Every summer there is a song that just sets up the perfect vibe for the season. This summer many songs captured my attention, but none in the way Anderson .Paak’s “Lockdown” did. This song not only held a seasonal vibe but also spoke to the current condition that has plagued the year of 2020.
Currently, as the summer winds down there is always a song that magically sums up the memorable events of the summer season. Such is the case for India Shawn’s end of summer release “Movin’ On,” which features .Paak. The tune plows the rigors of finally moving on from a failed relationship as one should. Shawn’s song can easily sum up our feelings for the summer. The summer of 2020 didn’t work out, so we need to move on as we rightly should.
Listening to Anderson .Paak at the beginning of summer and then to his end of summer collaboration in verse on Shawn’s record brought back to mind his musically brilliant and lyrically essential album Ventura. This album, his latest studio recording, which was released April 12, 2019, is loaded with musical gems, flushed with social themes, and lyrics that resonate in terms of the ebbs and flows of our relationships. Anderson .Paak’s Ventura is a must (re)listen. A Johnny-come-lately review is needed! Let’s get into it!
Fresh off the release of .Paak’s previous album Oxnard his latest album Ventura was released six months later. Ventura was well received and well rewarded. His album edged out outstanding artists such as BJ The Chicago Kid, Lucky Daye, Ella Mai, and PJ Morton to win a 2020 Grammy for Best R&B album. It also won another 2020 Grammy for Best R&B Performance beating out blazing artists such as Lizzo and H.E.R. Yep, Ventura did that!
According to .Paak, songs for Ventura were recorded along with the songs of Oxnard. During recording sessions, gritty and eggier songs were selected for Oxnard while more soulful, R&B sounds, and themes of relationships were selected for the creation of Ventura. With guidance from Dr. Dre and an amazing collection of featured singers, Ventura hit the mark in terms of getting close to contemporary R&B perfection.
1. “Come Home” featuring Andre 3000 (Song won Grammy for Best Musical Performance).
Notable Lyric: “Who should I rest blame upon, when all of the signs are brightly drawn and point back to your open arms?”
Come Home, is musically lush (in comparison to contemporary releases) and contains great drum work by .Paak and smart and subtle Motown-ish bass lines throughout played by Jairus Mozee. The song’s theme is classic R&B where a man is broken-hearted over a failed relationship and although he is to blame and deserves to be punished for his wrongdoings, he endeavors to beg to reunite with his woman. In the end, Andre 3000 delivers a hurried twisted rhyme that conveys the same sentiment all in a style that is so . . . Andre 3000!
2. “Make It Better” Featuring Smokey Robinson
Notable lyric: “And it’s easier to walk away than to look for what would make you stay.”
Following a sparse two bar hip hop drum intro, .Paak’s voice enters smoothly with a subtle Motown-ish feel. The song is simple in structure which allows .Paak to reveal the ups and downs of a relationship. The narrative suggests the various efforts used to keep a stale relationship fresh; find ways to stay in love. Smokey Robinson sings the chorus in tandem with .Paak and their blend is perfect.
3. “Reachin’ 2 Much” Featuring Lalah Hathaway
Notable lyric in movement one: “Baby, I feel your pain. But to try and save you now is what I won’t do, what I won’t do”
Notable lyric in Movement two: “I think I’m doin’ way too much, I . . . Way too much, way too much, hey.”
This song is completed in two movements. The first movement is dramatic and tense in its feel with its busy drum work leading to the chorus. The drama continues in .Paak’s voice as he states his intention to not get involved with a person who is going through a moment of struggle in life. He observes their difficulties from afar. Movement two begins with a resounding solid ‘four-on-the-floor’ mid-temple groove. The narrative quickly reveals .Paak could not resist helping the person and has become fully involved in what is now a relationship. In fact, the relationship is more than rigorous, rather, it’s overwhelming. The song resolves with .Paak leaving the relationship as a friend. Lalah Hathaway’s full-bodied voice assists .Paak throughout the second movement and she finishes with an all too short virtuosic scat.
4. “Winners Circle”
Notable lyric: “This more that get to know me, kiss me slowly, hard to focus . . .”
This record begins with an audible scene from the 1993 film A Bronx Tale. In it, the characters discuss that a man only meets three perfect women in his lifetime. The scene sets up a theme for this song. .Paak suggests that he has possibly met one of the three perfect women in a man’s life. With a driving kick drum and steady staccato vocals, .Paak tells the listening audience this is not a woman you fast talk to, but one you take your time with because she is the one. The record is musically bountiful and complete with strong formulaic A-B-C sections. In the pinnacle of the song, .Paak reminds the listener of his hip hop roots and rap prowess as he kicks a verse all while managing to rhyme in Sacagawea while background vocals recall memories of rapper Big Pun.
5. “Good Heels” Featuring Jazmine Sullivan
Notable lyric: “You gon’ get me killed, I’ma catch a fade”
Amid a musically sparse intro, .Paak lets us, the listener, in on a treacherous moment in an affair. Seems his side chick forgot all her essentials at his house and now can’t seem to get into her place as she has left her keys at his house. She is stuck outside in her good heels. .Paak, who is not at home, suggests she sneak back in to get her essentials without getting caught by the wife who is on her way home. Both .Paak and Jazmine Sullivan aptly fill the sparse track with their strong melodic narratives as they trade verses.
6. “Yada Yada”
Notable lyric: “Came a long way from them open mics at Leimert”
In this record, .Paak is simply fed up! The songs piano and synth bass layout a funk-oriented groove for .Paak to verse all his grievances. All at once, he is fed up with fighting his best friend, dealing with fame, having to prove himself as an artist. He is simply not dealing with it today. It’s all yada yada to him!
7. “King James”
Notable lyric: “You can move or stay your ass asleep”
With its luscious groove complete with a funky synth bass and saxophone coupled with recalling elements of Sly Stone’s vocal style this song makes a social statement as a musical dedication to LeBron James and the work he has done and is doing as a civil servant and an entrepreneur in the Black community. The song also serves as a rallying call for freedom fighters to not give up and continue the fight for equity. Listen for a great nod to Colin Kaepernick in the verse.
8. “Chosen One” Featuring Sonyae Elise
Notable lyric: “We should be more than each other’s baby.”
With an uptempo groove, embedded with .Paak’s quick vocals together the opening chorus establishes a sense of urgency. However, just as soon as .Paak’s urgent voice is felt, Sonyae Elise comes through in the continued chorus with a calmness that immediately contrasts .Paak. The two trade-off in the chorus to relay a statement of needing someone who will know how to love and who will also have your back no matter what. .Paak doubles down on this message as he raps poetic. In the end, the song collects at the outro as they chant the ways they should love each other.
9. “Jet Black” Featuring Brandy
Notable lyric: “Hands above us, feels like someone lifted me.”
This is a certified dance floor banger. With a soft but pensive piano intro, the song quickly evolves into an exuberant dance tune as .Paak recounts his experience on a dance floor with a beautiful woman he just met. Together they drink and smoke and at times dance close . . . if only for one night. Brandy’s voice soars in the chorus as she sings the catchy hook of the song.
10. “Twilight”
Notable lyric: “It happens to everyone, you’re not the only one, girl.”
Stand at attention for this Reveille-like trumpet and relentless mallet banging bass drum tune. Take heed listeners, .Paak has something to say. Holding your attention .Paak reassures someone he loves that at times we all get a little hurt or embarrassed from our relationships. It’s part of life that he is all too familiar with. The chorus is a thankful response from the loved one noting that .Paak has always been there in times of need. Listen closely for Ferrell Williams’ background vocals in the second verse.
11. “What Can We Do?” Featuring Nate Dogg
Notable lyric: All of Nate Dogg’s parts!
In this well-orchestrated mid temple groove, .Paak tells the listener of a relationship that has ended abruptly, and then he speculates she’ll be back when he gets more money. The chorus finds .Paak and the late Nate Dogg (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011) waxing about what can they do about a finished relationship. The presence of Nate Dogg’s voice is what makes this recording awesome. Dr. Dre’s producer and mixer Fredwreck, who almost exclusively recorded Nate, brought .Paak an unfinished hook. .Paak made it into a song that featured the best of Nate singing. The most memorable part of the song is the interaction between .Paak and Nate in the vamp as Nate seemingly walks away singing his way into eternity. (RIP Nate Dogg)
Anderson .Paak’s Ventura is a masterful endeavor. Complete with a mixture of solid R&B, soul, and a bit of funk. The album is a powerhouse of sound. .Paak’s album easily outpaces other R&B albums released during this time in terms of its musicality. It’s real, it’s listenable, and it sets .Paak apart from his R&B contemporaries as one to follow. Reward yourself with a re-listen.
Just SOul You Know 
You never disappoint, Travis!
Thank You, Nekia!