A solid, soulful collaboration that proves their undeniable spark, even when staying comfortably in the pocket

Released October 26, 2026

Frequent collaborators and Dr. Dre–cosigned artists Cordae and Anderson .Paak decided to team up and give us a full-length project this year with Heavy Is the Crown. While on paper it might seem like an odd pairing—one coming from the raw, energetic YBN crew (granted, his music has matured substantially since those days), and the other a contemporary soul artist in the vein of Bruno Mars (another frequent collaborator)—the chemistry between them is undeniable. As heard on previous tracks like “RNP” and “Two Tens,” a joint project makes far more sense than one might think. That being said, the duo carries that effortless chemistry straight onto this album, delivering a solid effort complete with intricate rhyming and storytelling, albeit staying on the safer side sonically.

Doing what they do best, the pair kick off the project with “58th Floor,” serving as an intro and a comedic start where .Paak and Cordae retell a story of getting caught in a closet, for lack of a better term. Beyond just great comedic timing, the duo knows when to turn up the heat on tracks like “I’m On” and “Days Like This,” trading punchy back-and-forth rhyme schemes.

As previously mentioned, while .Paak is known primarily for his soulful crooning and distinct voice, he definitely holds his own as an MC throughout these tracks, showing off his versatility. While it’s hard to find a lyrical flaw on the record, I could have done without the nonstop Swizz Beatz ad-libs on “Godfather II”—they add nothing to the track and quickly become distracting (“woo!”, “talk to ’em!”, “damn!”), feeling wholly unnecessary on an otherwise decent cut.

The production is remarkably consistent; nothing feels out of place or forced. Featuring a who’s who of soulful producers—including Conductor Williams, Hollywood Cole, 9th Wonder, and J. Cole—the beats maintain a smooth, mellow vibe throughout. That said, while there isn’t a bad beat on the album, I wouldn’t have minded hearing them step outside the box a bit more, especially since we already know how comfortable both artists sound over this kind of backdrop.

Overall, Heavy Is the Crown is a solid, if slightly predictable, project. Anderson .Paak and Cordae prove once again why Dr. Dre handpicked both as standout talents. I definitely suggest giving it a spin, and I look forward to hearing more collaborations from the two down the line.

Standout Tracks: Airbender, I’m On, Crown, Days Like This

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (8/10)