Anderson .Paak Excited to Headline New Orleans Jazz Festival 2024: 'This Is What I Want to Do'

Anderson. Paak will headline several highly anticipated music events, like the Global Jam and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and the hitmaker cannot wait.

"The first time I visited was for Essence Fest. We stayed at a really nice hotel where I tried gumbo for the first time," the Grammy Award-winning rapper told People Magazine.

In the interview, .Paak explained that the upcoming performances will be inspired by his experience as a fan and audience during a music festival when he was a child.

"I saw Mary J. Blige and D'Angelo and we were blown away. Their stage presence, amazing bands and the electricity in the crowd was almost too much for my 12 year old brain," he continued. "I remember really thinking that this is what I want to do. I want to be playing for people like this for the rest of my life."

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The rapper-slash-record producer is one of the geniuses behind Global Jam, an event presented by Expedia, which happens to be an invite-only afterparty of the jazz festival in New Orleans.

It was his foundation in music and influences that helped Paak come up with the event's concept and program: "The music scene is so special. I'm drawing on all those influences musically and culturally for the programming for the Global Jam event.

"We're going to have Tank and the Bangas doing a set. They're from New Orleans and you can hear those funk and soul influences."

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Paak is best known for releasing hip-hop and urban music; his sophomore album, Malibu, received a Grammy nod for Best Urban Contemporary Award.

However, the "Leave the Door Open" hitmaker seems to have passion and love for jazz music.

Aside from being a performer, .Paak also enjoys roaming the jazz festival and watching jam sessions.

"There's literally not enough time to see it all," he told Rolling Stone. "Last time I was here I literally just cruised down the street and would stumble upon so many jam sessions that we stayed up all night."

In the interview, he raved about New Orleans, calling it a "special place," due to the people and its "rich history of music."

Despite hailing from Southern California, the rapper appreciates the city's "charm and beauty."

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Anderson .Paak, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival