André 3000 debuted a striking vision featuring a mini piano at the Met Gala 2025. The Grammy-winning rapper and musician turned heads at the event when he showed up wearing a piano on his back. The unique look, born in collaboration with stylist Law Roach and Burberry, prompted fans to wonder about the meaning behind it. Moreover, the bold fashion moment was in accordance with the Met Gala theme this year, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
So, here’s everything you need to know about why the former OutKast member stepped on the Met Gala 2025 red carpet with a piano.
Here’s why André 3000 strapped a piano on his back at Met Gala 2025
The “Ms. Jackson” singer’s creative choice of strapping a piano on his back is a nod to his latest project he is currently working on. The piano is a replica of the Steinway Model S baby grand.
Shortly before he graced the Met Gala 2025 red carpet, André 3000 made a surprise Instagram reveal of his new 16-minute EP called 7 Piano Sketches. The cover of the album features a familiar stylistic illustration of him with a piano strapped to his back. In the caption, the musician explained the reason behind this unique get-up and shed light on the significance of the instrument in the making of the album.
André 3000 penned, “These piano sketches are improvisations. To conjure them up, I spread my fingers out on the keys and randomly but with purpose move them around until I find something that feels good or interesting. If it feels really good, I will try to repeat it. I cannot name which notes, keys, or chords that I’m playing.”
Check out the musician’s album reveal below:
The rapper further shared, “These piano pieces weren’t recorded with the intention of presenting them in any formal way to the public. They were personal, at-home recordings. I would sometimes text them to my family and friends.” He then shared the emotional gravity that the instrument holds for him, saying, “Most of these were recorded in Texas. The house my son and I were renting had no furniture at all. Only a piano, our beds, and TV screens.”
Meanwhile, Epic Records officially released the album at 8 p.m. ET, just a while after André 3000 debuted his Met Gala 2025 look.