Anderson .Paak and Cordae release Heavy Is The Crown, their first joint album, on Friday, October 23, 2026 via APESHIT, Hi Level, Mass Appeal and EMPIRE. The project turns a working relationship that started on a 2019 J. Cole production into a full-length record.
Key facts
- What: Heavy Is The Crown, the first collaborative album from Anderson .Paak and Cordae
- Release date: Friday, October 23, 2026
- Labels: APESHIT, Hi Level, Mass Appeal and EMPIRE
- Lead single: “A Good Day,” released in September 2026
- Names attached: J. Cole, 9th Wonder, Conductor Williams and Swizz Beatz
- Formats: streaming, six retailer-exclusive vinyl variants, a zoetrope vinyl, cassette and a lenticular CD
When does Heavy Is The Crown come out?
Heavy Is The Crown arrives on Friday, October 23, 2026. The duo announced the album in August 2026, and pre-orders run through EMPIRE and the official site, heavyisthecrown.net.
The album shares its release day with Muse, the joint project from John Legend and Pharrell, according to HotNewHipHop’s October release calendar. It is the biggest rap release on a light October schedule.
What do we know about “A Good Day”?
“A Good Day” is the first single from Heavy Is The Crown. XXL reported that the track samples Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day,” and The Source noted that it also carries the energy of the late Fatman Scoop’s ad-libs.
The music video stars Jennifer Freeman and pays homage to the 1995 film Friday. In it, .Paak and Cordae play brothers competing for the same love interest. The single’s producer has not been publicly credited.
Who is on Heavy Is The Crown?
J. Cole, 9th Wonder, Conductor Williams and Swizz Beatz are the names announced alongside the album. Their exact roles, as featured artists or producers, have not been broken down. TSNVWRLD could not find an official tracklist as of October 16, 2026.
The J. Cole connection runs deep. Cole produced the first song .Paak and Cordae ever made together, so his name on the credits closes a loop. For more on Cole’s business side, see our piece on J. Cole’s ownership legacy.
How did Anderson .Paak and Cordae start working together?
The pair first connected on “RNP,” a J. Cole-produced song from Cordae’s 2019 debut album The Lost Boy, which earned a Grammy nomination. They reunited on two songs from Cordae’s third album, The Crossroads.
| Song | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| “RNP” | 2019 | The Lost Boy |
| “Two Tens” | 2023 | The Crossroads |
| “Summer Drop” | 2024 | The Crossroads |
| “A Good Day” | 2026 | Heavy Is The Crown |
.Paak comes into the release with a busy 2026. According to NME, he marked the 10th anniversary of Malibu with new vinyl and cassette editions and made his feature directing debut with K-Pops! in February 2026. His last full-length album, Why Lawd? with Knxwledge as NxWorries, won Best Progressive R&B Album at the 2025 Grammys, his ninth career Grammy. He told NME in 2024 that he gets “a deep joy out of collaboration.”
What formats will Heavy Is The Crown be released on?
Heavy Is The Crown comes on streaming plus a wide physical run. The cover art is modeled on the poster for the 2008 comedy Step Brothers, which fits the sibling theme of the “A Good Day” video.
- Six retailer-exclusive vinyl variants, including an indie-store “Clandestine” color
- An animated zoetrope vinyl sold direct to fans
- Cassette
- A CD with a lenticular cover that shifts between the album art and an image of the two fighting
What’s next?
The full tracklist and final credits are the next pieces to watch before October 23, 2026. Neither artist has announced tour dates in support of the album, including any European shows.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Heavy Is The Crown come out?
Heavy Is The Crown by Anderson .Paak and Cordae is out Friday, October 23, 2026.
What label is releasing Heavy Is The Crown?
The album is released through APESHIT, Hi Level, Mass Appeal and EMPIRE.
What is the first single from Heavy Is The Crown?
The first single is A Good Day, which samples Bill Withers’ Lovely Day. Its video stars Jennifer Freeman.
Is J. Cole on Heavy Is The Crown?
J. Cole is one of the names announced with the album, along with 9th Wonder, Conductor Williams and Swizz Beatz. Their exact roles have not been detailed.
Have Anderson .Paak and Cordae worked together before?
Yes. They collaborated on RNP in 2019, then on Two Tens and Summer Drop from Cordae’s album The Crossroads.
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