Introducing Hip-Hop’s New Charismatic and Multi-Talented Artist… Paul Russell

With his immersive sound and feel-good tracks, emerging artist Paul Russell is ready to make his mark in the music industry. Hailing from Dallas, Texas, the young talent first got his start in music as a teen, participating in lunchroom rap battles with his classmates. As Paul continued to immerse himself in the arts, his talents expanded – resulting in him taking up the ukulele and DJing during his time at Cornell University. After years of honing and exploring his craft, the young talent debuted in 2018 with his singles ‘Get Back’ and ‘Meet Me Outside,’ introducing music listeners to his Anderson .Paak and OutKast-inspired sound.

Since then, Paul has continued to make an impact among music listeners with his viral singles like ‘Hallelujah,’ and ‘Ms. Poli Sci’ – which he described as “cookout music you listen to outside with a bunch of friends.” With the recent release of his track ‘Lil Boo Thang’ – which has amassed over 20 million streams on Spotify – it’s safe to say that Paul Russell’s upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing down. We were able to chat with the ‘be that too’ artist about his music beginnings, the inner workings of his creative process, going viral on TikTok, and so much more. Read his full interview below. 

Heya Paul! Thank you for chatting with us. How’s 2023 been treating you? 

I’m living the dream right now. 

Before we get into your latest release, ‘Lil Boo Thang’ – which is absolutely fantastic – I want to take it back to your origins. When did you first fall in love with hip-hop and R&B? 

In middle school, the first album I ever bought was Lasers by Lupe Fiasco. I remember really becoming a big fan of Chicago rappers (I don’t know why; I’m not from Chicago at all) after that. Then, I started joining in on rap battles in the hallways between classes, and it became a passion for me. 

Was a path in music something that you always aspired to? In an alternate universe, what profession would Paul Russell be doing? 

It took me a while to decide I wanted to be a musician, actually. I studied labor relations at Cornell because I thought I wanted to be a labor lawyer. Eventually, I ended up in the startup world, working in tech and helping start a few companies. If I wasn’t doing music, I’d definitely be an entrepreneur, probably doing something combining tech and fashion or art. 

Some of the industry’s biggest artists hail from Texas. Growing up in Dallas, was there a particular artist from the state you looked toward for creative inspiration? 

I’ve been a big fan of Usher for a while, I think he does a great job of making music that creates cultural moments. I also grew up on Kirk Franklin, and even though I don’t make gospel music, I was definitely

inspired by how he made positive songs that you could play at any cookout and have a good time. 

In 2018, you splashed into the music industry with your single ‘Get Back.’ Do you remember how you felt after the track? 

It felt amazing! It was my first time shooting videos and, doing shows and really pursuing music in any real way so I felt like a superstar (even though not many people were listening back then haha). It was just great to have people believe in you and want to make music with you and support you. I’m still grateful for people like Ruslan and Jon Keith, who were on the song who played a huge role in helping me get my start. 

Alright, let’s fast forward a bit. Since your debut, you have released an array of immersive singles, including your latest track, ‘Lil Boo Thang’ – which has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram. First, how does it feel to have your record reach so many listeners? 

It blows my mind every day. I’ll be out in public and hear the song playing or see someone come up to me and tell me they love my song, and it still surprises me. It really hit me when I did a show right after the song came out. It was sold out, and there were so many people I’d never seen before filming and singing along. I remember thinking about how there were probably tons of group chats out there where people planned out rides and outfits and plans just to come see me, which was wild to me. 

We must discuss the ‘Best Of My Love’ sample in the record. Take us through the creative process. What led you to include the interpolation of The Emotions’ beloved single?

I’ve loved Best of My Love for a while – it’s always playing at family reunions and weddings, and it just makes me happy. I was thinking about it in my room, so I found an instrumental and freestyled over it just for the sake of making some content for social media. Back then, I never thought I’d be able to release it, so I didn’t think much of it. Then, once I saw how much people loved it, I decided to try to finish the song and see if we could get it cleared. 

Your music catalogue has such a postive and feel-good energy, both sonically and lyrically. How would you personally describe your music? 

I always tell people my goal is to make cookout music – anything that feels like spending time outside with people you love. 

We hear that ‘Lil Boo Thang’ will be featured on a forthcoming full-length EP. Can you share a few hints at what fans can expect from this project? 

We’re still pulling together the setlist and figuring out the length, release, timeline, etc. What I can say is that there are a lot more fun, feel-good records. The goal is to make every song stand out and tell an interesting story, and I think we’ve made a lot of music that does that. 

What aspect of the EP are you most excited about? 

I try to write songs that are relatable but that say something unexpected, either by describing something in a way people haven’t heard before or just telling an interesting story. So, I’m excited to bring people into my world and show them new sides of me. 

Looking back, how has your artistry evolved since you first embarked on your music journey? 

I definitely think I’ve gotten a clearer idea of my sound – what the essential elements are of the composition and how it stands out. I truly

believe I’m making music that is very unique, so I’m excited to keep it going. 

Lastly, what else is Paul Russell up to for the remainder of 2023? Are there any performances or public appearances that fans can look out for?

 Lots of performances! I’ll be part of the Jingle Ball tour and also playing some shows at colleges around the US, so lots of time on the road for the rest of the year!

Make sure to listen to Paul Russell’s hit single ‘Lil Boo Thang’ here or below.