Anderson .Paak is one of the hottest names in music these days. Following his 2015 collaboration with Dr. Dre, Anderson .Paak debuted his own album, Malibu, which has been lauded as one of the best works of 2016.
Here are four things every artist can learn from Paak’s recent success.
1. Be patient.
Paak is hailed by many as a part of the next generation of hip-hop. He was named an XXL Freshman this year. However, he’s not young, at least for a hip-hop artist. He’s 30 years old and only just now getting this type of fanfare and recognition.
On Malibu, he begins to address a past that seems tailor-made for storytelling, but he’s admitted that until now, he just didn’t feel ready to talk about his life on such a level. That doesn’t mean he just waited around until he was ready, but he put forth a lot of effort and courage to make himself into a star.
2. Commit to your craft.
Paak recorded music for years under the moniker Breezy Lovejoy, a name that he says reflected the carefree spirit of his younger years. Then, after becoming homeless for a short time, he switched his name to its current form and, as he describes it, really committed himself to his music for the first time.
The product was the 2014 album Venice and his collaboration with producer Knxwledge under the group name Nxworries. The latter, of course, is what caught Dr. Dre’s attention.
3. Enjoy yourself.
The joyful sound of many of Paak’s songs is mirrored by his infectiously exuberant stage presence during live shows. When you watch Paak hop on the drums and start to multi-task, you can see how much fun he’s having.
Check out his performance for NPR Music, especially his excited demeanor during “Come Down.” Paak performed “Come Down” at the BET Awards, where many fans became infatuated with this fresh hip-hop voice.
4. Work with other artists.
Paak’s most famous and career-changing collaboration was with Dr. Dre on Compton, for which the Oxnard native helped on six songs. Over the past year, Paak has shown a willingness to work with pretty much anybody, cranking out a constant stream of features that has only helped build steam for his career.
By working with other artists, Paak has been able to promote his music to a large audience and to provide fresh material for his own fans to devour.
Anderson .Paak didn’t become one of the most famous fresh faces in hip-hop overnight. Like Paak, through perseverance and teamwork, you can make a name for yourself in the music industry.
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Matt Cummings grew up in the Bay Area and now attends UCLA. He enjoys sports, music and comedy.
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