Review: Anderson .Paak - Malibu
Coming off a breakout year in 2015, new wave R&B crooner Anderson .Paak released his second album, Malibu, last Friday. .Paak received a valuable cosign from Dr. Dre after his performance with producer Knxwledge on the track "Suede", earning him a significant presence on Dre's Compton album.
On Malibu, Anderson .Paak shows off his extensive range as a musician, with honest storytelling and raw emotion coming through in his lyrics, balanced by a disarming sense of humor on tracks like “Silicon Valley”. He touches on childhood difficulties similar to his contemporary, Kendrick Lamar, mixed with a slew of odes to past and present lovers. Production-wise, .Paak keeps it true to the West Coast sound, riding on G-funk basslines and soul-fueled harmonies. LA’s surf rockers receive homage in the album’s skits and on the track “Parking Lot”, a summery jam that will definitely be on the barbecue rotation.
A star-studded cast of features appears on Malibu, including fellow LA residents Schoolboy Q, The Game, and DJ Khalil. Jazz & Grooves alumni and favorites Kaytranada and Pomo also contributed stellar production. The Pomo-produced single “Am I Wrong” is an uptempo highlight, building up to a horn-fueled breakdown provided by Brasstracks. 9th Wonder also deftly flips a Hiatus Kaiyote sample on “Without You”, where .Paak lays out a wistful ballad with Rapsody.
After a string of high profile features and loosies in 2015, Malibu is both a representation of Anderson .Paak’s new position as a leading figure in the LA music scene as well as a tribute to all the influences that have shaped it over the years. As he pushes the West Coast sound to new heights, we are stoked to see where he goes next.
Give the album a listen here
