PAULIE RHYME (Paul Richardson) is not your typical emcee, but he should be. Raised in the Rustbelt city of Cleveland, OH, RHYME was raised in a dichotomy of struggle and privilege, poverty and wealth, school and streets. Spending time on various sides of the tracks, for better or for worse, allowed RHYME to experience various degrees of separation and integration, in a community where color, money, and religion weaved together to define your place in society. This also translated into the musical surroundings where gospel, funk, jazz, rock, and an emerging art form were bringing people together, and keeping people apart. These experiences would shape the viewpoints and creative voice that would turn an inner city college athlete into an aspiring educator (RHYME has his BA in Political Science and Master’s in Adult Education) and torchbearer for this thing we call, Hip Hop.

In 2001, PAULIE RHYME would step to the stage fulltime as a part of the live hip-hop band FINLESS BROWN. FINLESS BROWN gained immediate fanfare through their unorthodox, interactive live shows and open mics, getting nominated for Best Cleveland Band in 2002 and Best Hip Hop Band (Cleveland Scene) in 2003. Releasing 4 projects to date, the BROWNTOWN EP, NEXT CAPER, LIVE IN CLEVELAND, and UNDERGROUND SUPERHEROES, FINLESS BROWN has established a based domestically and internationally, with their unique sound of live instrumentation, feel good message, and English/Japanese funk fusion collide.

By 2004, FINLESS BROWN would relocate to the burgeoning Bay Area scene and while trying out new members, RHYME would record his first international solo release, the Dirt McGirt 12”. This would morph into the PDA EP, a more traditional approach to the art form, and see RHYME collaborate with artists such as HEIRUSPECS, ODDJOBS, TUT, and LORD JAZZ.

Being in the Bay Area would proved to be the invaluable experience for RHYME, as he would continue to build his base with FINLESS BROWN and as a solo artist. 2007 would see the release of PUBLIC RADIO, a collaborative effort with SF producer DEEDOT, featuring appearances by RASCO, KHAI SHARRIEF, POWER STRUGGLE, and MOTO. PUBLIC RADIO would hit 9 on the CMJ Hip Hop charts, and the video for the single, SQUARED CIRCLE, would be shown at the Santa Cruz Film Festival. The project would also be nationally distributed, and allow RHYME to plants his roots in the tour circuit doing shows all over the United States and Canada. Rocking venues, college panels, outdoor events, schools, and even churches, PAULIE RHYME and his music are providing a positive, alternative take rooted in peace, knowledge, unity, and having fun.