After catching his set at Parklife Festival last year my admiration for him has definitely grown, and since his last album it's clear that his artistry has grown too. One of the best performers I've seen in recent years and one of the most talented musicians. In at number 5 is Anderson .Paak with Oxnard.

There are so many special moments on this album and I find a new one almost every time I listen. The heavy hitters on this record for me are "Who R U?", "6 Summers", "Trippy (feat. J. Cole)" and "Cheers (feat. Q-Tip)". Over all of these though, "Tints (feat. Kendrick Lamar)" has got to be one of my favourite singles this year. The flow is incredible, the beat is so effortlessly funky, Kendrick's feature holds the song together perfectly and it harks back to an old school vibe with a more modern take.

A friend messaged me recently asking if I liked Anderson .Paak. Without even thinking I said "Yes, why?" but then he asked "As a woman, how do you feel about his content?", which made me think a little bit more. It's gotten easier to overlook questionable lyrics when they're laying between the notes of mind-blowing instrumentals, and that thought made me listen through his material to be sure. Despite his overuse of the word 'b*tch' and cheeky-verging-on-troubling quips, his goofy and endearing nature allowed me to make light of it rather than brand him as rude or reckless. Anderson's talent is undeniable and with Oxnard it's clear that he's going from strength to strength, I just wonder if he'll mature with his music.

Anderson's distinct charmingly raspy voice is noticeable anywhere and is a welcome familiarity on an album filled with so many different vibes. His major label debut has a myriad of influences flecked throughout but a little bit less of a cohesive "sound" as there was with Malibu. Although funk and jazz run heavily from beginning to end, the different hip hop influences add a very unique flavour to Anderson's repertoire. He's done a good job of expanding his view on the LA funk scene - I'm hoping he continues to expand and master his influences on his next few projects, because he most definitely has the talent to.

Have a look at what boxed its way into the number 5 spot last year here.

J. Cole was touring the UK last month with his latest album 2014 Forest Hills Drive and I was lucky enough to catch him on the Birmingham leg of his tour...

Something that really took this show up in ratings was it's ridiculously talented and diverse supporting line up. First up was the Dreamville collective, consisting of Omen, Cozz and Bas.  I'd never actually heard of any of these rappers before the show but they're definitely a collective you'll want to have your eye on. Cozz especially caught my attention - great flow and stage presence. Even though they each only had time to perform about 3 or 4 songs each, I feel they could've held together a much longer set if granted one. Really interesting artists and each quite different from one another.

Next up - Pusha T. Now, Pusha T is one of those artists that you don't realise how many of their songs you actually know until you see them live. At first I was thinking "Man, I'm going to be the only one here who has no idea what songs he's playing" but I actually knew a lot more than I thought. Obviously when he played hits like "Move That Dope", "Mercy" and "Sweet Serenade" the crowd went OFF! The set went on for a little longer than I'd expected but the vibes were so elevated that we hardly noticed. Way to get the crowd ready for the main event...

But not so fast, an appearance from the lovely Jhene Aiko first. Jhene is a goddess. Such a big presence, the crowd lost their minds when the lights dimmed for her set. I was a little confused when she stepped on stage and just sat down straight away but luckily she popped back up after the first song. Her voice is just as heavenly live as it is on record, to be honest, it's even more mesmerising in person. "The Worst" just felt surreal. It was like my mind was swelling for the entire performance. It's hard to believe that it was just a support performance. It really put into perspective just how good/big J. Cole really is.

Speaking of which, the main event - J. Cole. What a crowd pleaser! Not only did he play 2014 Forest Hills Drive in it's entirety, but he even played some of his biggest hits from Born Sinner and his mixtape - The Warm Up. His setlist could not have possibly been any better. Everyone's excitement levels were on a high, the crowd was frenetic. Album highlights "Wet Dreamz", "Tale Of 2 Citiez", "G.O.M.D." and of course "No Role Modelz" were even bigger moments live. Three albums in and you could just feel from the energy that J. Cole has secured a fan base that will stick around and memorise his lyrics for many years to come. It also helps that he has an endearing personality - his anecdotes and tales of growing up made him more relatable and put the icing on the cake. New and old fans alike; this show resonated with everyone in the audience and I know that we all went home feeling amazing. Brilliant night!

Overall Rating - 9/10


Here are some pictures from the show...