NxWorries bring soul, nostalgia, and humor to Philly on the ‘Why Lawd?’ tour

When people think of Anderson .Paak in a duo, Silk Sonic with Bruno Mars is usually the first that comes to mind. But for longtime fans, NxWorries — Paak’s collaboration with producer Knxwledge — holds a special place. Their 2016 debut Yes Lawd! quickly became a cult classic, the kind of record fans still quote word-for-word: “SMOOTH THAN A MOTHERF***A, SUEDE ON THE INSIDE!”

While Silk Sonic’s An Evening with Silk Sonic grabbed mainstream attention, Yes Lawd! remained the underground fan favorite. Eight years later, the Grammy-winning duo returned with Why Lawd? — and now they’re celebrating their first tour together. On Tuesday night, September 23rd, they brought it all to Philadelphia’s Franklin Music Hall, a city close to both their hearts.

Opening the night was Rae Khalil, a rising star from Torrance, California. Her smoky vocals recalled R&B singers like Jozzy and Philly’s own Sunnie, while her rap delivery carried shades of Paak himself (fitting, since he signed her to his APESHIT label). I wasn’t familiar with her music before, but she quickly won me over. Her cover of Janet Jackson’s timeless “That’s The Way Love Goes” was smooth, and her original “Carpinteria” hit hard. A standout moment came when her DJ, DJ Nipp, mixed Freddie Gibbs’ verse over 112’s “Only You (Bad Boy Remix),” sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Rae’s set pulled heavily from her last album Crybaby, with highlights like “She’s A Bore,” “Come Home,” and the title track. She even previewed an unreleased hip-hop joint that made me imagine a future collab project between her and Knxwledge. Closing with the fan-favorite “Is It Worth It,” she had the crowd yelling back “HELL YEAH!” — the perfect warmup for a night of groove-heavy vibes.

During intermission, the venue’s screens highlighted clips of Philadelphia’s own Meek Mill freestyling over Knxwledge’s production, as well as archival footage of Vodka, a local MC from the 2 Raw For The Streets DVD era. There was even a remix of Musiq Soulchild’s “Soulstar.”

These interludes made sense: Anderson .Paak’s father was from Philadelphia, and Knxwledge, who grew up in nearby New Jersey, has long incorporated Philly artists into his work. His 2020 album 1988 featured both Meek and Vodka, and early Bandcamp releases sampled Musiq Soulchild. The choice to showcase their ties to the region reinforced the duo’s deep respect for Philly’s influence on their sound.

From there, it was a perfect blend of nostalgia and newness. Classics from Yes Lawd! — “Wngs,” “Get Bigger,” “Kutless,” “What More Can I Say” — set the mood for fans to spark up, sway, or slow dance with their “boo thang.” Then the energy shifted forward with Why Lawd? tracks like “KeepHer,” “Distractions,” “Where I Go,” and my personal favorite, “Move On.” I couldn’t help but sing every word, though luckily the crowd’s harmony drowned me out and I put that on the Jesus piece.

The duo also reached into Knxwledge’s catalog with “Solivelife” from 1988, further deepening the set’s sense of history. Classics such as “Best One,” “Lyk Dis,” “Link Up,” and “Suede” hit with familiar force, while current favorites “Out the Way” and “Frm Here” kept the crowd moving.

Between songs, Knxwledge spun a medley of soul classics, including Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ “The Love I Lost,” another nod to Philadelphia’s musical heritage. Later, the duo reimagined Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” bridging regional ties between Houston’s native Newark, NJ, and their own East Coast roots.

Midway through the show, .Paak reflected on his family’s Philadelphia connections, acknowledging relatives in the audience and dedicating the performance to his late father. He invited Rae Khalil and a group of women he introduced as “The Dancers” to join him onstage, turning the moment into a playful celebration. A pre-mature confetti drop drew laughter from both the stage and the audience, reinforcing the lighthearted, communal spirit of the night.

The official set concluded with the duo’s summer hit “Everybody Gets Down,” before an encore brought them back for “Daydreaming,” sending the crowd home singing: “Kiss me, let me know that it’s real.”

A time was had at Franklin Music Hall. Rae Khalil set the stage with raw talent and promise, Knxwledge underscored the evening with his reverence for soul and hip-hop traditions, and Anderson .Paak offered both humor and heartfelt connection. Together, they created a night where music, memory, and community converged — a fitting reminder of why NxWorries continues to resonate with fans nearly a decade after their debut.