By: Henry Nickerson | Co Editor-in-Chief
Soul-groove rapper Anderson .Paak has released a new single, “Tints” featuring Kendrick Lamar, and it is a downright jam. Featuring glimmering synth bass lines and gritty, driving guitar leads, “Tints” is a flash from a groovier past that finds an almost too obvious pairing of Anderson .Paak and Kendrick Lamar showing off their unavoidable chemistry. “Tints” sounds like a better reimagining of “Am I Wrong” off of Anderson’s last album, “Malibu”. Although the track doesn’t take many stylistic gambles, it comes damn-near perfecting .Paak’s well-established sound. .Paak’s delivery on the verse and chorus is as soulful as ever, and Lamar’s verse is bombastic and does not overstay its welcome. In fact, because the pair’s voices sound so alike, it’s hard to decipher where Anderson ends and Kendrick begins, making for a confusing, yet delightful listen.
The only lull in the track is its failure to repeat the chorus at the end; a decision perhaps made because of the song’s already long runtime of five minutes. However, in every other aspect, “Tints” is a certified bopper whose masterful production by Om’Mas Keith and solid feature by Kendrick Lamar will see it rise up charts.
“Tints” follows the release of .Paak’s previous single, “Bubblin’”, a fun and rowdy reimagining of .Paak’s sound. However, “Tints” seems to fall comfortably back into the soulful r&b style that lead to .Paak’s meteoric rise in the hip-hop community. With Dr. Dre’s label backing him, Anderson .Paak will have every opportunity to work with the most distinguished producers and artists in the game for a new project. Although no such project has been announced, if “Tints” and “Bubblin’” are any indication of what’s to come, I’m certainly all ears.
