Anderson .Paak celebrates new album ‘Oxnard’ with Dr. Dre

He has been nominated for a Grammy, packed a Coachella tent and worked with Dr. Dre, but deep down, Anderson .Paak just wants a slice of Toppers pizza.

With the key to the city in hand Saturday, .Paak told a crowd at the Community Park West, in Oxnard, California that “I hope this key opens up Toppers.”

The day following the release of his album “Oxnard,” the singer, songwriter, rapper, drummer and producer treated the community to a party that started with carnival games in the day and an appearance by Dr. Dre at night.

It was deafening inside the Oxnard Performing Arts and Convention Center when Dr. Dre, who produced “Oxnard,” came out on stage with .Paak for a Q and A.

“Anderson, I feel like in my opinion, he’s putting Oxnard on the map to the world,” Dr. Dre said. “It reminds me of when I started, nobody knew where Compton was.”

.Paak performed both hits from “Malibu” and new music, bringing out special guest Thundercat. He kicked off a set lasting more than an hour with “Saviers Road.”

In an interview with The Star, .Paak said “Saviers Road,” named after the street where he used to ride the bus, is a song about salvation.

“I love it,” .Paak said. “It’s one of those long raps that kinda covers everything. That one song gives you a brief overview of everything.”

He points out a verse in the song: “Ten years, been a minute, I was somewhere between giving up and doing a sentence. God, if you existin, help my momma get acquitted.”

.Paak’s mother owned a strawberry distribution company in Oxnard but eventually filed for bankruptcy and owed money to many people. She was arrested for securities fraud and served more than seven years in prison.

“She did her time and got her degree,” .Paak said.

His mother was a victim of domestic violence, something .Paak witnessed when he was young. His father was in the military, stationed in Point Mugu but went in a “downward spiral,” .Paak said, due to drugs.

“Last time I seen him, he was in a casket,” .Paak said.

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