Anderson .Paak, JEWELZ | Track Review 🎵

‘The King of Vibe,’ Grammy-winner Anderson .Paak, continues to shine on his brief,  funky, and infectious single, “JEWELZ.”

Characterizing Grammy-winner Anderson .Paak as ‘The King of Vibe’ wouldn’t be far-fetched. His music is incredibly special, blending old-school, West Coast, and modern freshness seamlessly – NO CAP! He’s back with ‘another one,’ entitled “JEWELZ,” which clocks in at just under three minutes in duration.  Short it may be, but as always, this king of vibe keeps a good thing going.

“JEWELZ” features sleek, soulful, and funky production work courtesy of Beat Club, The Breed, Shucati, and most importantly, Timbaland. Anderson. Paak is true to self in regard to the overall sound, which includes rhythmic guitar, a robust bass line, and a cooking, dusty hip-hop drum groove.  Furthermore, the vocoder sounds used throughout are a cool touch. Those things alone would solidify the goodness of “JEWELZ.” Besides the production and the overall aesthetic, the chorus marks one of the very best moments:

“I ain’t even put my jewels on (Beautiful)
I ain’t even played my latest, greatest song
I ain’t even put my jewels on
Mm, had to make a point ‘cause the whole joint way too dull (Cleaner, cleaner).”

The following post-chorus is pretty rad too.  Backtracking, worth noting, Paak’s vocals are pitch-shifted throughout the record.  Arguably, this is a bit off-putting.  It’s a cool effect for a while, but nitpicking, I’d argue that perhaps he could’ve at least shifted back to his standard vocals at some point rather than maintaining the pitch shifted sound. Regardless, he brings attitude and swagger, even beyond the chorus.  On the verses, he sings, “The Tesla rides smooth down the PCH / I think that I like with the makeup off,” later, adding “You know you kinda cute with the long braids / Got a little cool with your stunna shades on.”

Final Thoughts

All in all, Anderson .Paak continues to shine on his brief,  funky, and infectious single, “JEWELZ.” Sure, I might question the vocal effects choice, but it’s not enough of a nitpick to dare derail the record. Vibe, production, and attitude help make this another winner for AP.

Anderson .Paak • 🎵 “JEWELZ” • 🏷 APE SHIT. / 12 Tone Music • 🗓 Release Date: 10.6.20

📷 Photo Credits: APE SHIT. / 12 Tone Music