Forget the whole Dr. Dre mirage for just a second. Anderson .Paak wins his plaudits on "Jet Black" from the expanded universe of his musical net. The 9th song on the lauded-Ventura project comes to us dancefloor-ready, off the back of a bouncy beat engineered by Canadian boogie specialist Pomo. If you hear a likeness to Kaytranada's sound, that's because Pomo and he borrow from the same "groove-based" musical tradition, and know one another through various correspondences.
But Anderson .Paak's greatest feat of strength comes out of garnering a contribution from the beloved Brandy, who last we heard was supposedly hard at work fleshing out her first musical project since 2012 - notwithstanding the revivalist wave she latched onto in 2016 with "Beggin and Pleadin."
It's pretty evident that Paak's contributors on Ventura weren't forced into a helpless or undesirable position. Brandy like Andre 3000 earlier on in the proceedings, serves to enhance the project, not to upstage Paak's songwriting efforts. Check out "Jet Black" and the rest of Ventura while you're at it. Keep it locked for more groove-based music in short order.
Quotable Lyrics:
Who gon' love you when your love ain't there?
Baby, that ass is just unfair
Jet black hair, baby, jet black hair
At least two grams in your blunt wrapped there
These two hands always land up on the small of your back
Should I ask if eyes can go there?
- Anderson .Paak
