Knxwledge – “Itkanbe[Sonice]” (Feat. Anderson .Paak)

Knxwledge – “Itkanbe[Sonice]” (Feat. Anderson .Paak)

Back in 2016, the rappng/singing/drumming polymath Anderson .Paak joined forces with the inventively hazy producer Knxwledge to release the album Yes Lawd! The LP, released under the duo name NxWorries, was a fascinating work of funky, broken, psychedelic R&B. In the years since, Anderson .Paak has become a big enough star to headline arenas, and Knxwledge has continued to put in work on the underground, cranking out a steady supply of beat tapes on Bandcamp. But on one new track from the new Knxwledge LP, NxWorries reunite.

Today, Knxwledge releases his breezy, woozy new album 1988 — a proper LP this time, not a beat tape. Knxwledge is a clear J Dilla student, and you can hear that in way 1988 sputters and twists, cramming 22 tracks in to 37 minutes. 1988 is not an instrumental album; it’s more of a ’90s R&B record reflected through a prism. But most of the tracks don’t give feature credit to their vocalists, and only one features an honest-to-god guest star. That guest star is Anderson .Paak.

On the track “Itkanbe[Sonice],” Knxwledge and .Paak once again find their old chemistry, with .Paak casually flexing, his voice drifting effortlessly over Knxwledge’s gooey groove. It’s a short song, and it feels like it could go on a whole lot longer. Listen below.

While you’re at it, go ahead and stream all of 1988 below.

1988 is out now on Stones Throw.

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