Anderson .Paak

by Vivi Carrasco

“Yes Lawd!” It was the first sensation of the concert: Anderson .Paak’s raspy exclamation blinked in large, bright letters, silhouetting the band with white light. After a whirlwind of success in the industry, the singer/rapper dazzled an eager Atlanta audience last Monday with his most recent project, Oxnard, an ode to his Southern California hometown.

Paak and his band, The Free Nationals, united at the Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta, GA—one of 11 US stops on Andy’s Beach Club World Tour. The show sold out, and I can’t say I’m surprised. Months ago I sat at my kitchen table scrambling for an online presale code to make sureI was one of those fortunate concert-goers.

The anticipation hummed at the Roxy—it was one of those shows you knew wouldn’t let you down. The band assembled amidst Paak’s bright drumming, their enlarged shadows projected forward, against a fabric screen that spanned the stage. The Grammy winner teasingly warned us that the cursing would be toned down a couple notches (his mama was in the house), but didn’t hold back on any other level. The cheeky character lit the stage with his percussive genius, spitting his distinctive rap over expert musicianship, and maintaining a climbing energy throughout the entire two-hour set. A delighted “Yes Lawd!” sprinkled the set—Paak’s unashamed gratitude for how far he’s come. He seemed to swoop out of nowhere in the music world, collaborating with rappers like Mac Miller and Kendrick Lamar. But in reality, the musician was two decades in the making.

Anderson .Paak isn’t limited by humble beginnings. He sinks into his own brand of music, a distinctive weaving of song and rap. A gritty warmth defines his vocals, as demonstrated on soulful hits like “Tints.” However, the same man can spit a rap over an energetic smash like “Bubblin.” He doesn’t care to be boxed into one genre, and that manifests in the diversity of his audience. The Roxy theater flooded with people, forming one of the most mixed audiences I’ve been a part of, speaking to the inclusivity of Anderson .Paak’s music.

The silk screen plummeted to the stage floor at song three, unveiling the lively Free Nationals and Paak sitting at his elevated drum set. “Bubblin” lifted off with a spray of silver confetti, showering the audience with a new level of energy. The explosive song hardly takes a breath, and it paved the way for the rest of night. Paak’s smoky voice melted the audience on “Heart Don’t Stand a Chance.” On tracks like these, crowd members raised their hands, singing well-memorized lines. Another highlight was fresher release, “Tints”, which features Kendrick Lamar on the studio version. This song drips with soul, throwing listeners back to tracks by Stevie Wonder—an artist Paak admits warming up to before his shows. Everything was elevated by the soulful foundation of The Free Nationals, who filled Paak’s set with horns, guitar and a funk-infused keyboard.

Several times Paak had the audience believing this would be it—this would be the last song—because his drum outros were so brilliant. But the artist finally ended on “Dang!”, his project with Mac Miller. The track is jazzy and soulful, a beautiful collaborative creation. After all the glitz and hype of his show, Paak reveals his character—the one apart from the performer. He ends the show with a simple photo of he and his friend Miller, who passed away last year.

Everyone left the venue bright-eyed, overwhelmed by Paak’s joyful and contagious presence. He might’ve grown up playing the kit in church, but this tour stop was far from your typical Sunday service. Paak is already planning the release of his next album, "Ventura," and you know I’ll be ready with that presale code.