Biography
Brandon Paak Anderson, professionally known as Anderson .Paak, was born on February 8, 1986, in Oxnard, California, to a multicultural family of African American and Korean heritage. His early life was marked by significant hardship: at age seven, he witnessed his father violently attacking his mother, an incident that resulted in his father's arrest and imprisonment for approximately 14 years. During his high school years, his mother—initially a successful strawberry seller—was convicted of defrauding investors of millions through her produce distribution company and received a seven-year prison sentence. Despite these traumatic circumstances, Anderson found solace in music, beginning his musical journey at age 12 when he played drums in his church band. He attended Foothill Technology High School in Ventura, California, where he began rapping and producing music from his bedroom.
After high school, Anderson moved to Los Angeles at age 21 to study drumming at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, driven by encouragement from a girlfriend who later became his wife. Adopting the stage name Breezy Lovejoy, he worked with the band The Free Nationals while simultaneously working at a marijuana farm in Santa Barbara to support his growing family. In 2011, he was unexpectedly fired from his farm job, leaving him homeless with his wife and infant son. However, producer Shafiq Husayn of Sa-Ra provided crucial assistance, employing Anderson as an assistant, videographer, editor, writer, and producer—a period during which he began recording his debut album. His transformation into Anderson .Paak marked a turning point, with the period dot in his name representing "detail." His debut album Venice (2014) and his contributions to Dr. Dre's Compton album (2015) established him as a rising talent in hip-hop and R&B.
Anderson .Paak's artistic evolution culminated in widespread recognition through his collaboration with Bruno Mars on Silk Sonic, a neo-funk project celebrating 1970s soul music. Their debut single "Leave the Door Open" became his first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him four Grammy Awards at the 64th Grammy Awards ceremony, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year. As a three-time Grammy Award winner, Anderson .Paak has established himself as a versatile multi-instrumentalist and producer, creating an eclectic blend of hip-hop, soul, rock, and R&B that defies genre categorization. His journey from homelessness and family trauma to international acclaim represents a remarkable testament to artistic perseverance and creative vision.
Fun Facts
- Anderson .Paak's stage name includes a period (dot) that specifically represents the word 'detail,' reflecting his meticulous approach to music production and artistry.
- Before achieving musical success, Anderson worked at a marijuana farm in Santa Barbara, California, where he was unexpectedly fired without notice, leading to a period of homelessness with his wife and infant son.
- His mother's journey is equally remarkable: born in South Korea during the Korean War to an African American soldier and abandoned in a Korean orphanage, she was adopted by an African American family in Compton and later became a successful entrepreneur before her conviction.
- 'Leave the Door Open,' his collaboration with Bruno Mars as Silk Sonic, became his first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single and won four Grammy Awards at the 64th Grammy Awards, including both Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
Associated Acts
- Silk Sonic - original (2021–present)
- NxWorries
- Free Nationals - drums (drum set), principal
- Free Nationals - lead vocals, principal
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Shafiq Husayn - Sa-Ra producer who provided financial and professional support during Anderson's homelessness crisis, employing him as assistant, videographer, editor, writer, and producer (Assisted on debut album recording sessions) [2011 onwards]
- Dr. Dre - Major influence and collaborator who provided significant career boost through album features and mentorship (COMPTON album (2015)) [2015-2016]
Key Collaborators
- The Free Nationals - Band in which Anderson performed as drummer and vocalist, helping establish his early professional presence (Band performances and recordings) [2011-2012]
- Bruno Mars - Co-founder of Silk Sonic, a neo-funk duo celebrating 1970s soul music (Silk Sonic album and singles including 'Leave the Door Open') [2021]
- Haley Reinhart - Hired Anderson as drummer for her touring and recording projects (Touring and session work) [2012-2013]
- Flying Lotus - Recording collaborator (Recording sessions) [2016]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| An Evening With Silk Sonic | 2021-11-11 | Album |
| An Evening With Silk Sonic | 2021-11-12 | Album |
Top Tracks
- TOO BAD (Übermensch)
- Leave The Door Open (An Evening With Silk Sonic)
- Smokin Out The Window (An Evening With Silk Sonic)
- After Last Night (with Thundercat & Bootsy Collins) (An Evening With Silk Sonic)
- places to be (ten days)
- Leave The Door Open (An Evening With Silk Sonic)
- Dang! (feat. Anderson .Paak) (The Divine Feminine)
- places to be
- RNP (feat. Anderson .Paak) (The Lost Boy)
- Skate (An Evening With Silk Sonic)
External Links
Tags: #alternative, #alternative-hip-hop, #alternative-r&b
Heard on WWOZ
Anderson .Paak has been played 4 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 6, 2026 | 00:30 | Come Downfrom Malibu | Adjacentw/ Benny Poppins | |
| Dec 2, 2025 | 00:32 | Heart Don't Stand a Chancefrom Malibu | Adjacentw/ Benny Poppins | |
| Nov 4, 2025 | 00:38 | Don't Remind Mefrom Pretty Idea | Adjacentw/ Benny Poppins | |
| Sep 30, 2025 | 00:07 | KeepHer (feat. Thundercat) (Knxwledge Remix)from KeepHer (feat. Thundercat) (Knxwledge Remix) - Single | Adjacentw/ Benny Poppins |