And just like that,

a divine Californian artist showed up in my YouTube suggestions about 4 years ago. It was one of these wholesome feelings when you watch an artist displaying true harmony. I then played one of his prodigious acoustic live performance at NPR’s legendary Tiny Desk sesh to my friend Jacques who felt equally in love. Sharing music on all levels is a cornerstone of our friendship. Paak immediately pulled us into his world with his voice timber and musical agility to play on so many levels (and instruments!). The way he sounded so damn musically accurate – the overall harmony – just touched my funk musical soul to the core. His impeccable sense of rhythm looks like he’s walking on beats or more so that HE IS THE BEAT. He is one of these handful of artists with this uniqueness factor.

As a matter of fact, you can count the Rap, Hip Hop and RnB elites on his side: Jasmine Sullivan, Brandy, Nate Dogg, André 3000, Pusha T, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Q-Tip and even the iconic Funk bassist Bootsy Collins. Nonetheless, the Grammy winner doesn’t fail to share his stages and studios with less famous gems like Sonyae Elise or Norelle.

I also love how he bridges the gap between funk, jazz and hip hop. He achieved it in new levels when he started his Silk Sonic venture with Bruno Mars in a mint execution and well curated fashion. To me it’s the funk resonance with street inspired lines in most of his tracks that got me. I greet the timely Bruno Mars collab with cheers for what he brings to the music industry and on a wider scale for his personal evolution. Now reaching pop music’s heights, he has been seen producing and featuring for a wider range of genres. Thanks for raising the bar Andy.

Have a look at some of my fav tracks, live perf, and shots of the largest brightest smile in L.A. below.