NxWorries – “Why Lawd?” review

NxWorries is an MC/producer duo consisting of Oxnard recording artist Anderson .Paak as well as Los Angeles producer Knxwledge. Signing to Stones Throw Records in 2015, their debut EP Link Up & Suede that same winter was an impressively lo-fi neo-soul outing & the full-length debut LP Yes Lawd! built upon those 2 sounds venturing out in contemporary R&B, west coast hip hop & smooth soul too. After an 8 year hiatus however, they’re linking back up for a highly anticipated sophomore effort.

Following the “ThankU” intro, the first song “86Sentra” is a jazzy lo-fi hip hop opener reminding that he did the Super Bowl LVI halftime show with some of the best to ever do it whereas “MoveOn” takes the smooth soul route to discuss being unable to do things that he used to. “KeepHer” featuring Thundercat brings the trio together singing about money being unable to keep their romantic interests over some funky guitar licks just before “Distractions” has a bit of a stripped-back feeling to it refusing to let anything slow him down.

H.E.R. joins NxWorries on “Where I Go” after the “Lookin’” interlude fusing neo-soul, smooth soul & contemporary R&B for a duet as to where .Paak & Knxwledge have been leading into “Daydreaming” crossing over psychedelic soul, neo-soul, smooth soul & hypnagogic pop to fantasize about meeting a woman he’s never met previously. “FromHere” featuring WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg & Death Row Records signee October London mixes neo-soul & west coast hip hop pondering where they go from this point forward, but then “Fall Thru” brings a contemporary R&B flare telling his partner she gon’ have to quit her job.

“Battlefield” sides with those who’re one of a kind or no one else like .Paak rapping his ass off over a slick beat to begin the 2nd half of Why Lawd? while “HereIAm” dabbles with gospel by incorporating organs admitting he ain’t doing shit when it seem like he might be doing things. “OutTheWay” featuring Rae Khalil is a syrupy-synth ballad about starting to think all they need is each other prior to “SheUsed” jumps over guitars singing about the pain taking it’s toll on his heart.

Meanwhile on “MoreOfIt”, we have NxWorries giving off an orchestral hip hop vibe paying off their mommas’ mortgages while the “NVR.RMX” featuring Charlie Wilson on the hook feels like a soulful passing of the torch if you will especially since they lock in near the end of the 2nd & final hook. “DistantSpace” sensually asks if it’s too late with a former partner & ahead of the “EvnMore” outro, the west coast hip hop/neo-soul hybrid “WalkOnBy” featuring Earl Sweatshirt ends the album perfectly showing vulnerability within them.

Almost a decade in & the MC/producer duo in those 2 styles of music mentioned in the final song return after an 8-year hiatus to prove that they haven’t lost a step whatsoever. Knxwledge & Anderson .Paak refine their distinctive combination of soul with the rhythmic percussion & groove of hip hop music that makes nu soul stand out expanding beyond that even on occasions in favor of jazz rap, contemporary R&B, west coast hip hop & smooth soul.

Score: 4.5/5

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Silk Sonic – “An Evening with Silk Sonic” review

Silk Sonic is a newly formed superduo consisting of Anderson .Paak & Bruno Mars. The latter coming up in 2010 by dominating the pop charts & the other beginning to turn heads by being featured all over his mentor Dr. Dre’ final album to date Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre about 5 years later. Their paths first crossed with one another during the European leg of the 24K Magic World Tour where .Paak opened up for Bruno but after announcing the superduo’s full-length debut back in February to high anticipation, they’re finally unleashing it to the world.

After the funky intro, the first song “Leave the Door Open” kicks off the album with a smooth soul banger telling their lovers they’re there for them whereas “Fly as Me” takes a funkier route & the lyrics basically speak for itself. “After Last Night” is a slow jam professing their love for the women they slept with the previous evening just before “Smokin’ Out the Window” works in some Philly soul undertones talking about a woman who belongs to everyone getting into fights with her man like it’s the Endeavor Group Holdings-owned UFC.

Meanwhile on “Put on a Smile”, we have .Paak & Bruno coming together over some strings encouraging listeners to look forward to the better days while the song “777” serves as a groovy pimp anthem. The penultimate track “Skate” is a straight up disco tune flirting with the hottest bitches in the room & finally, “Blast Off” finishes the album off on a glossier note talking about flying to the stars.

Man I knew Silk Sonic was gonna deliver on this album, but they went even harder than I expected them to because An Evening with Silk Sonic is unquestionably the best R&B album that I’ve heard all year. They have a uniquely natural chemistry & it’s amazing how they resurrected the sounds of the 70’s soul down to Bootsy Collins “hosting” it.

Score: 4.5/5

Anderson .Paak – “Ventura” review

Anderson .Paak is a 33 year old rapper, singer/songwriter & producer from Oxnard, California who gained notoriety by landing a handful of features on my all-time favorite producer Dr. Dre’s 3rd & final album Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre in 2015 as well as forming the duo NxWorries with Knxwledge & signing to Stones Throw Records together that same year. He then dropped one of the best R&B albums of the decade with Malibu at the beginning of 2016 & that lead to Dre officially signing him to Aftermath Entertainment a few weeks later. But with his fantastic major label debut Oxnard dropping 5 months ago, it seems like .Paak is now delivering a follow-up.

Things start off with “Come Home”, where .Paak & André 3000 fresh off his role in the A24 Films sci-fi horror High Life ask for their former lovers to reconcile over a jazzy beat & a WWE reference during 3 Stacks’ verse. The next track “Make It Better” talks about mending over a smooth instrumental from Fredwreck & The Alchemist alongside a gorgeous Smokey Robinson hook while the song “Reachin’ 2 Much” is an infectiously funky odyssey about this woman who is excessive for him. The track “Winner’s Circle” is a lust anthem over a beautifully minimalist instrumental while the song “Good Heels” with Jazmine Sullivan sounds like an unfinished duet.

The track “Yada Yada” brushes off his naysayers over a mellow instrumental while the song “King James” of course pays tribute to the Los Angeles Lakers player LeBron James over a funky instrumental. The track “Chosen One” is a dedication to .Paak’s potential soulmate over a spacey beat while the song “Jet Black” talks about this couple peakin’ over a laidback beat. The penultimate track “Twilight” is about this woman who puts .Paak back in place over a vintage Pharrell instrumental, but then the closer “What Can We Do?” is a duet with Nate Dogg about moving on from a past relationship over an uplifting instrumental.

Yeah, it’s just as amazing as the last 2 albums were. There are a few underwhelming moments, but .Paak’s sticking to his R&B guns again in contrast to Oxnard & he continues to show how dynamic of an artist he really is.

Score: 4.5/5

Anderson .Paak – “Oxnard” review

Anderson .Paak is a 32 year old rapper, singer/songwriter & producer from Oxnard, California who first came onto the scene under the name Breezy Lovejoy at the beginning of the decade. He released 2 albums in 2012 but then after changing his moniker & releasing Venice in 2014, that’s when he started getting more recognition. He landed a handful of features on my all-time favorite producer Dr. Dre’s 3rd & final album Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre in 2015 as well as forming the duo NxWorries with Knxwledge & signing to Stones Throw Records together that same year. Then to kick off 2016, he dropped one of the best R&B albums of the decade with Malibu & that lead to him officially signing with Dre’s Interscope Records imprint Aftermath Entertainment as a solo act a couple weeks after it’s release. He would then link back up with Knxwledge to put out NxWorries’ debut album Yes Lawd! & now 2 years later, .Paak is delivering his long-awaited major label debut.

The album kicks off with “The Chase”, where .Paak talks about this girl being with him in spirit over a blaxploitation film-inspired instrumental. The next track “Headlow” talks about hanging out with this woman over a smooth instrumental while the song “Tints” sees .Paak teaming up with Kendrick Lamar to talk about fame over an infectious synth-funk instrumental while the track “Who R U?” is is a charismatic challenge to .Paak’s competition over a thunderous instrumental from the Quincy Jones of hip hop himself. Despite the fact that Dr. Dre’s made so much money off the headphones that he really doesn’t really need to be making music anymore, it’s very refreshing to hear him producing again with this joint. The track “6 Summers” gets conscious over a settle instrumental while the song “Saviers Road” tells the story of a drug dealer over a boom bap beat from 9th Wonder with some settle guitar licking. The track “Smile / Petty” is a 2-part odyssey about deceiving women over an instrumental that starts off slow, but then cleverly switches up into something more trunk knocking.

The song “Mansa Musa” vents the frustrations with the music industry today over a suiting instrumental & even though Cocoa Sarai’s verse at the start is just ok, the following verses from Dr. Dre & Anderson .Paak take it out the ballpark. The track “Brother’s Keeper” sees .Paak getting spiritual & Pusha T addressing the current status of Clipse over a guitar & these faint, skittering hi-hats while the song “Anywhere” with Snoop Dogg talks about ghetto love over an infectious funk instrumental. The track “Trippy” with J. Cole sees the 2 talking about how their significant others will always be somewhere in between over a settle instrumental & the song “Cheers” sees Paak paying an endearing tribute to Mac Miller while Q-Tip comforts the mothers of his now deceased friends over a luscious instrumental from Focus… with co-production from both Tip & Dre. The penultimate track “Sweet Chick” talks about hooking up with all kinds of women over some horns & then the closer “Left to Right” is an awkward tropical banger complete with .Paak employing a fake patois.

I’ve been waiting for this album all year & at the end, this is on the same level as Malibu. The personal stories are just as compelling, Anderson .Paak’s versatility is more present than ever & the production is almost more vibrant. We all know how much of a perfectionist Dr. Dre is & that’s resulted in multiple Aftermath artists leaving because of their albums being shelved, but I really think this is gonna give .Paak a lot more of the exposure that he truly deserves.

Score: 4.5/5