ATLANTA — The piercingly tranquil, experimental work of an Atlanta icon is being recognized by the Recording Academy with a nomination for Grammy album of the year.
André 3000's "New Blue Sun" flute record was announced as an album of the year nominee on Friday.
The shock release of new André 3000 music last November, years after he had last released an album with Oukast, was doubly surprising when it emerged the record was a work of fluting.
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Many fans accustomed to his hip-hop sound nonetheless embraced his turn as a flautist, and the curiosity around "New Blue Sun" gave way to many glowing reviews.
Rolling Stone called it an "87-minute sound world you'll love getting lost in" and Pitchfork described it as "beautiful, demanding, and among the most fascinating artistic left turns in recent memory."
His tour for the album drew enthusiastic crowds, including when he packed out Piedmont Park in Atlanta for a free show at the Atlanta Jazz Festival.
André 3000 is joined in the album of the year nominations by Beyoncé (Cowboy Carter), Sabrina Carpenter (Short N' Sweet), Charli XCX (Brat), Jacob Collier (Djesse Vol. 4), Billie Eilish (Hit Me Hard and Soft), Chappell Roan (Chappell Roan The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess) and Taylor Swift (The Tortured Poets Department).
The 67th Grammy Awards will be held on Feb. 2.