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Anderson .Paak With Dr. Dre Finish Album

NEW YORK (AP) — Anderson .Paak is feeling pretty good after project with the Dr. complete.
Billboard's Women In Music 2018 With FIJI Water
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 06: Recording artists Anderson Paak and Lauren Jauregui attend the Billboard's Women In Music 2018 with FIJI water at Pier 36 on December 6, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for FIJI Water)

 

Getting Dr. Dre to produce his entire album had Anderson .Paak feeling like "the prodigal son," as he put it, since it's rare that you'll find Dre overseeing an entire music project these days.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 19: Dr. Dre speaks onstage as Snoop Dogg is honored with a star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard on November 19, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

 

"To see him so inspired and genuinely having fun with a project is really dope, because I don't feel like he's been this involved with a project probably since Eminem's first stuff," said Paak, now signed to Dre's Aftermath Entertainment.
That project is "Oxnard," named after Paak's California hometown. Released last month, it's the third volume in his "beach series," following 2014's "Venice" and 2016's Grammy-nominated "Malibu."
Billboard's Women In Music 2018 With FIJI Water
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 06:Recording artist Anderson Paak attends the Billboard's Women In Music 2018 with FIJI water at Pier 36 on December 6, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for FIJI Water)

 

Paak, an eclectic musician who blends funk, hip-hop and R&B, was featured on six songs from Dre's latest album, 2016's "Compton." In recent years, Dre has become more famous for pushing the Beats by Dre brand though his resume includes producing hits for Eminem, 50 Cent, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, and Eve, as well as launching his own multi-platinum albums.
"I remember when we wrapped up (Dre) was like, 'Thank you, man. I know this is helping you, but it's also helping me a lot,'" Paak said. "I feel like it gave him a spark again."
"Mac Miller: A Celebration Of Life" Concert Benefiting The Launch Of The Mac Miller Circles Fund
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 31: Anderson .Paak performs onstage during "Mac Miller: A Celebration Of Life" Concert Benefiting The Launch Of The Mac Miller Circles Fund at The Greek Theatre on October 31, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for LiveNation)

 

Dre isn't the only famous name to appear on "Oxnard," Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, J. Cole, Q-Tip and Pusha T also are on the album.
Snoop Dogg Honored With Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 19: Snoop Dogg, with Dr. Dre (R) is honored with a star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard on November 19, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

 

"I feel like there a lot of features, but it didn't feel like a lot of features. It was almost like, 'Oh, shoot — surprise,'" said Paak, adding that he was "humbled to be able to be in the same room with some of these people."
Paak, a church-grown percussionist, describes his latest work as "fun," but "same man, new car." The vibe on "Onxard" is different compared to "Malibu," a shift that was purposeful.
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NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 23: Anderson .Paak performs onstage during the 4th Annual TIDAL X: Brooklyn at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on October 23, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for TIDAL)

 

"We're just never trying to do the same thing twice — it's not interesting for us. We just want to keep growing as artists," said Paak. "We did a lot of rapping on this album. It was a lot of fun songs, a lot of songs to dance to, a lot of big, hard-hitting production."
The musician's unique sound has been spreading throughout the industry, and he's well aware of it: "I'm looking at some of these dudes like, 'Mo-fo, that sounds like me! What the hell?'"
He said though he's "flattered," he hopes it creates a resurgence of musicianship in rap.
"I would love to open up a lane for more musician-rappers in hip-hop, more people playing an instrument and performing in hip-hop, which is something you really don't see too often," he said.
BET Hip Hop Awards 2018 - Arrivals
MIAMI BEACH, FL - OCTOBER 06: Anderson .Paak arrives at the BET Hip Hop Awards 2018 at Fillmore Miami Beach on October 6, 2018 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

 

Paak, 32, will get to show off what he can do onstage when he launches his "Andy's Beach Club World Tour" next year. It kicks off Feb. 11 in San Francisco — one day after the Grammy Awards, where Paak's song "Bubblin" is nominated for best rap performance.
Winning a Grammy is one of Paak's goals, among other things.
"We cracked (the) Billboard (chart) this time around, and I never really knew what that was like, so it'd be nice to stay within, you know, keep cracking that, getting higher and higher up. Snatch some awards, some Grammys. I would like to continue to build a top-notch show. I want to be able to be one of those bands, like legacy bands, that can tour forever," he said.
© 2018 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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