The Singles Jukebox

We didn’t answer that rhetorical question when Nico & Vinz asked it, so don’t think we’re going to here, guys.

[Video][Website]
[6.22]

Alfred Soto: Rather self-conscious about its groove, this collaboration mixes slink + hoarse vocalizing, the latter from a dude who managed to survive Dre’s Compton. “Am I Wrong” is best when the electric strumming trails into infinity behind Schoolboy’s party-up bit. His album has stronger material but not much more.
[6]

Edward Okulicz: Poolside disco with rapping — good idea. Then the horns empty the pool and turn it into an ersatz roller rink — great idea.
[8]

Thomas Inskeep: Particularly for those of us unfamiliar with him, .Paak was by and large the highlight of Dr. Dre’s Compton, and the textures of “Am I Wrong” are even better, like Howard Hewett circa ’86 with much better production. And the ascending, excitable synths on the bridge, backing up a solid verse from Schoolboy Q, are even better than that. This might make you forget about Frank Ocean in his absence.
[8]

Josh Langhoff: Rapping drummer with Kendricky tenor ponders the principles of YOLO over credible synth funk. .Paak sounds urgent enough — “They wanna know where I’ll be in five” suggests he’s hustled through a bunch of job interviews — but I prefer the verse where Schoolboy Q jousts with a cymbal.
[6]

Jer Fairall: Latter day Timberlake without the bloat, but with the wan vocals and the too-gentle hook. Schoolboy’s terse, commanding guest spot and a bright horn section finally lend some much needed animation, just late enough that the whole thing comes off like an opportunity missed.
[5]

Jonathan Bogart: Beautiful outdoors disco, blending the joyful high points of the 70s, the 80s, and the late 2000s to express something far beyond the scope of the lyrics, and more to do with the grains of their voices.
[8]

Crystal Leww: All the buzz coming out of SXSW was about Anderson .Paak, who has been around since 2010 and definitely makes sense as someone who the industry would keen to push. Malibu was an extremely safe album, chock full of songs that are easy to play during pre-going out drinks at that bougie cocktail lounge or at your local Starbucks. “Am I Wrong,” which features just enough Schoolboy Q to earn cool collaboration points, is pleasant and competent. The instrumentation is ornate enough to show that Anderson .Paak’s got some musical ability but not too ornate to be pretentious. This has got enough groove for an easy spring playlist, and it’s accessible. It’s not going to change the world, but it’s also not obnoxious either.
[6]

Micha Cavaseno: Anderson’s recognition of the spotlight being on him finds him resorting to an obnoxious talk flow for the verses that toasts easy over the yachty (Not Yachty) disco-drift of the production, and it serves as a bit too leisure suit a blend to enjoy. Meanwhile, Schoolboy Q grants the record some genuine animation, shifting the track in tone so that it resembles one of those psychedelic montages from the Jacksons cartoon suddenly being invaded by a post-pubescent Bebe’s Kid. A cute track, but is this really a single?
[4]

Brad Shoup: I bet he looks deep on the dancefloor.
[5]