Paul Russell

Paul Russell crafts catchy yet sophisticated electronic pop that fuses hip-hop rhythms with R&B sensibilities as both a singer and rapper. His sudden rise came in 2023 via the viral Hot 100 single "Lil Boo Thang."

Atlanta native Russell spent his formative years near Dallas, Texas, where his passion for music first developed. He produced an album to fulfill an English class requirement prior to enrolling at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. During his college years he teamed with Ruslan for the 2018 project Via Text. The following year saw the arrival of his first solo effort, Once in a Dry Season. After earning his Cornell degree he moved to Los Angeles, secured a corporate role in brand consultancy, and kept issuing singles at a consistent pace. Around the same time he started sharing clips on TikTok. In 2023 Russell uploaded a snippet of "Lil Boo Thang" there—a danceable cut built on a sample of the Emotions’ 1977 chart-topper "Best of My Love," written by Earth, Wind & Fire’s Maurice White and Al McKay. The clip amassed more than ten million views, went viral, and secured him a deal with Arista Records. Official release of "Lil Boo Thang" followed in August 2023, when it climbed to number 51 on the Hot 100.