# Why Lawd?

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 on the way. After years of teases on social media, the album was announced on April 3, 2024, with an official visualizer for "86Sentra" being released the same day.

## Release

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

## Critical reception

Professional ratings :
| Aggregate scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 77/100 |
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| The Guardian | |
| Pitchfork | 8.0/10 |
| RapReviews | 8.5/10 |
| The Skinny | |
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.
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. 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." 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.' 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." Writing for The Skinny, Logan Walker stated that the album delivered "the sonic smoothness fans have come to expect."

## Track listing

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
* Anderson .Paak – vocals on all tracks except "ThankU" and "EvnMore", additional drums on "MoveOn"
* Knxwledge – beats, production
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 – 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) | 8 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 113 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 68 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) | 51 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC) | 51 |
| UK Albums Sales (OCC) | 30 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) | 13 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC) | 2 |
| US Billboard 200 | 81 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) | 26 |