Anderson .Paak brought out some big names in Dr. Dre and Sheila E. at a show in Los Angeles in aid of victims of the city’s recent wildfires.
The Kia Forum played host on Thursday night (January 30) to FireAid, a star-studded benefit concert that saw performances from some of the biggest names in music including Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lil Baby and Joni Mitchell.
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The surviving members of Nirvana also reunited on stage, with a number of female singers including Kim Gordon, Joan Jett, St. Vincent and Violet Grohl standing in for the late Kurt Cobain.
Anderson .Paak was one of the first performers of the night and after an introduction from Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, he dove into a typically high-energy four-song set.
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Sheila E., a noted singer and percussionist who performed with Prince and has previously collaborated with .Paak, joined the Oxnard native for “Put Me Thru” and “Come Down.”
.Paak then delivered one of the night’s biggest surprises by welcoming Dr. Dre to the stage perform renditions of “Still D.R.E.” and “California Love.”
Dre also said a few words to the hometown crowd: “I want to say this is a magical moment for me. I got so much love for you guys and this summer will be the mark of 40 years that I’ve been in this business.
“And I appreciate all the love that you guys have been giving me, and the reason that we’re here, I appreciate all the first responders and firemen that put their lives on the line and I appreciate all that love. It’s all about love for me tonight.”
While the wildfires have now largely subsided with help from some recent rainfall, devastating damage has been left behind.
Billions of dollars in estimated damages have been caused by the blazes, which burned throughout January and killed at least 29 people, while also causing tens of thousands of people to lose their homes.
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A number of local rappers have been doing their part to help with the relief efforts, most notably The Game and Snoop Dogg.
