectful to his process. Stacks got that grown man glow to him. He looks comfortable as hell. It should be a testimony to myself and to the music world. That’s what we strive for, right? Even if an artist’s intention is to get the bag, they still have a bulk of thought that wants to be accepted. Live and let live…as the philosophers would say.
