The Paradox Bring Their Meteoric Rise To NPR Tiny Desk For Black Music Month

The Billboard History-Making Atlanta Band Build On The Momentum Of New Single “Good For Me” As Their Next Chapter Takes Shape Recently Tapped For YouTube’s Foundry Class Of 2026

(Friday, June 12 – New York, NY / Atlanta, GA) – History-making Atlanta rock band The Paradox arrive at NPR Tiny Desk today as part of the platform’s Black Music Month programming, bringing one of the most exciting new stories in rock to one of music’s most beloved stages. In the set, the band speaks to their larger mission of “putting rock back in the hands of the originators,” underscoring the larger cultural significance behind their ascent and growing impact. Their Tiny Desk appearance comes just days after the release of their soaring new single, “Good For Me,” which signals the start of a bold new chapter.

Watch the full Tiny Desk Concert HERE

Read the full story HERE

The Paradox deliver a dynamic six-song set performance, spanning the songs that have fueled their breakout and where they are headed next: “Get The Message,” “Bender,” “Good For Me,” “I Kinda Like That,” “Ms Lauren,” and “Do Me Like That.” To note, “I Kinda Like That” is an unreleased track the band teases for the first time during the performance, giving viewers an early look at new music they cannot hear anywhere else yet. Together, the showing captures the band’s full range — from raw urgency and big hooks to heart-on-sleeve emotion and undeniable live chemistry — while reinforcing why they are quickly becoming one of the most talked-about new bands in music.

Today’s Tiny Desk performance further confirms The Paradox as a band operating well beyond the limits of a standard alt-rock breakout. Earlier this year, they made history as the first all-Black band to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart with their breakout hit “Get The Message,” a landmark achievement that marked a seismic shift not just for the band, but for the future of alternative music itself. They also continued that momentum with “Do Me Like That,” which reached No. 47 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart and No. 4 on Billboard’s Alternative Digital Song Sales chart.

The band's profile continues to expand on multiple fronts. Earlier this month, The Paradox were selected for the YouTube Foundry Class of 2026, part of YouTube Music’s global artist development program supporting independent artists with grants, dedicated partner support, promotional opportunities, and educational resources. Taken together with today’s NPR Tiny Desk appearance, the breakout success of “Good For Me,” and more new music on the horizon, the band are fast becoming one of the defining new voices in rock. Formed in Atlanta in the summer of 2024, The Paradox — Eric Dangerfield (vocals/guitar), Christopher “Xelan” Bernard (lead guitar/vocals), Donald Bryant (bass), and Percy “PC3” Crews (drums) — are reshaping the look, sound, and possibilities of modern rock. As four young Black musicians from a city more commonly associated with rap and R&B, they have emerged as leaders of a new generation hungry for authenticity, rebellion, and guitars turned all the way up. Their rise has been nothing short of extraordinary. Within weeks of posting their first content online, The Paradox began building a massive audience, quickly growing into a cultural phenomenon with more than 2.1 million followers across platforms, a Billboard Alternative Airplay No. 1, and tour dates alongside some of the biggest names in rock. Their growing list of champions reflects their crossover appeal and cultural impact: Billie Joe Armstrong personally invited them to open for Green Day at a stadium show, Travis Barker joined them on their single “Bender,” and artists and icons including Joel Madden, Jack White, Kid Cudi, SZA, and LeBron James have all publicly supported the band.

At a moment when rock is hungry for new voices, new energy, and a broader sense of possibility, The Paradox are emerging as one of the genre’s most vital new bands.   THE PARADOX ONLINE INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | WEBSITE | X