Anderson .Paak, Ventura | Album Review 💿

After wowing on his third LP, Oxnard, Grammy-winning musician Anderson .Paak continues to ‘get his shine on’ on his fourth LP, Ventura.

Grammy-winning rapper, singer, and producer Anderson .Paak returns much sooner than later.  It was only in late 2018 that Paak released his critically-acclaimed third studio album, Oxnard.  Oxnard was characterized by its hip-hop tilt, though there was singing as well.  The follow-up, Ventura, which arrives less than five months later, focuses more on R&B and soul.  The results are utterly sublime.

“Come Home”

“Come Home” commences soulfully, setting the tone for Ventura. Anderson .Paak delivers a superb vocal, filled with character and nuance.  He’s one of the more distinct voices in the music industry, regardless of genre, and his distinctiveness shines through on “Come Home.” Adding to the excellence of the opener is brilliant production work, with a robust bass line, an old-school groove, background vocals, and of course, an agile, one-of-a-kind rap verse courtesy of André 3000.  The soulful vibes continue gloriously on the hella smooth “Make It Better,” featuring the iconic Motown singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson.  Like “Come Home,” the production is stellar, characterized by its throwback sensibilities, recreating the classic, timeless soul of old.  The rhythmic electric piano and the lush strings are simply marvelous ear candy.

Anderson .Paak swaps out Smokey Robinson for another incredible collaborator, five-time Grammy winner Lalah Hathaway on “Reachin’ 2 Much.” While “Reachin’ 2 Much” runs long (six minutes), it’s well-worth the time.  Boxes continue to be checked off, and Paak exceeds expectations rather than merely meeting them.  A minute-and-a-half in, “Reachin’ 2 Much” sees a shift in groove, which helps keep the listener stimulated.  “Winners Circle” follows, continuing the consistency of Ventura.  It begins with a spoken-word intro before Paak blesses us all with his swagger-laden, masterful pipes.  Notably, he ‘busts a rhyme’ on the third verse, which is a great contrast following two sung verses.

“Good Heels” 

“Good Heels” is disappointing… only because it is so brief. It’s actually as alluring as everything else on Ventura. Anderson .Paak taps Jazmine Sullivan for the vocal assist with top-rate results.  We’d expect no less from one of the most talented vocalists in the game.  Yeah, we totally needed more of this groovy gem beyond one-minute-and-forty seconds. Paak makes up for it on the awesome “Yada Yada,” which finds him blending his hip-hop and R&B sides seamlessly.  His versatility is awe-inspiring. Furthermore, “Yada Yada” feature lots of unique sounds, particularly the detuned moments.  Safe to say, “Yada Yada” serves as a great preface to the crowning achievement of Ventura, “King James”.

“King James” is a heavy-grooving, mid-tempo record thrives off its blend of the West Coast sound (G-Funk and beyond) and of course, a soulful, funky breed of R&B.  Vocally, Anderson .Paak continues to impress with his ‘one of a kind’ pipes. Thematically, he sings about the hard work and hustle it takes to succeed, patterned after the one and only Lebron James.  At one point, during the second verse, he sings, “And we salute King James for using his change / To create some equal opportunities.” In addition to the hustle, Paak highlights working beyond barriers, particularly racial barriers on the way to attaining success.

“Chosen One”  

Following a juggernaut like “King James” is a tall task, but the Sonyae Elise-assisted “Chosen One” gives Anderson .Paak another enjoyable and well-rounded record.  One of the things that stands out about “Chosen One” is the rhythm, which at times, is a bit unpredictable, keeping things fresh.  Also standing out about “Chosen One” is the subject matter – love.  Okay, love’s been done multiple times, particularly by R&B artists, but it gets another noteworthy interpretation in the hands of Anderson. Paak trades Sonyae Elise for Brandy on “Jet Black,” which keeps the groove and the soul at the forefront.  Brandy does a fine job of backing up Paak, who opts for rap this round. That said, he does sing the third verse/bridge:

“And the coldest part is I’m not even there
I watch your feed, but I don’t feed into that
Just give me the news
I miss all the parties, but I’m still the best dressed, clean.”

“Twilight” is the penultimate cut that everyone needs in their life.  The sound is other-worldly, which can only mean one thing – Pharrell Williams handles production duties.  The marriage of Paak and Williams is ‘a match made in heaven’ given their musical personalities.  Besides the beat and interesting choice of sounds, also making “Twilight” awesome is the memorable chorus, and of course, those silky-smooth vocals by Paak.  Closing out Ventura is “What Can We Do?” which enlists one final collaborator, Nate Dogg.  Of course, Nate Dogg has been deceased since 2011, so, his vocals were recorded years ago.  The results are strong, something that can’t always be said of posthumous duets (remember Drake’s Michael Jackson misstep on “Don’t Matter to Me” on Scorpion?).

Final Thoughts

Consistency must be Anderson .Paak’s middle name.  After wowing with Oxnard, he reminds of the glorious days of soul music, while keeping things fresh and incorporating hip-hop throughout Ventura.  His musicianship is off the charts. Paak continues to prove he’s one of music’s more adventurous spirits. Ventura is among the best albums of 2019.

Gems: “Come Home,” “Make It Better,” “Reachin’ 2 Much,” “Yada Yada,” “King James” & “Twilight”  

Anderson .Paak • Ventura • Aftermath / 12 Tone Music • Release: 4.12.19

Photo Credits: Aftermath / 12 Tone Music