ANDERSON .PAAK BIOGRAPHY — AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

Anderson .Paak is an 8-time Grammy-winning American singer, rapper, drummer, songwriter and record producer from Oxnard, California — half of the Silk Sonic duo with Bruno Mars, whose "Leave the Door Open" gave him his first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1.

His journey from Oxnard to the global stage began behind a drum kit: he played drums in his church band as a kid, taught himself production in his bedroom as a teenager, and first performed under the name Breezy Lovejoy. A breakout feature run on Dr. Dre's 2015 album Compton put him on the map, and a Grammy run stretching from Malibu through Ventura made him one of modern R&B's most decorated names. He went on to co-write, direct and star in the film K-Pops!, which premiered at TIFF in 2024, before returning to music with 2026's Heavy Is the Crown alongside Cordae.

Anderson .Paak Biography & Career

Full Name: Brandon Paak Anderson
Born: February 8, 1986
Birthplace: Oxnard, California, US
Heritage: mixed African American and Korean
Occupations: singer, rapper, drummer, songwriter, record producer
Genres: R&B, soul, funk, hip-hop

Early Life

Brandon Paak Anderson grew up in Oxnard, California. He played drums in his church band as a kid, started producing beats in his bedroom as a teenager, and first stepped out as a performer under the stage name Breezy Lovejoy.

Breakthrough & Dr. Dre

Paak's breakthrough came in 2015, when Dr. Dre tapped him for a feature run on the album Compton. The exposure introduced him to a mainstream audience and led to a deal with Aftermath Entertainment, setting the stage for his major-label solo run.

Solo Albums

Before the spotlight, Paak self-released the mixtape O.B.E. Vol. 1 (2012) and his debut studio album Venice (2014). His 2016 album Malibu earned a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album, and he kept climbing with Oxnard (2018) and Ventura (2019) — the latter winning Best R&B Album at the 2020 Grammys. His first Grammy win arrived in 2019 for Best Rap Performance with "Bubblin," and at the 2020 Grammys he added Best R&B Performance for "Come Home" featuring Andre 3000. With producer Knxwledge as NxWorries, he released Yes Lawd! (2016) and Why Lawd? (2024), the latter winning Best Progressive R&B Album at the 67th Grammys. Across his career, he has collected 8 Grammy Awards.

Silk Sonic

In 2021, Paak joined forces with Bruno Mars to form the retro-soul duo Silk Sonic. Their debut single, "Leave the Door Open," became Paak's first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1. At the 64th Grammy Awards, the duo swept four trophies — Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance — and their debut album, An Evening with Silk Sonic (November 12, 2021), was certified platinum. Read our full Bruno Mars biography for more on his duo partner.

K-Pops! & 2026

Paak expanded into film, co-writing, directing and starring in K-Pops!, which premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. In 2026, he returned to music alongside Cordae with the Heavy Is the Crown album by Anderson .Paak & Cordae, led by the single "A Good Day" — and fans can also read the I'm On lyrics by Anderson .Paak & Cordae from the same project. For another giant of modern West Coast hip-hop, see our Kendrick Lamar biography.

Watch the Official Video

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Anderson .Paak?
Anderson .Paak was born on February 8, 1986, which makes him 40 years old in 2026.

What is Anderson .Paak's real name?
His real name is Brandon Paak Anderson. He first performed under the stage name Breezy Lovejoy before adopting the name Anderson .Paak.

How many Grammys has Anderson .Paak won?
He has won 8 Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album for Ventura, four Grammys with Silk Sonic at the 64th awards, and Best Progressive R&B Album for NxWorries' Why Lawd?.

What is Silk Sonic?
Silk Sonic is the R&B duo of Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars. Their 2021 debut single, "Leave the Door Open," topped the Billboard Hot 100, and their album An Evening with Silk Sonic won four Grammys.