Photo by Shayan Asgharnia | The one, the only Anderson .Paak was all smiles after his Roots Picnic performance.
The votes are in, dear players. And it was a close match. But after a week of deliberation and a few thousand votes, we finally have our MVPs to crown in the categories of best vocalist, MC and producer, respectively. And though there are three categories, there are only two men left to congratulate. Your producer of the year: Kaytranada (with 91 votes). Your best MC and vocalist of the year: Anderson .Paak (with 121 votes for vocalist and 86 votes for MC).
Not that it should come as a surprise or anything. Both Kaytra and .Paak left Shaq-sized footprints on 2016, both were virtually inescapable in the best of ways. .Paak proved to be one of the most versatile singers and rappers of a generation with his breakout, Malibu, and the stone-cold follow-up, Yes Lawd! with Knxwledge (the only producer to give Kay a run for his money in the polls) as the group NxWorries. Kaytra may have taught the world a new groove altogether. The way a loyal Madlib and Dilla stan might had they decided house was their texture for their time.
We salute you, gentlemen. Your contributions have not gone unnoticed. In fact, they'll likely be notes we return to for years to come. And we know you're not nearly done yet. So keep em coming, and in the words of the mighty Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean: on to the next one.
