Why Lawd?

Last updated

Why Lawd?
Why Lawd%3F.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 7, 2024
Studio
Length44:10
Label Stones Throw
Producer Knxwledge
NxWorries chronology
Yes Lawd! Remixes
(2017)
Why Lawd?
(2024)
Singles from Why Lawd?
  1. "Where I Go"
    Released: October 19, 2022
  2. "Daydreaming"
    Released: May 18, 2023
  3. "86Sentra"
    Released: April 3, 2024
  4. "FromHere"
    Released: May 14, 2024
  5. "WalkOnBy"
    Released: June 11, 2024

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]

Contents

Background

In October 2020, Anderson .Paak revealed that a new NxWorries album was on the way. [5] 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. [6]

Release

The album's first single, "Where I Go", featuring H.E.R., was released on October 19, 2022, alongside a music video. [7] [8] It was previously debuted at the Double Happiness Festival in December 2020. [9] The second single, "Daydreaming", was released on May 18, 2023, alongside a music video recorded in Grand Theft Auto V . [10] [11] 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. [12] The album released physically on June 7, 2024. [2] [13] The album's fifth single, "WalkOnBy" featuring Earl Sweatshirt and Rae Khalil, was released on June 11, 2024. [13] It released digitally on June 14, 2024. [14]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 77/100 [15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [16]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Pitchfork 8.0/10 [18]
RapReviews8.5/10 [19]
The Skinny Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [20]

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. [15]

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. [21] 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." [18] 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.' [16] 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." [17] Writing for The Skinny , Logan Walker stated that the album delivered "the sonic smoothness fans have come to expect." [20]

Track listing

Why Lawd? track listing
No.TitleWriter(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"
  • Anderson
  • Boothe
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"
  • Anderson
  • Boothe
  • Gregory Cook
  • Kathryn Thomas
1:34
13."OutTheWay" (featuring Rae Khalil)
3:26
14."SheUsed"
  • Gene Allan
  • Anderson
  • Boothe
  • Gary Knight
2:36
15."MoreOfIt"
  • Anderson
  • Boothe
1:12
16."NVR.RMX" (featuring Charlie Wilson)
1:18
17."DistantSpace"
1:23
18."WalkOnBy" (featuring Earl Sweatshirt and Rae Khalil)
3:47
19."EvnMore"
0:25
Total length:44:10

Sample credits

Personnel

Knxwledge

Additional musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart performance for Why Lawd?
Chart (2024)Peak
position
Australian Vinyl Albums (ARIA) [22] 8
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [23] 113
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [24] 68
Scottish Albums (OCC) [25] 51
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [26] 51
UK Albums Sales (OCC) [27] 30
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [28] 13
UK R&B Albums (OCC) [29] 2
US Billboard 200 [30] 81
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [31] 26

Notes

  1. Dos Pueblos consists of Jhair "Jha" Lazo and Julio Ulloa

References

  1. Reed, Ryan (February 15, 2017). "Watch Anderson Paak's Dramatic Valentine's Day 'Tonight Show' Performance". Rolling Stone . Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Damara Kelly, Tyler (April 3, 2024). "NxWorries announce their long-awaited second album, Why Lawd". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  3. Castro, Danilo (April 9, 2024). "NxWorries Reveals Star-Studded Tracklist For New Album "Why Lawd?"". HotNewHipHop . Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Fu, Eddie (April 3, 2024). "NxWorries Announce New Album Why Lawd?, Share "86Sentra"". Consequence . Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  5. Gonik, Michael (October 14, 2020). "Anderson .Paak Announces a New NxWorries Album is On The Way". Okayplayer . Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  6. LaPierre, Megan (April 3, 2024). "NxWorries Announce Sophomore Album 'Why Lawd?'". Exclaim! . Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  7. Price, Joe (October 19, 2022). "Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge Return as NxWorries With New Song "Where I Go" f/ H.E.R." Complex . Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  8. Abraham, Mya (October 18, 2022). "Anderson .Paak And Knxwledge Set To Release New NxWorries Single With H.E.R." Vibe . Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  9. Lavin, Will (December 5, 2020). "NxWorries debut new track 'Where I Go' at Double Happiness Festival". NME. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  10. Minsker, Evan (May 18, 2023). "NxWorries Share Video for New Song "Daydreaming"". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  11. LeJarde, Arielle Lana (May 18, 2023). "NxWorries yearn for a lover in "Daydreaming"". The Fader . Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  12. Slingerland, Calum (May 14, 2024). "NxWorries Get Snoop Dogg for Soulful, Slow-Burning "FromHere"". Exclaim! . Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  13. 1 2 "NxWorries Team With Earl Sweatshirt & Rae Khalil On New Song "WalkOnBy": Listen". Stereogum . June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  14. Samuels, Keithan (June 14, 2024). "NxWorries Release New Album 'Why Lawd?': Stream". Rated R&B . Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Why Lawd? by NxWorries Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  16. 1 2 Kellman, Andy (June 14, 2024). "NxWorries – Why Lawd? Album Reviews, songs & More". AllMusic . Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  17. 1 2 Chick, Stevie (June 14, 2024). "NxWorries – Why Lawd?". The Guardian . Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  18. 1 2 Green, Dylan (June 14, 2024). "NxWorries: Why Lawd?". Pitchfork . Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  19. Juon, Steve 'Flash' (June 18, 2024). "NxWorries :: Why Lawd? – RapReviews". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  20. 1 2 Walker, Logan (June 4, 2024). "NxWorries - Why Lawd? review: the sonic smoothness fans have come to expect". The Skinny . Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  21. Kennedy, John (June 14, 2024). "Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge Turn Pain Into Pleasure on NxWorries' 'Why Lawd?': Album Review". Variety . Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  22. "ARIA Top 20 Vinyl Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 17, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  23. "Ultratop.be – NxWorries – Why Lawd?" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  24. "Dutchcharts.nl – NxWorries – Why Lawd?" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  25. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  26. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  27. "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  28. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  29. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  30. "Billboard 200: Week of June 22, 2024". Billboard . Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  31. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of June 22, 2024". Billboard . Retrieved June 18, 2024.