André 3000 Wears Giant Piano at Met Gala 2025: Why?

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Looks like André 3000 is ready to shake it like a Polaroid picture. 

17 years after skipping the annual Met Gala event, the rapper who forms hip-hop duo OutKast with Big Boi made a comeback at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s iconic steps on May 5. Instead of his usual attire, he opted for an oversized piano on his back, symbolizing his latest EP titled “7 Piano Sketches”, which he unveiled on Instagram just moments before walking the red carpet. (Take a look at all the Met Gala 2025 outfits here.)

He titled his post as “These piano drafts are spontaneous compositions.” To create them, he casually yet intentionally positions his fingers on the keys and then moves them haphazardly but purposefully until something pleasing or intriguing arises. If it feels particularly good, he attempts to replicate it. I can’t specify the particular notes, keys, or chords being played. I merely appreciate the sound and the mechanics of piano playing.

The musician born as André Lauren Benjamin from Atlanta takes part in a committee hosting the Met Gala alongside Ayo Edebiri, Janelle Monáe, Tyla, Angel Reese, Usher, and Sha’Carri Richardson, among others. This event celebrates the “Tailored for You” dress code, inspired by the Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibition.

Once again, the 49-year-old looked as if they had just stepped out of a spa, impeccable during this year’s annual charity event.

Back in 2008, when I had the privilege of seeing the musician perform, I made sure to elevate my outfit by pairing a white tuxedo with a straw fedora – just to drive home the point that there was no one cooler than him.

Currently, the multi-talented individual who recently starred in “Showing Up” (released in 2023) was greeting fans and fashion enthusiasts with a friendly “Hey Ya” for his contemporary clothing brand, Benjamin Bixby.

According to his statement made to New York magazine, the aim was to develop a character who resembles an older relative, such as an uncle or grandfather. This individual possesses a wealth of life experiences and clothing items, having traveled extensively.

André stated at the ComplexCon panel in 2017 that he intentionally chose his unique style because hip-hop had a certain image associated with it, and he knew he dressed differently. Therefore, Benjamin Bixby was his personal expression of saying, “This is how we express ourselves.

He visited Italian factories, scoured fabric showrooms in Paris and sketched the designs himself. 

He openly acknowledged that he ended up losing a significant amount of money, stating frankly, “I invested millions.” He further reflected, “It turned out to be a costly education, but an invaluable one. It taught me some of the most precious lessons about myself and the art of creation.

Currently, his primary interest lies in filmmaking as opposed to fashion design, yet his personal aesthetic remains significantly more stylish than what is typically considered cool.

He has a fondness for enduring items, as he shared with New York, he described his style as a blend of “traditional unpredictability” and “rebellious elegance.

He emphasized that there should be an element of creativity in the ‘outfits he assembles’. However, not so much that it becomes off-putting. It should be at a level where fashion icons such as Beau Brummell or the Duke of Windsor would approve, saying something like “Well done”. These gentlemen excelled in their style.

Curious to see who else slayed at the 2025 Met Gala? Keep reading to see all the standout styles. 

In custom Prabal Gurung.

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2025-05-06 04:17