RZA has heaped praise on André 3000’s debut album New Blue Sun.
The album, which is entirely instrumental and made up of the OutKast legend playing the flute, has struck a chord with the Wu-Tang Clan founder and inspired him to pursue a similar path.
Speaking to TMZ, RZA said: “That album is on repeat in my house. Me and my wife, we just sit down and it keeps us very zen in the crib. It had me washing dishes! It’s a good vibe.”
He added: “André, congratulations. I’m actually gonna do another instrumental album myself. Hip Hop is going to show you that there’s no limits to what we do.”
When asked if his new project will “save” Hip Hop, The Abbot replied: “Hip Hop don’t need saving, Hip Hop is just growing. Hip Hop is like New York City — another skyscraper, baby.”
Watch the interview below.
RZA released an instrumental album in 2007 titled The RZA — Instrumental Experience and has also composed pieces of instrumental music for film soundtracks such as Ghost Dog, Kill Bill and The Man with the Iron Fists, the latter of which he also directed.
As for André 3000, New Blue Sun has received mixed responses from those in the Hip Hop world since its release on November 17.
With much of the criticism focused on 3 Stacks’ decision not to rap on the album, Lupe Fiasco created a remix in which he spits over one of the flute instrumentals.
In a social media post earlier this month, Lupe rapped over the beat for “I Really Wanted To Make A ‘Rap’ Album, But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time” and has promised to spit bars over the entire album.
André 3000 Sets New Billboard Chart Record With ‘New Blue Sun’ Flute Song
Much like the project itself, Lupe’s decision to rap over the album has drawn criticism — namely from Joe Budden.
On his podcast, Budden trashed the Chicago rapper’s remix by saying: “Hey Lupe, man, stop. Stop it. He rapping over them damn flutes. I cut that shit right off.”
As one of his co-hosts started playing the remix, Budden joked: “Oh Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Yo dawg, it’s women listening… with vaginas. Please.”
He continued: “Why would he do that to them? I can’t say nothing ’cause he gonna diss me […] That was some bullshit. That was some clout chasing.”
Producer Dem Jointz also teased a remix of New Blue Sun after posting some snippets of the ambient sounds infused with more traditional Hip Hop beats.
