Anderson .Paak & E-40 Spark Buzz at Outside Lands 2025: A Bay Area Love Letter

Outside Lands 2025 wrapped up with a bang — and not just any bang, but a full-blown Bay Area love fest. Anderson .Paak, already known for turning every stage into a party, brought out rap legend E-40 for a surprise cameo that sent Golden Gate Park into chaos (the good kind).

As the sun dipped behind the San Francisco skyline, .Paak and his band, The Free Nationals, had the crowd in their groove pocket. Just when fans thought the night couldn’t get any better, the unmistakable voice of “40 Water” cut through the air. E-40 emerged to raucous cheers, launching straight into his hyphy classic “Tell Me When to Go.”

Phones shot up. Feet left the ground. And for a moment, Outside Lands turned into an Oakland street party.

The pair’s on-stage chemistry was undeniable — Anderson’s funky, drum-driven energy bouncing perfectly off E-40’s swagger-laced flow. Mid-set, they teased a possible collaboration, with .Paak grinning and telling the audience, “We might just have something cooking for y’all real soon.”

For Bay Area natives, the performance felt like more than a setlist addition — it was a celebration of homegrown culture. Both artists have roots that run deep in California’s music scene, and their shared stage was a reminder of the region’s lasting influence on hip-hop and funk.

By the time they closed the night, the crowd wasn’t just dancing — they were grinning like they’d been let in on a delicious secret. If this was just the teaser, whatever Anderson .Paak and E-40 drop next might just shake the whole West Coast.

Image: Anderson .Paak July 2016.jpg by The Come Up Show is licensed under CC BY 2.0