They’re both popping as solo artists, and after teasing fans with a fire collaborative EP, “Link Up & Suede,” the cali duo consisting of producer Knxwledge (Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly & more) & Anderson .Paak (you already know) unleashes a monster of an album. Soul, funk, jazz, r&b and hip-hop gracefully mingle on the instrumentals the prolific, LA-by-way-of-NJ-and-Philly beatsmith lays down, and the Oxnard-Yes Lawd!-exclaimer .Paak layers his husky vocals on top, sometimes singing and sometimes rapping as he does best. Like, not a lot in music right now can f*** w/ the musicality these two bring on this 19-tracker (as .Paak makes clear to the world on “Intro”), check out: “Lyk Dis,” “Get Bigger / do U Luv,” “Best One,” “Livvin,” “Suede,” and “Link Up.” Really, though, there there are no fillers on this LP, and you should listen to the whole thing from beginning to end.

• black double vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• music label: Stones Throw 2016

reviewed by fresh noods 10/2016

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