Paul Russell

As a kid, the Dallas, TX native learned how to wail on trumpet in between spitting bars during lunchroom battle-raps and later crooning over ukulele (like the human equivalent of the dopest playlist you’ve ever heard!).

His musical DNA is just as wildly dynamic as his personality is. During his time at Cornell University, he often DJ-ed at parties. As such, he knows how to get a party popping. A wide swath of inspirations—from Anderson .Paak and OutKast to Louis Armstrong—impacted his own creative trajectory.

He gained traction with a series of early uploads and went viral a few times (even fooling the internet into thinking he had a Drake feature on the way once—If you’re reading this, Drizzy, get at him). Settling down in Los Angeles, he released the independent anthem “Hallelujah” followed by “Ms. Poli Sci,” which generated over 37 million overall streams to date. 

He best describes his boisterous rhythms, ecstatic hooks, and buffet of R&B, funk, pop, and hip-hop as “cookout music you listen to outside with a bunch of friends.” That holds true on his Arista Records debut single “Lil Boo Thang.” Built around an interpolation of “Best of My Love” by The Emotions, it lit up TikTok and Instagram to the tune of tens of millions of views. He effectively delivered “Lil Boo Thang” as the perfect soundtrack to any and all good times. Skyrocketing right out of the gate and has been streamed over 250 million times globally. Now, Paul is kicking off the year right with “Say Cheese”.

Beyond his status as a bona fide breakout star, Paul Russell is about to be your new best friend.