NxWORRIES: WE NEED ANOTHER ALBUM
NxWorries, commonly pronounced No Worries, is an American group formed by hip-hop songwriter and record producer Knxwledge and rapper/vocalist Anderson Paak. They are working under the record label "stone Throw Records," under which they released one album in 2016. Knxwledge is a creative genius pushing boundaries in the hip-hop genre. Since becoming a mainstream musician in 2009, he has released various albums and Eps, working with artists such as Joey Bada$$, Blu, Kendrick Lamar, and more. However, his work with NxWorries is probably his most recognizable contribution.
The name Anderson Paak, however, is a whole different ballgame. Born in 1986 in Los Angeles, California, as Brandon Paak Anderson, Paak came to mainstream music as the drummer for Haley Reinhart (Contestant on American Idol). Building on this success, Paak released his first Ep in 2013, "Cover Art," followed by his 2nd Ep, "Malibu," in 2016.
After 2016, Knxwledge and Paak met up and formed the supergroup NxWorries. Paak revealed on June 19, 2016, that NxWorries' debut album was done and ready for release. "Yes, Lawd!" was set for a release date of October 21, with the group dropping the video for the track "Lyk Dis" from the same album on September 21. "Yes, Lawd!" was officially made available for download on various streaming platforms in the first week of October.
After releasing "Yes Lawd," they also released another album in 2017, "Yes Lawd Remixes," followed by various music videos till 2018. They went on a Hiatus after their "Yes Lawd Remixes" album. The NxWorries moniker was not revived until March 27, 2020, when Knxwledge released his 1988 album, which included the tune "itkanbe[sonice]" with vocals from Anderson.Paak. In an interview in 2020, Anderson said that he and Knxwledge were working on their second NxWorries album.
NxWorries unveiled a new song named "Where I Go" on December 2, 2020, during their virtual performance at 88rising's Double Happiness Winter Wonder Festival. The song was released nearly two years later, on October 9, 2022, with a guest appearance by H.E.R., and serves as the lead single to their planned second album.
"Where I Go" features the same go-with-the-flow spirit on which the pair has created their trademark, but with a new adulterous, calm vibe. H.E.R.'s contributions are fleeting at first but will grow on you as her voice remains in the background for most of the song. Knxwledge's production is as tight as ever, abandoning the heavily distorted sample utilization in favor of a more defined melody. The percussion blends with the guitar riff to produce a captivating sound that's as hypnotic as it is creative, paving the path for Paak's vocals to glide over it.
In the song, Paak's voice works exceptionally well over Knxwledge's production, as its characteristics complement the nostalgic mood of the music. The two artists combine beautifully to synergize with one another, with production inspired by a love of older music and vocals and sound straight out of a 1970s soul/hip-hop song.
The music is evocative of the dynamic energy that made the two so enticing in the first place, and despite a brief disagreement and a five-year break, that connection has yet to fade.
