Los Angeles, CA - 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.
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.
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.
A number of local rappers have been doing their part to help with the relief efforts, most notably The Game and Snoop Dogg.
A$AP Rocky has been quiet during his legal battle. The rapper has not said a word entering the court or a word during his trial. Barring some brief praise for his friend and blog rap peer Kendrick Lamar. A$AP has made sure to be careful when it comes to what he says. His facade dropped, however, during a shocking exchange on Friday. The rapper told a witness not to answer a question during an interrogation. It was a shocking moment on several front, and is generally considered a bad sign during a criminal trial.
The awkward moment was captured on film. A$AP Twelvy, a member of Rocky's A$AP Mob, was being asked what the meaning of a specific photo was. The rapper made it clear he wasn't sure what it meant, but in the midst of his answer, Rocky spoke out. Prosecution interrupted the line of questioning and then redirected the focus to A$AP Rocky's question. "Did you hear the defendant when asked question loudly say," he asked. "Do not answer it." Twelvy admits he heard something but claimed he wasn't sure what was said from Rocky's side of the courtroom.
The prosecution suggested that A$AP Twelvy was being coy about his knowledge due to the fact that A$AP Rocky told him not give an answer. The rapper attempted to downplay Rocky's comment, saying he didn't even hear what was said. Prosecution doubled down, and attempted to get an answer out of the A$AP Mob member. The video account of the exchange is cut off when the judge decides to take a break from the interrogation.
Twelvy's controversial exchange is an unexpected development. The rapper appears to be on A$AP Rocky's side, and even testified that he did not open fire on A$AP Relli the way that Relli is claiming. Twelvy told the court that Rocky actually fired a starter pistol that he kept on him during the alleged encounter with Relli. "He walked around with a prop, like a starter pistol," Twelvy stated. "I seen it on several occasions." The rapper then claimed that the gun was clearly identified as fake before said confrontation went down. "He told him to shoot that fake-ass gun," Twelvy added.