DRY SOULS
Originals
How important is music and love? It’s the most important thing. It’s the only thing that’s a common thread people can agree on. I see so many people at festivals, so many different colors and creeds and sexualities and they can all agree on good music and good vibes.
Anderson .Paak knows the crucial role of good vibing music in bad vibing times. .Paak’s Grammy-nominated album Malibu and Grammy-winning track “Bubblin’” are meta-modern hip-hop fire. He brought the heat to 2020’s Fortnite Concert Series and dropped a new track Jewelz in collaboration with Timbaland.
But it wasn’t always this way. When CONVICTS caught up with .Paak at The Surf Lodge a few years back, we got the lowdown on his early days spent toiling in obscurity...and his ancient-but-ratchet alter-ego Breezy lovejoy. The West Coast rapper’s banging synthesis of old school R&B sounds and new school vibes, coupled with his signature smile, have landed .Paak squarely atop the contemporary rap game.
What’s up gang? Can you give us an introduction?
This is Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals and we’re over here at The Surf Lodge ‘bout to tear shit up. Wavy baby.
Right on. To start, let’s take it back. Tell us about BreezyLoveJoy, the persona you first started making music under?
He never got laid. He was broke as fuck. He smoked the worst weed. Drank the worst liquor. But he was always in good spirits and he had his family with him and we shared Little Caesar’s pizza. You know, we had a good time. We slept on couches, made a lot of good music together. Good stuff.
So we are asking everyone how important is music and love in the world right now. Thoughts?
How important is music and love? It’s the most important thing. It’s the only thing that’s a common thread people can agree on. I see so many people at festivals, so many different colors and creeds and sexualities and they can all agree on good music and good vibes. They can come together on that one thing, at least. That doesn’t always happen with politics and everything else. Yea, it’s probably the most important thing.
We’re here at the Surf Lodge ‘bout to tear shit up.
Is there a lot of love at an Anderson .Paak show?
Yea a lot of love. A lot of love. A lot of sexual tension.
What’s the best thing about your live show?
THE FREE NATIONALS: Feeding off the energy of the crowd. The energy that the crowd gives back that we give them, it’s just a battle, not a battle, but a tennis match you know, hit the ball back in the court, they hit it right back. It’s all night. We just go as long as they will. And bouncing boobies. A lot of bouncing boobies.
ANDERSON PAAK: They’re really feeling it. Bounce. Bounce.
So you guys have checked out Montauk? Have you been here before?
THE FREE NATIONALS: First time in Montauk.
ANDERSON PAAK: Yea, yea.
Tell me about Montauk. What’s it like?
ANDERSON PAAK: I just woke up here and saw like a bunch of white people and I was like, I’m feeling this.
THE FREE NATIONALS: It’s rich. It’s nice. The beaches. The water’s warm. We went out there to the beach. It was beautiful. Blessed to be here.
ANDERSON PAAK: They went surfing. Y’all went surfing.
THE FREE NATIONALS: Good waves here. It’s a real spot.
Does it remind y’all of the West Coast?
ANDERSON PAAK: Beaches, vibes, and girls. It kind of reminds me of the West Coast.
THE FREE NATIONALS: Real talk, it feels like West Coast.
What’s better East Coast or West Coast?
ANDERSON PAAK: West coast, for sure.
THE FREE NATIONALS: Man, have to go with West Coast, not gonna lie. A lot of love for the East though.
ANDERSON PAAK: We have a lot of good fun out here, for sure. Good people.
Respect. Thanks for the chat gang. Tear it up out there.
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