Anderson .Paak

Grammy Nomination 2017

Brandon Paak Anderson, more known by his stage name Anderson .Paak, is admired by many for his unique blend of music, including ‘60s funk and electronic R&B. He was taken under by Dr. Dre, an American music producer who shared Paak’s talents to the world by featuring him on his 2015 album Compton. Prior to this debut, Paak called himself Breezy Lovejoy and even contributed to a project called NxWorries but gathered little mainstream fame. Therefore, his appearance and practice under Dr. Dree was significant turning point in his career and critical in starting Paak’s success, leading to his Grammy nomination for Best New Artist of 2017 for his album Malibu.

Paak was born in Oxnard, California in 1986. Most of his personal life is shared through interviews but mostly in his songs. For instance, in The Bird in his album Malibu, he mentions his parents: “My mama caught gambling bug…My papa was behind them bars…Mama was a farmer…Papa was a goner…” (The Bird, Malibu 2017). His last name Paak comes from his mother who was half-black and half-Korean. Orphaned during the Korean War, she was adopted by a U.S. soldier and was raised in Compton, California. On the other hand, his father, who is of African American descent, left a painful memory as his life was taken over by drugs and alcohol and would abuse Paak’s mother, which Paak noted he witnessed at seven years old. After his father was put to jail for fourteen years, Paak never spoke to him nor saw him until his death.

As mentioned in the lyrics, his mother sought a new life with managing an organic strawberry strawberry and remarrying However, Paak’s childhood did not get easier. Upon the disastrous weather conditions El Niño brought, his mother filed for bankruptcy and developed an unhealthy gambling addiction; she served time at jail as well. At seventeen years old, Paak had experienced such hardship and expressed his feelings and what he had gone through with songs.

 

Anderson .Paak is well regarded in the music industry and his famous collaborations. For instance, although he has not explicitly identified himself as an Asian-American artist, he explores his Korean background by speaking Korean when he refers to his (second) wife and background. He also collaborates with various Korean/Korean-American artists like Dumbfounded, Tokimonsta, and most notably, DEAN. In addition, many consider his Grammy performance with A Tribe Called Quest a notable one of a political statement, in which he stood firm in his blackness and Koreaness. 

Today he continues to explore his creative expression and lives happily with his son, who he has appeared with on the Ellen Show, and wife, who he keeps out of the public spotlight yet praises for as the one who’s been through his highs and lows in life.

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