The genius of the legendary hip-hop duo Outkast, with his chameleon nature, André 3000 is not alien to being a chameleon in music. He took this more experimental spirit in his most recent performance at All Points East, with boundary-pushing artistry and lyrical genius that left fans both intrigued and perplexed.

Instead of the expected high-energy rap set filled with hits like "Hey Ya!" and "Ms. Jackson," the rapper-turned-flutist treated the crowd to a performance anchored in his debut solo album, "New Blue Sun." A departure from his hip-hop roots, the album is an ambient soundscape with a lot of the Teotihuacan drone flute.

While a number of fans praised this artistic evolution as a bold, pioneering move, there were others who were simply disappointed and perplexed by it. Social media went off with responses ranging from awe and respect to consternation and frustration.

One participant actually claimed to have seen the musician "chanting incoherently" in the mic during the set, which really added fuel to the fire of discontent. But then again, André 3000 has always been a great experimenter with his vocals, so this might actually have been a very calculated artistic choice.

This divide amongst the fans simply spells out a pretty problematic relationship between artists and their respective audiences. While many yearn for the familiar and comfortable sounds of their favourite hits, others value the courage it takes for an artist to step into uncharted territory. The performance from André 3000 is reminder that music is a form of self-expression artists should be able to express themselves without fear of backlash.

As it is, the rapper himself seemed to have been trying to manage expectations prior to the album by saying there would be "no bars." It suggests a certain deliberateness to the change of gears musically, and with that, some of the inevitable backlash that may have gone with it.

Above all else, André 3000's performance with a flute as his centric instrument was a defining moment at All Points East. Whether it goes down in history as something that solidifies his status as a visionary artist or dislodges the support of many fans is yet to be determined. One thing is sure, the performance kept that very necessary conversation going about what music is turning into and what we expect from our favorite contributors.But even as the dust finally settles around this rather controversial performance, it becomes evident that the influence of André 3000 on music has been much more than simply iconic in the course of his career or within the emerald-infused years of rap itself. His ability to challenge norms genuinely allows him relevance within the always-changing cultural landscape of pop.