Anderson .Paak’s New Video Shows An Unmasked World & It’s 1 Sick Puppy
There is great anticipation for Anderson .Paak’s upcoming album Oxnard (November 16). It marks a major label debut for Andy, and his first record overseen by Dr. Dre. The Southern California singer, MC, drummer, and producer recently released his “Tints” single with Kendrick Lamar. Now comes the video, and it features Kendrick Lamar, as well as a rare cameo from one of both artists’ creative mentors, Dre.
The song is about why we need tinted windows. For Anderson .Paak, over two-and-a-half years since he released a Grammy-nominated Malibu album, his life has changed. He signed with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment, made a plethora of high-profile collaborations, toured the world, appeared in an Apple commercial, and so much more. Now, the artist wants a little more distance from his days working as “Marz Lovejoy” trying to get on.
Anderson .Paak & Kendrick Lamar’s Collabo Is For Ridin’ Around & Shinin’ (Audio)
The video (directed by past Kendrick Lamar videographer Colin Tilley) takes the idea of tinted windows to another place entirely. The visual examines “an unmasked world.” In other words, what is going on behind life’s tints? The vid’ begins as the basis of Anderson and a lover talking about the need for greater transparency. As the music kicks in, Andy plays a plethora of characters that show what is happening behind closed doors or those tinted veneers. From playing an employee cleaning up a diner (and helping himself to the cash drawer) to an addict leading recovery that privately relapses, .Paak plays it all. The video is both jarring and lighthearted at different points. It examines the kinks in so many, from sexual hangups (as well as folks that cover up the fact that they’re making ends through sex work), to substance abuse, to real killers and kidnappers.
Kendrick Lamar raps his part while playing a person on oxygen, in the company of the Grim Reaper as well as a comfortable patron at a live peep-show. At an Bay Area-style side-show featuring K-Dot, Dr. Dre (and his real-life wife Nicole Young) appear to be in the car next to him. Anderson .Paak does donuts in a souped-up late ’60s Chevy Nova.
Anderson .Paak’s New Album Will Have A Beat By Madlib & Dr. Dre
Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, and others got bigger than life videos when they were first under Dr. Dre’s tutelage. This seems to be the case for Anderson, who basks in the spotlight.
Oxnard is slated for a November 16 release via Aftermath. The tracklisting for the album was released last week and reveals features from Dr. Dre (who had .Paak featured numerous times on his third album Compton before signing the artist), J. Cole, Q-Tip, Pusha-T, Snoop Dogg, BJ The Chicago Kid, Norelle, and Kadhja Bonet, among others.
Several Anderson .Paak songs are currently included in the official Ambrosia For Heads playlist.