Anderson. Paak The Free Nationals: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

August 15, 2016 by BOBBY CARTER Good luck trying to classify Anderson. Paak and his band The Free Nationals. Much of their sound is layered atop a soulful hiphop foundation; from there, your safest bet is to call it a hodgepodge of genres in the best way possible. Guitarist Jose Rios and bassist Kelsey Gonzalez inject a hardrock edge into the HiTekproduced Come Down, this set s opening number. When you hear them play the first few jazz chords of Heart Don t Stand A Chance, it s hard to simply call this R B. It s been a slow build for. Paak, who released a few mixtapes before his 2014 debut album Venice. This year has marked his official breakout with Malibu, on which he did what so many in his position fail to do: He capitalized. After bursting into the spotlight with his appearances on Dr. Dre s Compton LP, he immediately prepped the release of Malibu. The album sculpted an entirely new lane for Anderson. Paak. He can rhyme with best of em, and his vocal styling, reminiscent of 70s and 80s grea