"This is the album I dreamed of making in high school..” Anderson .Paak’s third studio album offers a wide-angle portrait of Los Angeles’ “hedonistic landscape”. Oxnard is last edition of his “beach series”, following the critically acclaimed Venice from 2014, and 2016’s Malibu. The rapping, singing, drumming one-man-show approaches the funk canon from a rap perspective, unleashing a project full of psychedelic guitars and gospel patterns. Paak is instinctive and loose, and with production contributions from the Dr. (who was the executive producer on the album), the beats are rich and rewarding. Some of the tracks to check out include the collab with Kendrick Lamar on “Tints”, a breezy and fun post-disco boogie track with a Shalamar like melody; the retrospective “Cheers”, produced by Q-Tip, which features Paak reminiscing over past heartbreaks (including a tribute to the late Mac Miller); the feel-good cookout jam “Anywhere” which features Snoop Dogg; to the criminally short track (and my personal favorite) “Saviers Road”, produced by 9th Wonder, the album is a celebration of life, though aware of the legacy of violence and death Oxnard holds. “This is post-gangsta music - G-Funk with a silent ‘g’”. Other features include J. Cole, BJ The Chicago Kid and Pusha T, among others. 14 tracks in all, released on Dre’s label 12 Tone Music. Recommended.

• 2LP pressing housed in gatefold sleeve
• music label: 12 Tone Music 2019

reviewed by Ralphy Corduroy 2/2019