Musician André 3000 appeared at the 2025 Met Gala on Monday wearing a replica piano strapped to his back. The appearance coincided with the surprise release of his new instrumental project, 7 piano sketches.
The OutKast alum walked the blue carpet in New York City wearing a navy jumpsuit, red hat, and holding a garbage bag. The Steinway Model S baby grand piano replica was secured with white straps.
Created by Pink Sparrow, the accessory was a smaller-scale version made of foam, luan, and 3D-printed components. According to reports, it weighed 30 pounds, a fraction of an actual piano’s weight.
The look, styled by Law Roach, was a Burberry design in collaboration with Benji Bixby. It appeared to reflect the illustration on the cover artwork for André 3000’s new project.
The timing of the Met Gala appearance aligned directly with the release of 7 piano sketches, a seven-song collection centered around piano instrumentals. The project is the artist’s first new music since the 2023 flute-focused album New Blue Sun.
André 3000 shared details about the new work, noting some tracks were composed and recorded nearly a decade ago. The project follows his Grammy-nominated New Blue Sun.
The musician recently received another honor. André 3000 and OutKast group mate Big Boi were announced as inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on April 27. They are set for induction in November 2025.
The artist provided context for his new instrumental direction, stating in a release, “The original title for it was ‘The Best Worst Rap Album In History.’”
He added, “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.”
