Anderson .Paak’s albums in chronology journey up the coast of California. From Venice (2014), to Malibu(2016) and now we find ourselves at the final destination, his home city of Oxnard.

It’s a literal and metaphorical journey, documenting where .Paakwas at various times in his life. Why did .Paak have to travel from Venice, to Malibu in order to make to home? What was he running from? Running to? Who was he running from, or running to? And it’s befitting that the album opens with “The Chase”. The drumming pattern is at times tumultuous but precise as .Paak’s raspy 80’s like voice belts “Hold on ride and for your own”

Comparison is considered the thief of joy and in this context, album joy. But it’s somewhat impossible to not compare Oxnard to its predecessor. The irony is that they’re similar but very different. Thematically they’re akin, with .Paak very crudely and vividly singing about his sexual encounters with women on “Headlow”. But on this album, .Paak has somehow created his own genre. It’s like funk infused with R&B and laced with rap but somehow jazz elements – it’s bemusing and beautiful.

The album is very feature heavy but somehow .Paak is not overpowered but accentuated and complemented.  Featuring notable L.A natives like Dr Dre on Mansa Musa, Snoop Dogg on the G-Step track Anywhere and Kendrick Lamar on Tints; adding even more to the theme of home.

The production on this album is brilliant. You can hear the quality and time taken by Dr Dre who executively produced the album. On his recent interview with Angie Martinez,he awkwardly jokes about how he wanted the album out sooner but his and Dre’s creative schedules weren’t in sync. And I am glad time was taken, because the rapping, singing and drumming connoisseur gave us many reasons on this album to shout “Yes Lawd”.

On 6 Summers, he takes a political stance with an eery and chilling protest to gun violence and Donald Trump “Pop pop goes the shooter, reform reform, should have came sooner”.

 Sampling Johnny Carson’s voice for the opening stand-out track Trippy ft J. Cole, he emphasises themes of journeying back together and meeting in the middle – whether that be geographically, through compromise or lovers who can’t get enough of each other. .

“How do you tell a nigga slow down, when you’re living just as fast as him” 

The juxtaposition on Cheers between the funk-head bop melody and him feeling regret for what he could have done to save his friend, Mac Miller. The song creates a conflicting feeling, you love the beat and melody but almost feel bad for doing so.

There’s so much to unpack on this song and the overarching theme is grief.  He’s grateful for the friendship “The greatest honour to know ya” and isn’t pleased with how some have reacted to his death

I hate all them fake niggas claimin’ like they gon’ really miss ya

In spite of this, .Paak is met with an element of peace that one day he will see his friend again “Iknow there must be somethin’ after here

I know some day I’ll meet ya half there in the atmosphere

Cheers”

The journey .Paakhas taken us on up until now is unmatched to anything else. .Paak’s innovativeness and ability to not be easily swayed by the waves and currents dictating music in the modern-era is formidable.  The only flaw of this album is that sometimes it comes out of focus. However, I guess .Paak had to take a few detours in order to make it home.