Anderson .Paak: Venice (2LP, 10th anniversary) [APESH*T]

Why you'll love it

This 10th anniversary edition spreads Venice across a 2LP set. It was the first album under the Anderson .Paak name, sixteen tracks blending hip hop, R&B and soul.

This edition

• 2LP set
• 10th anniversary edition

About the album

Before the Grammys and Silk Sonic, Anderson .Paak was a singer and drummer in Los Angeles working out who he wanted to be. He had been recording as Breezy Lovejoy, and Venice is where he stepped out under his own name, band in tow. It's a sunny, restless debut that moves between hip hop, R&B, soul and electronic beats without ever sounding lost.

He produced much of it himself, alongside Lo_Def, DJ Nobody, DK the Punisher, Mikos the Gawd, Kelsey Gonzalez, Tokimonsta and Ta-Ku, and his band The Free Nationals give it a live, loose feel, with Jose Rios on lead guitar and Ron Avant on keys. "Miss Right" struts, "Already" with SiR glides, and "Luh You" and "Off The Ground" show off the raspy, joyful voice that would soon be everywhere.

Malibu followed in 2016 and made him a star, but the whole blueprint is already here. A decade on, it's the rare debut where the artist turns up fully formed, sandals and all.

Also at Kops: more Anderson .Paak on vinyl · browse Hip Hop / R&B

Tracklist

Listen

On Apesh*t, a reissue of the 2014 album.