WhoIsParadise

Paradise's entertainment career began in the late 1990s, upon returning to the UK after 18 years stateside. Paradise met producer/label owner, Charlie Parker in Brixton and the two began production work, creating the singles "M.O.N.E.Y.", "Et Tu", "Boomerang" and "Crown Jewels". Together, they laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the award-winning 57th Dynasty. Their rapper/producer combination achieved chart success and rave reviews. The two performed throughout the UK and Europe releasing singles under Charlie's fledgling record label, Fas Fwd Entertainments.

In 1998, Fas Fwd Entertainments released the Boro 6 Mixtape which debuted a talented roster of Brixton artists who, under Paradise's watchful eye, were forming into a supergroup. With no major label deal, the fledgling label and group set to selling the mixtape themselves. The eight-track recording features The Fas Fwd Allstars' "BORO 6 freestyle (4,3,2,1)" over LL Cool J's "4, 3, 2, 1" instrumental, the result was a hit with local pirate radio. The Boro 6 Mixtape served as a sampler showcasing the talents of the Fas Fwd Entertainments roster many of whom would become members of The 57th Dynasty. Popular songs, "Pattern 57", "Lil Bro", and "Words, Power & Sound" featured on the mixtape which began as an EP.

In 2001, Fas Fwd Entertainments released the highly acclaimed debut album, The Spoken Word by The 57th Dynasty. Headed by Paradise, the group were nominated Best Hip hop Act at the 1999 MOBO Awards. Echoes called the album a British landmark whilst CD Universe called it an extremely impressive debut album.[3][4]

In 2002, The 57th Dynasty released their second album, Boro 6 Vol. 2. The album featured notable appearances from Estelle, Ace (Ace and Vis), Funky DL, and Scor-zay-zee (Out Da Vil). Boro 6 Vol. 2 delivered on a unique hi-bred production value dubbed 'mix n blend'; a fusion of Hip hop, Reggae and Jazz. Noteworthy hits from this album included "Brethren and Sistren", "Rough Life", "If", "Hooligans", "Ghetto Gold", "Break Free" and "Hold Strong", the latter two both featuring Estelle. The group appeared on BBC Radio 1's DJ Tim Westwood's UK Hip Hop 2002 Vol. 1 album as well as embarking on a national tour. In 2003 the group were nominated, Best Hip Hop Act at the Urban Music Awards.[5] It was around this time that group members began to cite creative differences. The group's third album, DIY Ethic was ever released.

Throughout his career as a solo artist, Paradise writes and independently releases music. In 2001 he worked with Krafty Kuts to create "Who's Da Man" for the Vinnie Jones starred, Mean Machine film soundtrack.[6][7] He recorded and co-executive produced the critically acclaimed "U Must Learn, UK", featuring KRS-One, Skinnyman, and MCD, produced by Charlie Parker.[8] Paradise wrote and recorded the UK Garage song "2 Step Flavas" with chart topping producers Trick Or Treat who previously charted at (#16) with a remix of "Let Me Be Your Fantasy".[9] "2 Step Flavas" was exclusively purchased by Go! Beat sublabel FTL and received rave reviews.[10][11] Paradise recorded a PSA for VH1's Music First in addition to filming a pilot programme for MTV entitled Bite Size.[12]

Paradise worked with JJC and various artists to craft the UK remix of the "We Are Africans" Afro beats song-series which featured Sway and Femi Kuti and showcased regional artists from the US, UK, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and Ghana.[13] He has worked with a wide range of artists from across Africa including award-winning afro beats producer Silvastone (Sierra Leone / Ghana), Sha (Ghana), Noni Zondi (South Africa) and Magnum (Nigeria). In 2012, Paradise executive produced #Two4Se7enEP. The accompanying Black History themed music video was screened at Latimer Creative Media's Youth Film showcase, UK Urban Webfest and Tight Shorts.

In 2006 Paradise teamed with Glyndebourne Opera House for the critically acclaimed hip hopera, School 4 Lovers.[15][16][17] The production premiered at Glyndebourne and toured Finnish National Opera and Estonia. Hilary Finch of The Times said Paradise controlled a Cosi fan tutte such as Glyndebourne has never seen before. In The Independent's, four-star review, Michael Church wrote Donnie is played by the charismatic Paradise, who sets up exactly the right buzz of expectation.

But Donnie, played by a man known only as Paradise, formed the pivot of the action as narrator and instigator of the drama. In his black hat and neck-chain, Paradise made a suspiciously plausible pimp and hustler, rhyming his way sleekly through the twists of the plot.

— Adam Sweeting, The Telegraph

Motivated to address rises in youth homicides, Paradise created his own philanthropic music endeavour, "The Good Samaritan Music Project" in 2005. In 2006 he recruited influential hip hop artists, KRS-One and Skinnyman to contribute to the project's debut single, "U Must Learn [UK]". The song was heralded as a hip-hop classic following in the traditions of Tribe Called Quest, Boogie Down Productions, The Roots, Public Enemy and Jurassic 5.[8][18]

In 2014, Paradise worked alongside members of the newly formed Black Cultural Archives' Youth Forum on their first event - "#Checkurselfie", which explored the past, present and future of campaigning through photography as part of a five-year partnership between the Victoria & Albert Museum and Black Cultural Archives titled Staying Power.[19][20] Later that year, he spearheaded "Stockwell Matters", a winning People's Millions, National Lottery campaign.[21][22] The partnership between Big Lottery Fund and ITV saw "Stockwell Matters" receive the greater number of votes in a televised public competition broadcast on the network's London regional news. Paradise's televised interview was viewed by approximately 150,000 people.[23][24] "Stockwell Matters" is seen as the sequel to "Our Place: Community Matters"; funding made available by the Department for Communities and Local Government also secured and successfully managed by Dawes on behalf of Young People Matter Charity.[25]

Alongside fellow 57th Dynasty co-founder, Charlie Parker, Paradise is a mentor and facilitator on the Hackney Music Development Trust's (HMDT), BBC Children in Need sponsored, One Spirit project. The project supports young offenders, helping them towards successful rehabilitation and pathways to training, education and employment.[26] The project is delivered inside HMP Feltham Young Offenders Institute which Paradise likens to New York's own adolescent building on Rikers Island. The project has been featured in a televised BBC Children In Need Appeal.[27]