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Anderson .Paak‘s had a phenomenal year: He released his album, Oxnard, performed on Saturday Night Live, announced a world tour, co-wrote songs for Christina Aguilera‘s album, and received a Grammy nomination for his single, “Bubblin’.” But if you ask the soul singer, one of the highlights of 2018 was returning to his hometown of Oxnard, CA to host a celebratory event for his beloved community.
On Nov. 17, Andy’s Oxnard Carnival invaded a local park and treated attendees to free food, games, rides and more.
“I went back to the city, we threw a free carnival for the whole city,” Paak told reporters earlier this year. “Y’know, the 805 was gettin’ touched by fires and stuff so we threw a free carnival and a listening party. I got the key to the city, I got my own Anderson.Paak day, it’s wild!” he recalled.
“I brought Dr. Dre with me, we had free hot dogs and nachos…” he laughed. “It was dope to come back and really make the city proud.”
But now that Paak is the biggest thing ever to come out of Oxnard, he says people don’t treat him the same when he goes back home.
“I have, like, a lot more cousins and family members now that came out of nowhere,” he laughed. “A lot of high school people that, y’know, I was into, and now they’re like, ‘Yo, what’s up? You’re cute! I love you!'”
But, he says, “It’s all good.”
Anderson .Paak’s Andy’s Beach Club tour kicks off February 11, 2019, just a day after he finds out if he’s won the Grammy for “Bubblin’.”
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