Paul Russell

Paul Russell is a rapper, singer, and songwriter known for blending hip-hop, R&B, and electronic pop. Russell attended the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, where he developed his interest in music. While in college, he collaborated with Ruslan on the album "Via Text" and later released his debut solo album, "Once in a Dry Season." After graduating from Cornell, Russell moved to Los Angeles and worked in brand consultancy while continuing to release singles.

Russell's career gained momentum when he began using TikTok as a platform for his music. He posted a segment of his song "Lil Boo Thang," which samples the Emotions' "Best of My Love," originally composed by Maurice White and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire. The video went viral, amassing over 10 million views and leading to a contract with Arista Records. During the week "Lil Boo Thang" debuted, Russell left his finance job at a tech company to focus on music full time.

"Lil Boo Thang" entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 99 and peaked at number 14. The single accumulated 550 million streams and was featured on Barack Obama's annual summer playlist. The song's viral success led to appearances on The Graham Norton Show, Good Morning America, and Jimmy Kimmel.

Russell followed this breakthrough with his debut EP "Again Sometime?," which features "Slippin'," a collaboration with Meghan Trainor, as well as tracks including "Say Cheese," "Eat Pray Love," and "Lil Boo Thang." Russell described "Again Sometime?" as the first in a series of stories, presenting a love story in seven scenes. He has also been featured on Flo Rida's "Confessions" and released singles such as "Carat Cake" and "Keeper." Russell's transition from the corporate sector to the music industry highlights his focus on authenticity and creativity in contemporary pop and hip-hop music.