All day long, buzz at the festival hinted that Anderson .Paak might be dropping by to show some love for his pals in Richmond’s very own Butcher Brown. And the rumors were spot on.
At DayDream Fest, Anderson .Paak was seen with Richmond’s own musical talents. Captured by local photographer Joey Wharton, .Paak appeared alongside rappers Michael Millions and Chance Fischer, jazz artist Charles Owens, vocalist Kenneka Cook with her family, festival founder Pete LeBlanc, musician Deau Eyes, and DJ Harrison of Butcher Brown & Jellowstone Records. Also, good friend to the magazine Emily Wharton.
If you’re not familiar with Anderson .Paak, here’s a quick rundown: He’s an all-around music maestro—rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and drummer. He made his first big splash with his debut mixtape O.B.E. Vol. 1 in 2012, followed by his album Venice in 2014. His album Malibu, released in 2016, snagged a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album. Then came Oxnard in 2018, where he won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance with “Bubblin’.” His winning streak continued with two more Grammys in 2020 for his fourth album, Ventura.
Aside from his solo career, .Paak formed the duo NxWorries in 2015 and regularly performs with his band, the Free Nationals. More recently, in 2021, he teamed up with Bruno Mars to form Silk Sonic, launching the chart-topping hit “Leave the Door Open” which clinched four Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year.