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Why Lawd? is the second studio album by American neo soul[1] duo NxWorries, which consists of vocalist Anderson .Paak and producer Knxwledge. It was released physically on June 7, 2024,[2][3] by Stones Throw Records, and was digitally released a week later on June 14, 2024.[4] The album received a nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.[5]
| Why Lawd? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 7, 2024 | |||
| Studio |
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| Length | 44:10 | |||
| Label | Stones Throw | |||
| Producer | Knxwledge | |||
| NxWorries chronology | ||||
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| Alternate cover | ||||
 Cover by Rhymezlikedimez; only available with physical purchases | ||||
| Singles from Why Lawd? | ||||
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In October 2020, Anderson .Paak revealed that a new NxWorries album was on the way.[6] After years of teases on social media, the album was announced on April 3, 2024, with an official visualizer for "86Sentra" being released the same day.[7]
The album's first single, "Where I Go", featuring H.E.R., was released on October 19, 2022, alongside a music video.[8][9] It was previously debuted at the Double Happiness Festival in December 2020.[10] The second single, "Daydreaming", was released on May 18, 2023, alongside a music video recorded in Grand Theft Auto V.[11][12] On April 3, 2024, the album was officially announced with the single "86Sentra".[2][4] "FromHere", featuring Snoop Dogg and October London, was released on May 14, 2024, as the album's fourth single.[13] The album released physically on June 7, 2024.[2][14] The album's fifth single, "WalkOnBy" featuring Earl Sweatshirt and Rae Khalil, was released on June 11, 2024.[14] It released digitally on June 14, 2024.[15]
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| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 77/100[16] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [17] |
| The Guardian | [18] |
| Pitchfork | 8.0/10[19] |
| RapReviews | 8.5/10[20] |
| The Skinny | [21] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Why Lawd? received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 from 6 critic scores.[16]
Writing for Variety, John Kennedy wrote that the album was an "intriguing listen" with a "level of candor" on themes such as survivor's guilt and emotional unavailability.[22] Dylan Green of Pitchfork described the Knxwledge's production on the album as "some of the most breathtaking production of his career", describing it as "ornately constructed, each a treasure hunt for the tell that it's all made from tiny bits of other songs."[19] AllMusic's Andy Kellman concluded his review stating: 'Paak's litany of woes -- "Roll the windows down, I hope the rain hides my tears"—ensure that his thunder is not stolen.'[17] Stevie Chick's review for The Guardian was critical of the album's lyrics, writing that .Paak was an "unlikable narrator" and that his lyrics were "wildly switching moods between anger, self-pity and desperate horniness."[18] Writing for The Skinny, Logan Walker stated that the album delivered "the sonic smoothness fans have come to expect."[21]
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| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "ThankU" (featuring Dave Chappelle) |
| 0:50 |
| 2. | "86Sentra" |
| 1:36 |
| 3. | "MoveOn" |
| 2:47 |
| 4. | "KeepHer" (featuring Thundercat) |
| 4:14 |
| 5. | "Distractions" |
| 1:49 |
| 6. | "Lookin'" |
| 0:54 |
| 7. | "Where I Go" (featuring H.E.R.) |
| 3:18 |
| 8. | "Daydreaming" |
| 3:01 |
| 9. | "FromHere" (featuring Snoop Dogg and October London) |
| 4:01 |
| 10. | "FallThru" |
| 2:21 |
| 11. | "Battlefield" |
| 3:38 |
| 12. | "HereIAm" |
| 1:34 |
| 13. | "OutTheWay" (featuring Rae Khalil) |
| 3:26 |
| 14. | "SheUsed" |
| 2:36 |
| 15. | "MoreOfIt" |
| 1:12 |
| 16. | "NVR.RMX" (featuring Charlie Wilson) |
| 1:18 |
| 17. | "DistantSpace" (featuring the Last Artful, Dodgr) |
| 1:23 |
| 18. | "WalkOnBy" (featuring Earl Sweatshirt and Rae Khalil) |
| 3:47 |
| 19. | "EvnMore" |
| 0:25 |
| Total length: | 44:10 | ||
Sample credits
- "ThankU" contains a sample of "Thank You Jesus" by Johnnie Wilder Jr.
- "Daydreaming" contains a sample of "You're Gonna Love It" by Stanley Clarke and George Duke.
- "FallThru" contains a sample of "Just One of Your Kisses" by Ralfi Pagan.
- "Battlefield" contains a sample of "Sitting in the Park" by the Ghost Squad.
- "HereIAm" contains a sample of "I'd Like to Stay" by People's Pleasure with Alive and Wild.
- "OutTheWay" contains a sample of "Let's Try Again" by Surface.
- "SheUsed" contains a sample of "She Calls Me Baby" by J Kelly & The Premiers.
- "DistantSpace" contains a sample of "Butterflies" by Smythe.
- "EvnMore" contains a sample of "Urban Shadow" by Yuji Ohno & Friends.
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Knxwledge
- Anderson .Paak – vocals on all tracks except "ThankU" and "EvnMore", additional drums on "MoveOn"
- Knxwledge – beats, production
Additional musicians
- Dave Chappelle – words on "ThankU"
- Ann One – background vocals on "MoveOn" and "KeepHer"
- Andra Day – background vocals on "MoveOn"
- BJ the Chicago Kid – background vocals on "MoveOn"
- Thundercat – vocals on "KeepHer"
- Ab-Soul – vocals on "Lookin'"
- José Ríos – lead guitar on "Where I Go" and "WalkOnBy"
- H.E.R. – vocals on "Where I Go"
- J.Mo – lead guitar on "Daydreaming"
- Snoop Dogg – vocals on "FromHere"
- October London – vocals on "FromHere"
- Haley Reinhart – background vocals on "Battlefield"
- Rae Khalil – vocals on "OutTheWay" and "WalkOnBy"
- Charlie Wilson – vocals on "NVR.RMX"
- Dodgr – background vocals on "DistantSpace"
- Leonard "Pudge" Tribbett – drums on "DistantSpace"
- Earl Sweatshirt – vocals on "WalkOnBy"
- Julia Rachelle – background vocals on "WalkOnBy"
- Gemma Castro – background vocals on "WalkOnBy"
Technical
- Dos Pueblos[a] – mixing, engineering
- Mike Bozzi – mastering
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Shon "Lawon" Brooks – engineering on "FromHere"
- Frank Vasquez – engineering on "FromHere"
- October London – engineering on "FromHere"
- Gemma Castro – engineering assistance
- Collin Davis – engineering assistance
- Zumo Kollie – engineering assistance
- Jeff "Champ" Massey – engineering assistance
- Jeff Jank, Israel Ramos - artwork
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| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Vinyl Albums (ARIA)[23] | 8 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[24] | 113 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[25] | 68 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[26] | 51 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[27] | 51 |
| UK Albums Sales (OCC)[28] | 30 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[29] | 13 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC)[30] | 2 |
| US Billboard 200[31] | 81 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[32] | 26 |
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