Ventura

Released just months after the more rap-heavy Oxnard, Ventura serves as a companion piece that highlights Anderson .Paak's soul and R&B sensibilities. Recorded during the same prolific sessions, the album was curated to showcase a smoother, more melodic side of the artist. It features an impressive roster of soul royalty, including Smokey Robinson and Lalah Hathaway, which anchors the project in a lineage of classic Black music. Critics, including those at AllMusic, noted the album's superior focus and cohesion compared to its predecessor, praising Paak's ability to balance his signature raspy delivery with sophisticated arrangements. The album won the Grammy for Best R&B Album, solidifying Paak's position as a premier soul revivalist. It is a standout in his catalog for its commitment to live instrumentation and its successful integration of 70s soul tropes into a 21st-century context.