BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL: ANDERSON .PAAK
By Amalia Tempel
On a hot June day in 2024, two friends and I were strolling around the St. Marks area of New York City, planning to meet up with some college friends visiting from Ohio for the week. This area is often bustling, filled with NYU students who frequently eat, drink, shop, and hang out there during their free time.
Suddenly, my friend Syra said, "Is that Anderson .Paak?" I looked up toward the restaurant he was standing outside of, and sure enough, it was him. We briefly chatted with him and asked for a photo, which he kindly agreed to. For my friends and I, this remains a fond memory, as we are fans of his music. Anderson .Paak is not just a talented musician but also someone who has worked incredibly hard to achieve his success.
Born on February 8, 1986, Anderson .Paak is the son of an African American father and a mother of mixed African American and Korean heritage. Growing up, he faced several hardships, including periods of instability due to his parents being incarcerated at different points during his childhood. Despite this, music became his outlet in his early teens, with him producing music from his bedroom and playing drums at church.
In 2011, after losing his job at a marijuana farm in Santa Barbara, Paak, his wife, and their son found themselves homeless. It was during this challenging period that he decided to pursue his music more seriously. Through hard work and some luck, he began working with Shafiq Husayn of the group Sa-Ra as an assistant, videographer, editor, writer, and producer.
In 2012, Paak released his first impactful project, O.B.E. Vol. 1, and became a drummer for American Idol contestant Haley Reinhart. The following year, he dropped the EP Cover Art, which featured covers of songs by other artists. In 2014, he released his first studio album Venice, followed by his second album Malibu in 2016. The trend of naming albums after well-known California areas continued, and Malibu featured prominent artists such as 9th Wonder, Kaytranada, and Rapsody. The album’s success led to Paak signing with Dr. Dre’s label, Aftermath Entertainment.
Paak’s third studio album Oxnard was another success, landing at number ten on the Billboard charts. However, his first number-one hit came in 2021 with Leave the Door Open, a collaboration with Bruno Mars in their duo Silk Sonic. This marked a new milestone in Paak’s career as it was his first number-one hit on the Billboard charts. Although he was first nominated for the Grammys in 2016, he won his first Grammy in 2018 for Best Rap Performance and later won in 2019 for Best R&B Album for Ventura, as well as Best R&B Performance for his song Come Home.
In 2024, Paak continued to broaden his creative horizons, making his directorial debut with the film K-Pops, which explores his African American and Korean heritage. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, showcasing his talents in film and showing to the world that Paak is a multi-talented creative. As his creative boundaries continue to grow it is clear to see that he will continue to shape the entertainment industry for years to come.
Anderson .Paak and his son Soul in the film K-Pops
During Black History Month, it is important to remember and honor those who have paved the way for African Americans, like Paak, whose contributions to the entertainment industry continue to inspire and uplift future generations.
