Why Lawd?

Why Lawd?
Studio album by
NxWorries
ReleasedJune 7, 2024
Studio
Length44:10
LabelStones Throw
ProducerKnxwledge
NxWorries chronology
Yes Lawd! Remixes
(2017) 		Why Lawd?
(2024)
Alternate cover
Cover by Rhymezlikedimez; only available with physical purchases
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 duo NxWorries, which consists of vocalist Anderson .Paak and producer Knxwledge. It was released physically on June 7, 2024, by Stones Throw Records, and was digitally released a week later on June 14, 2024. The album won Best Progressive R&B Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

In October 2020, Anderson .Paak revealed that a new NxWorries album was upcoming.[1] The album was officially announced on April 3, 2024, with an official visualizer for "86Sentra" being released the same day.[2]

Release and promotion

The album's first single, "Where I Go", featuring H.E.R., was released on October 19, 2022, alongside a music video.[3][4] It was previously debuted at the Double Happiness Festival in December 2020.[5] The second single, "Daydreaming", was released on May 18, 2023, alongside a music video recorded in Grand Theft Auto V.[6][7] On April 3, 2024, the album was officially announced with the single "86Sentra".[8][9] "FromHere", featuring Snoop Dogg and October London, was released on May 14, 2024, as the album's fourth single.[10] The album released physically on June 7, 2024.[8][11] The album's fifth single, "WalkOnBy" featuring Earl Sweatshirt and Rae Khalil, was released on June 11, 2024.[11] It released digitally on June 14, 2024.[12]

In May 2025, the duo announced their first tour together, the Why Lawd? Tour, in support of the album.[13] The tour will be supported by Rae Khalil and is set to run from September to October 2025.[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic77/100[14]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[15]
The Guardian[16]
Pitchfork8.0/10[17]
RapReviews8.5/10[18]
The Skinny[19]

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.[14]

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.[20] 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."[17] 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.'[15] 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."[16] Writing for The Skinny, Logan Walker stated that the album delivered "the sonic smoothness fans have come to expect."[19]

Accolades

Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Billboard The 50 Best Albums of 2024 31 [21]
HuffPost The Best Albums Of 2024 N/a [22]
Okayplayer The 50 Best Albums of 2024 N/a [23]
Paste The 100 Best Albums of 2024 82 [24]
Uproxx The Best Albums Of 2024 N/a [25]

Industry awards

Awards and nominations for Why Lawd?
Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2025 Grammy Awards Best Progressive R&B Album Won [26]

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" (featuring the Last Artful, Dodgr)
1:23
18."WalkOnBy" (featuring Earl Sweatshirt and Rae Khalil)
3:47
19."EvnMore"
0:25
Total length:44:10

Sample credits

  • "ThankU" contains a sample of "Thank You Jesus" by Johnnie Wilder Jr.
  • "Daydreaming" contains a sample of "You're Gonna Love It" by Stanley Clarke and George Duke.
  • "FallThru" contains a sample of "Just One of Your Kisses" by Ralfi Pagan.
  • "Battlefield" contains a sample of "Sitting in the Park" by the Ghost Squad.
  • "HereIAm" contains a sample of "I'd Like to Stay" by People's Pleasure with Alive and Wild.
  • "OutTheWay" contains a sample of "Let's Try Again" by Surface.
  • "SheUsed" contains a sample of "She Calls Me Baby" by J Kelly & The Premiers.
  • "DistantSpace" contains a sample of "Butterflies" by Smythe.
  • "EvnMore" contains a sample of "Urban Shadow" by Yuji Ohno & Friends.

Personnel

NxWorries

Additional musicians

  • Dave Chappelle – words on "ThankU"
  • Ann One – background vocals on "MoveOn" and "KeepHer"
  • Andra Day – background vocals on "MoveOn"
  • BJ the Chicago Kid – background vocals on "MoveOn"
  • Thundercat – vocals on "KeepHer"
  • Ab-Soul – vocals on "Lookin'"
  • José Ríos – lead guitar on "Where I Go" and "WalkOnBy"
  • H.E.R. – vocals on "Where I Go"
  • J.Mo – lead guitar on "Daydreaming"
  • Snoop Dogg – vocals on "FromHere"
  • October London – vocals on "FromHere"
  • Haley Reinhart – background vocals on "Battlefield"
  • Rae Khalil – vocals on "OutTheWay" and "WalkOnBy"
  • Charlie Wilson – vocals on "NVR.RMX"
  • Dodgr – background vocals on "DistantSpace"
  • Leonard "Pudge" Tribbett – drums on "DistantSpace"
  • Earl Sweatshirt – vocals on "WalkOnBy"
  • Julia Rachelle – background vocals on "WalkOnBy"
  • Gemma Castro – background vocals on "WalkOnBy"

Technical

  • Dos Pueblos[a] – mixing, engineering
  • Mike Bozzi – mastering
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Shon "Lawon" Brooks – engineering on "FromHere"
  • Frank Vasquez – engineering on "FromHere"
  • October London – engineering on "FromHere"
  • Gemma Castro – engineering assistance
  • Collin Davis – engineering assistance
  • Zumo Kollie – engineering assistance
  • Jeffery "Champ" Massey – engineering assistance
  • Jeff Jank, Israel Ramos – artwork

Charts

Chart performance for Why Lawd?
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australian Vinyl Albums (ARIA)[27] 8
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[28] 113
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[29] 68
Scottish Albums (OCC)[30] 51
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[31] 51
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[32] 30
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[33] 13
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[34] 2
US Billboard 200[35] 81
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[36] 26

Notes

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

References

  1. ^ Gonik, Michael (October 14, 2020). "Anderson .Paak Announces a New NxWorries Album is On The Way". Okayplayer. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  2. ^ LaPierre, Megan (April 3, 2024). "NxWorries Announce Sophomore Album 'Why Lawd?'". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Abraham, Mya (October 18, 2022). "Anderson .Paak And Knxwledge Set To Release New NxWorries Single With H.E.R." Vibe. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  5. ^ Lavin, Will (December 5, 2020). "NxWorries debut new track 'Where I Go' at Double Happiness Festival". NME. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  6. ^ Minsker, Evan (May 18, 2023). "NxWorries Share Video for New Song "Daydreaming"". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  7. ^ LeJarde, Arielle Lana (May 18, 2023). "NxWorries yearn for a lover in "Daydreaming"". The Fader. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Damara Kelly, Tyler (April 3, 2024). "NxWorries announce their long-awaited second album, Why Lawd". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  9. ^ Fu, Eddie (April 3, 2024). "NxWorries Announce New Album Why Lawd?, Share "86Sentra"". Consequence. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  10. ^ Slingerland, Calum (May 14, 2024). "NxWorries Get Snoop Dogg for Soulful, Slow-Burning "FromHere"". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "NxWorries Team With Earl Sweatshirt & Rae Khalil On New Song "WalkOnBy": Listen". Stereogum. June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  12. ^ Samuels, Keithan (June 14, 2024). "NxWorries Release New Album 'Why Lawd?': Stream". Rated R&B. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Williams, Aaron (May 13, 2025). "NxWorries Is Going On Their First Headlining Tour As A Group, Ever". Uproxx. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Why Lawd? by NxWorries Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Kellman, Andy (June 14, 2024). "NxWorries – Why Lawd? Album Reviews, songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Chick, Stevie (June 14, 2024). "NxWorries – Why Lawd?". The Guardian. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Green, Dylan (June 14, 2024). "NxWorries: Why Lawd?". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  18. ^ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (June 18, 2024). "NxWorries :: Why Lawd? – RapReviews". RapReviews. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Walker, Logan (June 4, 2024). "NxWorries - Why Lawd? review: the sonic smoothness fans have come to expect". The Skinny. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  20. ^ Kennedy, John (June 14, 2024). "Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge Turn Pain Into Pleasure on NxWorries' 'Why Lawd?': Album Review". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  21. ^ "Staff List: The 50 Best Albums of 2024". Billboard. December 4, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  22. ^ "The Best Albums Of 2024". HuffPost. December 11, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  23. ^ Elliott, Charles (December 23, 2024). "The 50 Best Albums of 2024". Okayplayer. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  24. ^ "The 100 Best Albums of 2024". Paste Magazine. December 2, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  25. ^ "These Are The Best Albums Of 2024". Uproxx. December 3, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  26. ^ Atkinson, Katie (February 2, 2025). "Here's the 2025 Grammy Awards Winners List". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 3, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  27. ^ "ARIA Top 20 Vinyl Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 17, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  28. ^ "Ultratop.be – NxWorries – Why Lawd?" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  29. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – NxWorries – Why Lawd?" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  30. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 14/6/2024 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  31. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart on 21/6/2024 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  32. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  33. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 14/6/2024 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  34. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart on 14/6/2024 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  35. ^ "Billboard 200: Week of June 22, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  36. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of June 22, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
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