Hip-hop artist Anderson .Paak was revealed as the second artist to perform in University Union’s spring Bandersnatch Concert Series Tuesday. The Free Nationals will open the show, according to a UU press release.

Known for hits like “Am I Wrong” and “The Bird,” .Paak will take the stage in Schine Underground March 23. Tickets go on sale 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Schine Box Office. In the coming months, .Paak will perform at both SXSW and Coachella. Here are five things to know about him before you go.

1. You have probably heard his music before

After gaining some recognition under the name “Breezy Lovejoy,” he released his first LP. After reworking his act and performing under the name Anderson .Paak, he released an album Venice. The album was so popular, .Paak gained features on albums by The Game, Schoolboy Q, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Dr. Dre, according to a UU press release.

2. The “dot” in his name is deliberate

“The dot stands for ‘detail’ — always be paying attention to detail. I feel that people take you as serious as you take yourself. I spent a lot of time working on my craft, developing my style, and after I came out of my little incubation I promised that I would pay attention to detail,” .Paak said in an interview with NPR. He added that the dot is a reminder to other, as well as himself, to pay attention to detail.

3. He has been making music for a long time.

.Paak got his first drum kit when he was 11 years old. Now 30, the singer decided to make music his career at 21. In an interview with Consequence of Sound, he said he has been fine-tuning his work ever since. “I’m going to change my name, get the music I want to make and the people I want to make it with. I’m going to get these people to handle the creative and these people to handle the business,” .Paak said in the interview.

4. His last job was on a marijuana farm.

.Paak used to handle football fields worth of marijuana before being laid off unexpectedly. He was left homeless with a wife and young son. He had just started to work in the music industry writing and producing for Shafiq Husayn of Sa-Ra. In an interview with LA Weekly, .Paak said Husayn helped a lot during this time. “We all stayed in his house in Eagle Rock until I figured things out. I was his assistant, videographer and video editor. I helped him write and produce. I cooked and chauffeured. And I finished my album there.”

5. He just returned from a world tour with The Free Nationals.

.Paak and Bandersnatch opener, The Free Nationals embarked upon their Off the Ground Tour on Feb. 11. The musicians traveled throughout various countries in Europe, stopping in some of the biggest cities on the continent like London, Paris and Berlin.

Published on March 8, 2016 at 6:23 pm

Contact Rachel: rcgilber@syr.edu