Anderson .Paak
Brandon Paak Anderson[3][4] (born February 8, 1986), better known by his stage name Anderson .Paak (/pæk/ PACK or /pɑːk/ PAHK),[5] is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and drummer. He released his debut mixtape, O.B.E. Vol. 1 in 2012 and went on to release his debut album Venice in 2014.[6] In 2016, he followed up with his second album, Malibu,[7] which received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album, followed by his third album, Oxnard (2018). At the 61st Grammy Awards, Paak won his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance with his 2018 non-album single "Bubblin".[8] In 2020, he won two additional Grammy Awards for Best R&B Album with his fourth album Ventura, while a song from the album won Best R&B Performance with "Come Home" (featuring André 3000).[9]
Anderson .Paak
Brandon Paak Anderson
- Breezy Lovejoy
- Cheeky Andy
- DJ Pee .Wee
February 8, 1986
Oxnard, California, U.S.
- Singer
- songwriter
- rapper
- record producer
- drummer
- Vocals
- drums
2009–present
- Atlantic
- 12Tone
- Aftermath
- ArtClub
- SteelWool
- Stones Throw
- Empire
- Hellfyre Club
- OBE
2
Apart from his solo career, Anderson formed the duo NxWorries in 2015 with record producer Knxwledge. He is frequently accompanied by the band Free Nationals, who play a variety of instruments, such as electric guitar, bass, piano, keyboards and drums, and also serve as backing vocalists. In 2021, he formed the duo Silk Sonic with fellow singer-songwriter Bruno Mars. The duo's debut single, "Leave the Door Open", became Anderson's first single to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and was the recipient of four awards at the 64th Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
Early life[edit]
Brandon Paak Anderson was born on February 8, 1986, at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, California.[10] He is of mixed African American and Korean heritage.[11] Anderson's mother was born in South Korea during the Korean War[12] to an African American man who is presumed to have been a soldier. She was abandoned in a Korean orphanage and adopted by an African-American family in Compton.[13]
At age seven, Anderson saw his estranged father attack his mother: "My little sister and I went out front and my pops was on top of my mom. There was blood in the street. He was arrested and that was the last time I saw him. I think he did 14 years."[14]
Shortly after he started his senior year of high school, his mother was convicted of major fraud. "I got a call in class: 'They arrested your mom today.'" Anderson's mother pleaded guilty to defrauding investors of millions using her produce distribution company. She received a seven-year prison sentence.[14]
Career[edit]
2009–2013: Beginnings[edit]
Anderson began producing music from his bedroom as a teenager, while attending Foothill Technology High School. His first experiences performing were as a drummer at his family's church.[15] In 2011, prior to being a successful working musician, Anderson became homeless with his wife and infant son after he was dismissed from his job at a marijuana farm in Santa Barbara.[16] Early in his career, Anderson used the stage name Breezy Lovejoy.[17]
In 2011, Anderson had started earning acceptance in the Los Angeles music scene as he worked on his debut album. Shafiq Husayn of Sa-Ra and Los Angeles based rapper Dumbfoundead helped Anderson recover financially from losing his job in Santa Barbara by employing him as an assistant, videographer, editor, writer and producer. He completed O.B.E. Vol. 1 and released the album on June 30, 2012. He became the drummer for former American Idol semi-finalist Haley Reinhart.[16] After the release of O.B.E. Vol. 1, Anderson changed his stage name to Anderson .Paak; he claims that the dot stands for "detail", the need to pay attention to detail.[18][19]
On November 27, 2013, Paak produced and recorded Cover Art, an all-covers EP. Paak was inspired by white artists of the 1950s who achieved commercial success by remaking songs written by Black blues and R&B singers, while rarely compensating the original artists.[20] Cover Art reversed the process and transformed folk and rock classics from white musicians into a mold of soul, funk, jazz, left-field pop, hip-hop, and R&B. The album was released by the independent Hellfyre Club and OBE labels.[21] Paak was the lead producer for Watsky's 2014 album All You Can Do and is featured on three of its sixteen tracks.
Personal life[edit]
Paak met his wife, Jaylyn, a music student from South Korea,[15] while she was in college. In 2011, prior to being a successful working musician, Paak was working at a marijuana farm in Santa Barbara. He was dismissed without warning and became homeless with his wife and infant son.[16] The couple had a second son in 2017.[47] In 2017, Paak confirmed during an interview with The Breakfast Club that this is his second marriage, but that "Jaylyn is the one that matters".[47] In January 2024, Paak filed for divorce after thirteen years of marriage.[48]
Paak has a tattoo on his chest, depicting Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Prince, and Miles Davis,[49] and a tattoo on his arm with the text, "When I'm gone please don't release any posthumous albums or songs with my name attached. Those were just demos and never intended to be heard by the public".[50]
Charity[edit]
In 2016, Paak founded The Brandon Anderson Foundation, a nonprofit organization which aims to "Support and create initiatives that uplift, engage and support the community through access to the arts, supplemental education and unique experiences to expand the imagination".[51] In December 2017, he launched .Paak House, an annual benefit concert which helps raise funds for the organisation.[52][53] Past performers at the concert include The Game, Jay Rock, Kali Uchis, Jhené Aiko, Ty Dolla Sign, Cordae, Freddie Gibbs, Masego, Thundercat and Schoolboy Q.[54] As of 2021, the organisation has raised more than half a million dollars and provided over 3,000 families in the Greater Los Angeles area with basic necessities.[55] In 2021 .Paak House was hosted at College Park in Oxnard.[56] The May 2023 event will be at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura.[57]
Headlining
Supporting