Anderson .Paak

Oxnard

It may not be as beautifully consistent as Malibu, but during those glorious pinnacles when Oxnard is firing on all cylinders, it’s undeniably some of the best music of 2018.

Post-mainstream breakthrough, ‘Oxnard’ is a deft dissection of the fallout, just as free-ranging and hopeful as you’d imagine.

It may not be quite the full-marks classic he’d hoped, but Oxnard is an intriguing next step for the 2016 XXL Freshman that demands repeat listening and hints that he may have a Blueprint in him yet.

Despite its adherence to the new school of West Coast Funk, and despite .Paak’s brilliant performance as MC – Oxnard does not feel like it will have the staying power of 1993’s Doggystyle, 2005’s The Documentary, or Kendrick’s DAMN. Still, this album bumps.

Oxnard has a stronger sense of direction than its predecessor and is a breath of fresh air in the current state of pop rap and neo-soul.

It’s less cohesive than the high watermark he set with Malibu, but hitching a ride back to Oxnard is a freewheeling and occasionally exhilarating quest into Paak’s sonic curiosity.

Oxnard boasts several great moments, but the album is merely good.

Ultimately, the bigged up production doesn’t suit .Paak’s soulful tendencies, which are further lost in his switch to rap. There are a few highlights, sure, but not nearly enough for an artist who I would’ve placed bets would be the next Big Thing.

Paak can do nearly anything, but that doesn’t mean he should do everything. With its often effortless synthesis of funk and rap, Oxnard is a wide-angle portrait of Los Angeles’ hedonistic landscape—it’s just a little out of focus.

With Oxnard, Paak proves that he’s an artist built to last and a musician who has earned his place among hip-hop’s elite

Oxnard's penchant for twisting, not sticking, coupled with a Dre-shaped emphasis on beats and bars, leaves it woefully light on actual songs. The hum-able hooks and slow-burning arrangements of previous albums cast shadows over it.