Anderson .Paak

Brandon Paak Anderson, also known as Anderson .Paak, is a singer, songwriter, producer, and drummer from Oxnard, California. He released his debut EP, Violets Are Blue, under the moniker Breezy Lovejoy in 2010. He later adopted the name Anderson .Paak and released O.B.E. Vol. 1 in June 2012 and Lovejoy in October 2012.

Before his 2014 album Venice, .Paak officially changed his name to Anderson .Paak. When asked if this was symbolic of a career turning point in an interview with Consequence of Sound, he confirmed:

“Yeah, that was the case. […] and I felt like it was time to transition to a different name.”

With this name change, .Paak marked a new beginning. Venice, released two years after his last project, highlighted .Paak’s incredible versatility. “Milk n' Honey” showcased his storytelling skills, while “The City” proved he could create a West Coast anthem. “Drugs,” which caught Dr. Dre's attention, distinctly displayed .Paak’s sound with powerful vocals and progressive production.

2015 was a standout year for .Paak, boosted by his guest features. He appeared on six tracks from Dr. Dre’s Compton and two songs on The Game’s The Documentary 2.5, significantly increasing his popularity. Later that year, .Paak released two EPs: The Anderson .Paak EP with The Blended Babies and Link Up & Suede as part of NxWorries with producer Knxwledge.

Following 2015's success, 2016 saw .Paak collaborating with many prominent artists. He was featured on Macklemore’s “Dance Off”, Domo Genesis' “Dapper”, KAYTRANDA’s “Glowed Up,” Snakehips' “Money On Me”, ScHoolboy Q’s “Blank Face”, and Mac Miller’s “Dang!”.

In January 2016, .Paak released his second album, Malibu. This sixteen-track album is considered his strongest work, demonstrating his growth since the Breezy Lovejoy days. It received widespread acclaim, scoring an 85 on Metacritic and becoming one of the most well-received albums of the year.

After Malibu, .Paak announced his signing to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment and was featured in the 2016 XXL Freshman Issue.

His third studio album, Oxnard, was released on November 16, 2018, preceded by the singles “Tints” featuring Kendrick Lamar and “Who R U?” produced partly by Dr. Dre. The album was well-received by critics and debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200. His song “Bubblin” won “Best Rap Performance” at the 61st Grammy Awards on May 17, 2019.

On April 12, 2019, he released his fourth studio album, Ventura. Featuring artists such as André 3000, Smokey Robinson, and Lalah Hathaway, Ventura became Paak’s first US Top Ten hit, debuting at #4 on the Billboard 200.