13. Anderson .Paak - “The Waters (Feat. BJ The Chicago Kid)”

This track is infused with the original spirit of Hip-Hop. You can feel throughout the soul of the beat and the candor of the lyrics. .Paak boldly carries forward the narrative of his forebears, avoiding the pitfalls that consume much of modern Hip-Hop to find that sweet spot between braggadocio and sincerity. He’s not speaking from a place of empty or gratuitous arrogance, but rather from a place of confidence and pride that originates from earnest belief and passion. He’s speaking his truth. He’s not rapping for others, but rather for himself. He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone because he already believes in himself and that’s all that really matters. He’s imbued with confidence. All he wants now is an outlet, a way to tell his story and speak of how he overcame all of the odds and the overwhelming weight of adversity to achieve his dreams. It wasn’t easy. It took hard work, determination, and intelligence in order to defy the many traps that were set by the dominant culture and navigate his way to success – but he made it, and now that he’s here, he’s going to let it be known.