André 3000 Transformed Into A Panther During His First Ever Ayahuasca High
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For André 3000’s long-awaited debut solo album, the rapper is detailing how real-life experiences, like the first time he ever took ayahuascha, inspired his new music.
In a rare sit-down with NPR’s Rodney Carmichael on All Songs Considered, the Atlanta native explained that one track titled, “That Night In Hawaii When I Turned Into A Panther And Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn’t Control … Sh¥t Was Wild,” was literal.
“I was actually in Hawaii and it was my second night of the first time I’d ever taken ayahuasca. We did it like a three-night kind of phase,” began the 48-year-old. “The first night was inviting and beautiful and the most powerful love and connection with all things I’ve ever felt in my life. The second night was different and everybody knows that aya will do you that way. The second night my stomach was hurting, my mouth contorted like a panther and I actually turned into a panther. And I was doing like, GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. That kind of thing.”
Three Stacks discovered that what he was doing was called toning. He noted, “Toning is another way of purging. And toning is where you make these vibrational noises that you can’t control. It started playing me like an instrument.”
Later in the conversation, André addressed the fact that his solo debut is strictly instrumental, considering the first track is titled, “I swear, I Really Wanted To Make A ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time.”
“I love rap music because it was a part of my youth. So I would love to be out here with everybody rapping, because it’s almost like fun and being on the playground,” expressed the Four Brothers star.
“I would love to be out here playing with everybody, but it’s just not happening for me. This is the realest thing that’s coming right now. Not to say that I would never do it again, but those are not the things that are coming right now. And I have to present what’s given to me at the time.”
His new album, New Blue Sun, is slated for release on Friday (Nov. 17). Listen to his full interview above.
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