André 3000 has released a surprise instrumental project titled 7 Piano Sketches.

True to its name, the release features seven piano-focused tracks, each introduced by either André himself, Emmy Paalman, or Fatima Robinson reading the song titles aloud. The EP also includes subtle vocal effects and occasional samples—such as a laugh track on ‘Off Rhythm Laughter’.

“The original title for it was The Best Worst Rap Album in History,” André 3000 stated in a press release. “And here is an excerpt from the original liner notes: ‘It’s jokingly the worst rap album in history because there are no lyrics on it at all. It’s the best because it’s the free-est emotionally and best I’ve felt personally. It’s the best because it’s like a palette cleanser for me.’”

7 Piano Sketches was partially composed and recorded before New Blue Sun, with its origins tracing back nearly a decade to a quiet stay André 3000 had with his son in a sparsely furnished Texas home—just a piano, two beds, and a few TV screens. A press release explains that “after spending time with the recordings, André was inspired to expand on them and share the project in the spring, a season that reflects the continual renewal of life, creativity, and possibility.”

André 3000’s decision to release the new project late at night was no accident. The drop was strategically timed to coincide with his appearance at the 2025 Met Gala in New York City, where he arrived wearing a custom Burberry piano on his back—a collaboration with Benji Bixby, an evolution of his late-2000s fashion label, Benjamin Bixby—and styled by Law Roach. His ensemble closely echoes the artwork featured on the 7 Piano Sketches cover.

André 3000 at the #MetGala. https://t.co/iaf9zDuzKr

— Pop Base (@PopBase) May 6, 2025

7 Piano Sketches marks André 3000’s first release since his 2023 flute-centered album New Blue Sun, which doubled as his debut solo LP. That project earned him three Grammy nominations, including one for Album of the Year. In 2024, the short film Moving Day—directed by Dexter Navy—offered a behind-the-scenes look at the making of New Blue Sun and featured an unreleased track from the recording sessions.

Tune into the new EP from André 3000 below.