There are some rapper/singer-producer duos that just seem too perfect together. Artists like Future and Metro Boomin, Turbo and Gunna, The Alchemist, and Freddie Gibbs, have come together repeatedly to make really awesome and captivating music. It is so easy to see how palpable their chemistry is, as it seems like everything they make together turns to gold. Another duo who has unfortunately not made enough music together but does have this sort of chemistry is Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge. They have both made so much riveting music on their own and with various other artists over the years, but it seems like they have brought out the best in each other the couple of times they have come together. Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge first came together as NxWorries all the way back in 2015, when they debuted with their track ‘Suede.’ After opening for Earl Sweatshirt on tour, the duo released their first project together, the critically acclaimed EP Link Up & Suede. This led to the group’s debut album, Yes Lawd!, which came out about a year later in October of 2016. This album was praised for its genre-bending and funky sound; it actually helped put Anderson .Paak on the map and truly catapulted his career to new heights. Unfortunately, this was the duo’s last collaboration for many years, and many people thought NxWorries was unfortunately done for good. This idea was put to rest when NxWorries dropped a new single called ‘Where I Go’ with H.E.R. back in Dec. 2022, and another single called ‘Daydreaming’ in May of 2023.  NxWorries surprised music fans earlier this year when they announced the sequel to Yes Lawd! would come out in 2024. Why Lawd? is considered by many to be a top album of the year, as it is being applauded for its cohesiveness and vulnerability. Below, I am going to highlight some of my favorite songs from Why Lawd?, and then go into how I feel about the whole thing at the end(I would typically cover every track, but seeing as many of these 19 songs are very short and almost feel like interludes, I think this is the best way to talk about this record for me). Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from Why Lawd?, and also comment on how you feel about it as a whole! 

86 Sentra

I saw a blog post from ratings game music about this song(go check them out if you never have, as they are so cool) where they state that Anderson .Paak could legitimately be a top rapper in the game if he dedicated himself to it. This is a sentiment I agree with, and he proves it on ‘86 Sentra.’ The instrumental on this one is pretty stripped back and subtle; it has a jazzy melody driven by a sweet synthesized keyboard melody complemented by a guitar riff that is put on top of a very laid-back beat. The lightness of the instrumental emphasizes Anderson .Paak’s rap performance, which is ideal. His deliberate and poignant flow on ‘86 Sentra’ commands attention and his witty wordplay shows off how talented of a rapper he actually is. In ‘86 Sentra,’ Anderson .Paak is bragging about himself and reminiscing how crazily his career has progressed in the last few years. ‘86 Sentra’ is the kind of song we do not get from Anderson .Paak too often, but it proves how uniquely and widely talented he is.

KeepHer (feat. Thundercat)

Usually, when you get a Thundercat feature on a track, the emphasis of his performance is going to be on the bassline he delivers. The bassline on ‘KeepHer’ is extremely groovy and excellent, but his vocal performance is what really steals the show. ‘KeepHer’ has such a sultry and warm sound melody to it; the guitar riff that drives the melody is so cozy, and the instruments that complement it add to its snug feeling. As I said, as nice as the instrumental is, the real thing about this song that draws me in is the vocals. Thundercat’s tone on this track is so soothing and sweet, and the way his higher pitch contrasts the raspiness that Anderson sings with makes ‘KeepHer’ super captivating. On ‘KeepHer,’ Anderson .Paak and Thundercat are singing about a girl who always wants more and that they can never seem to please. ‘KeepHer’ is a track where Thundercat shows off how nice of a vocalist he is and how much chemistry he has with Anderson .Paak.

Distractions

Whereas the first two tracks I picked were due to how much I liked the vocals, I picked ‘Distractions’ because of how much I enjoy the instrumental. I really like the tone of the instrumental of this track. The guitar riff that drives this melody is so pleasant and soothing. There is a bit of a quirky element to this melody that almost has a traditional Eastern music feeling to it that I appreciate a ton as well. Towards the end of the track, the instrumental becomes a bit pitched up, giving it a bit of a more vibrant tone that helps it transition well into the next track, ‘Lookin.’ Anderson .Paak does not stand out on this one, but his vocal performance is certainly nothing to sleep at, either. His delicate delivery fits the instrumental well and adds to the track’s comforting feeling. On ‘Distractions,’ Anderson .Paak is singing about depending on his woman to keep him focused on the things that will make his life more successful and fulfilling. ‘Distractions’ is a fun track where Knxwledge shows his massive talent as a jazzy Hip Hop producer.

Where I Go (feat. H.E.R.)

The aforementioned 2022 single ‘Where I Go’ was the first taste of NxWorries that fans got in many years, and it was considered worth the wait for many people. This song has a very simple yet effective melody that brings out the best in Anderson and H.E.R. The melody for this song is so sweet, driven by a groovy bassline that makes me want to go for a cruise by the beach while the sun is setting. Anderson .Paak and H.E.R. are both excellent on this track, but H.E.R. especially stands out. I really love the flow that she sings with on ‘Where I Go,’ as it gives the track a level of energy and eccentricity that makes it pop. On ‘Where I Go,’ Anderson and H.E.R. are singing about a rocky yet enticing relationship, with each artist telling their side of the story. ‘Where I Go’ was a great reintroduction for NxWorries to the world when it came out, as it showed how palpable the bond is that these two have.

DayDreaming

So far, I have picked a couple of songs for the instrumental and a couple of songs for the vocal performance(s). I picked ‘DayDreaming’ for both elements. This is definitely my favorite song on the record(at least at this point, as that could always change as I get more listens). The whole album has an old-school feeling, but this song may sound more retro to me. In fact, if you told me this one came out in like 1978, I might believe you if I did not recognize Anderson .Paak’s voice. I love the Rock feeling that ‘DayDreaming’ has, as it changes things up from the more R&B and Hip Hop theme we have gotten to this point. My favorite thing about this song is the guitar riff that drives it. I especially dig the guitar solo that comes in towards the end of ‘DayDreaming,’ as it gives the track so much power. Anderson .Paak sounds so natural on this one. The “Rock” element of the song goes so well with Anderson’s voice, as his raspiness gives the song a level of grit. On ‘DayDreaming,’ Anderson .Paak is singing about a crush that he just can not get over. ‘DayDreaming’ is a song where both Anderson and Knxwledge show how talented they are both individually and together.

FromHere(feat. Snoop Dogg & October London)

‘FromHere’ is the second song in a row that straight up sounds like it came out of the 1970s. The instrumental for this one is so groovy and retro. When I hear it, I immediately think of the music from artists like Al Green or Marvin Gaye. I like the intricacy of the guitar riff that drives this track, as it stands out and gives the song an off-center feeling I appreciate. ‘FromHere’ does have a very cool instrumental, but the vocals on this song are what makes it so appealing. Both Anderson .Paak and October London completely kill it on this one. They both so off their exquisite range and timbre, making this song feel so powerful. Snoop Dogg comes in at the end of ‘FromHere’ and gives a cute little spoken word verse that closes out the song in a succinct manner. On ‘FromHere,’ Anderson .Paak and October London sing about being lonely when the club closes, having no one to see and nowhere to go. ‘FromHere’ is a charming track where Anderson .Paak and October London truly shine. 

OutTheWay (feat. Rae Khalil)

‘OutTheWay’, which features Rae Khalil, may have the most modern sound out of anything on this record. This more current style really makes it stick and pop on this record. This track does not exactly have a Trap beat, but it is the closest thing to Trap we get on this record. The intricacy of the beat is one of the things that makes this song so appealing. I really like how the bassline that drives the melody meshes with the snare drum that drives the beat, as it is so unusual and entertaining. Speaking of the melody, this song probably has one of the warmest sounds on the record, which is saying a lot. ‘OutTheWay’ has such a bright and atmospheric sound that makes me feel like I am floating towards the sun. The vocal performances on ‘OutTheWay’ are very good, with Rae Kahlil really excelling on this one. I love how the deep tone in her delivery sits on this instrumental, as it adds to the already extremely warm feeling of the instrumental. On ‘OutTheWay,’ Anderson .Paak and Rae Khalil are singing about falling head over heels for someone, which is something they are not used to as they usually can not commit to one person. ‘OutTheWay’ is a bit of a switch-up from the otherwise very nostalgic feeling of this record that gives it a different element that I think is cool, even if it is just for one song.

SheUsed 

‘SheUsed’ is a track that is emerging as a crowd favorite, and it is certainly not tough to see why. This is probably the most non-traditional song on the album, but it just works so well. The actual composition of the instrumental’s melody and beat is pretty simple. The melody consists of what sounds like various very pleasant horns complemented by some string instruments, and the beat is pretty easy-going and soft. Throughout the track, though, the pitch is constantly changing. This keeps the song dynamic and fresh, which really makes it pop. As cool as the pitch-changing sounds on the instrumental, it sounds even better on the vocals from Anderson .Paak. It sounds exceedingly great when he hits the extra high notes, giving this song a level of unconventionalism I enjoy. On ‘SheUsed,’ Anderson .Paak is singing about a one-night stand with someone he truly cared about and would like to go back to but knows he hurt. ‘SheUsed’ is a bit of an unusual track in the context of this record, but it works so well.

Walked On By (feat. Earl Sweatshirt & Rae Khalil)

‘Walked On By’ is another song that has quickly emerged as a crowd favorite. One of the main reasons for this is the Earl Sweatshirt feature, as this collaboration between NxWorries and Earl Sweatshirt is one that fans have wanted for almost ten years(since NxWorries first debuted by opening for Earl on tour). Like the other song with Rae Khalil, this one feels a bit more modern than most of the rest of the record. Like ‘OutTheWay,’ this one has a beat that is not exactly Trap but definitely resembles it. This new-ish beat makes the song feel fresh among this tracklist, helping it feel all the more impactful. The instrumental for ‘Walked On By’ is enjoyable, but the best thing about this song is the rap verses from Earl and Anderson .Paak. I especially enjoy how Earl’s low and raspy tone contrasts this bright melody, as it gives this song a super cool texture. Rae Khalil also does her thing on this one, as her warm and sweet vocals fit so nicely on this balmy instrumental. On ‘WalkedOnBy,’ Anderson and his features are singing and rapping about trying to console someone they love who is going through a tough time. ‘Walked On By’ shows off the undeniable chemistry between NxWorries and Earl Sweatshirt, and I hope it is not the last piece of music we get from this trio. 

Why Lawd? is an album that has been receiving heaps of praise since it came out. Although I was originally on the fence about covering it because I was not super into the singles, I knew that I could not skip this one because of how many people online have been lauding it. I have to say that I do understand the hype. This is the kind of album that you can and should listen to all the way through. Even though I was able to pick some of my favorite songs for this piece, it almost felt blasphemous to do so because they sound so much better within the context of the record. The best thing about Why Lawd? to me is the way it flows all the way through. I love how seamless the transitions are on this record, as it makes for a captivating listen. The chemistry between Anderson. Paak and Knxwledge is insanely palpable on this record, and all of the features they picked are perfect. One of the best things about this record for me was being introduced to artists like October London and Rae Khalil, as they are extremely talented and deserve to shine in their own right. Why Lawd? Is a very good return to music for NxWorries; I hope this is not the last piece of music we get from Anderson. Paak and Knxwledge, as they are awesome when they are together.

8/10