NxWorries | Yes Lawd!
If anyone has been sleeping on Anderson Paak, it’s time to wake up. Paak and beat maker extraordinaire, Knxlwledge, have joined forces under the alias NxWorries to present their brain child, Yes Lawd!
Knxlwledge produced “Momma” from Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly and thankfully that style has not been lost in the transition to his project with Paak over the past year. To the attuned listener, it’s evident Paak takes some notes from the Kendrick and Chance the Rapper powerhouses that have dominated the sound waves over the last five years. From the sultry delivery on each track to the undertones of bringing gospel back into the hip hop/R&B game, Paak brings something new to the table with nods to the bricks his allies have laid before him.
“Best One” creates a window into the life of Paak, from being homeless with a wife and kid only a mere five years ago to their life now that Paak has found his way to the spotlight. “You love me like you know I could be leaving in a moment's notice. You telling me to stay until the morning. You know a n**** homeless […] I hope I never have to cut you off, my best one.”
By giving beat and mixing responsibilities over to Knxlwledge, .Paak is able to hone in on sharpening his weapons of choice; written word and its delivery. Anderson Paak is an innovative vocalist pushing the boundaries of his inherent instrument to the point where it mingles and twines perfectly around the layered mixes and skits provided by Knxlwledge.
Knxlwledge’s samples on the album vary from sketches between Paak and others to dialogue straight from the animated, Sci-Fi comedy, “Rick and Morty” featured on the track, “Can’t Stop.” These prove the mastery of Knxlwledge’s ability to incorporate different sample types into a cohesive work that confirm NxWorries is an amalgam of both artists’ cardinal elements.
The 19 track mix seems lengthy at first glance, but with most songs sticking around the three minute mark, the album flies by as it dips and turns from genre fusions. Heavy essences of gospel and choir chorus’ under the vocals help to guide Paak further along his path of success establishing that with his new found fame, Paak still remembers his first performances as a drummer in his childhood church.
The former battling coasts unite with Philly native, Knxlwledge and California’s own rags to riches, Anderson Paak. The tandem, NxWorries is a true spectacle of hip hop’s evolution. Two releases within the same year and all that’s left to say is, thank the lawd for Yes Lawd!
