To: Dave
Love: Adam
Date Sent: 11/17/2018
Anderson .Paak – Oxnard
Release Date: November 16th, 2018
So this is his FIFTH album and we are just now being introduced to his music. Actually, I have known about him for probably 2 years, but the few songs I did hear just were not what I was looking for at the time. However, this album has everything I am looking for: funk, soul, rap, jazz, blues. His backstory is quite interesting and it is worth noting that he is signed on Dr. Dre’s record label Aftermath Entertainment (hence Dre’s feature on Who R U?) and therefore deserves more attention than he has received, especially considering his extensive discography! Perhaps it was his inclusion on Aftermath that instigated his ascension in the world of music or maybe it was just a good ol’ fashioned Bruce Springsteen-esque situation, what-eva.
I have only had the time to listen to this album once-through, but I literally could not stop grooving throughout the entire listen. Songs 3-5 are absolutely incredible and, in my opinion, the supporting evidence to declare J. Cole as one of hip hop’s greatest: NO FEATURES. Cole appears on this album and below is a quote from him talking about working with Paak:
“I don’t know if you remember this, but this is the other crazy thing that happened when it comes to this song,” Cole said, via Complex. “I just know there’s signs, when you’re on your path and you’re on your journey and you’re basically in tune, what I call being ‘in tune.'” He added: “I feel like you get signs and confirmations. I feel like God tossed you a sign and basically winked at you, and let you know that ‘Yo, whatever you’re doing right now, don’t trip, you’re in the right spot. Everything is going cool.'”
The point is exactly what J. Cole says in the interview, that Paak was onto something and he stuck to it and produced a heck of an album. Named after the town he grew up in, you cannot help but applaud the amount of soul and truth he comes with from the heart after 4 previous attempts. With more listens I am sure I will find some flaws and songs worth skipping, but for now I feel like this is a good follow-up to Lapsley in regards to the musician/artist mixing in new sounds and styles on an individual project.
Dave’s Reaction:
I listened. Twice. I fear that I am no longer into hip hop. Or at least the newer stuff. I can still listen to the older music that I grew up on, but everything seems to be just noise now to me. And I actively try to listen and care and this is the result. Like, I know you want me to love J. Cole, but something inside is not allowing it to enter my brain favorably. Not just J. Cole. All of it. I should try to find the proper setting to put on Anderson .Paak or J. Cole and try again. AND AGAIN, because I know I am missing something. It’s me, not them. That being said, I did like the song on Oxnard featuring Q Tip. I saved it to my hip hop playlist, so you know it’s real.
The Favorites:
Adam: 6 Summers
Dave: Cheers