The Paradox, Tiny Desk Concert

NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert celebrates Black Music Month and BET this June 2026. Throughout, they’ll spotlight acts that “reflect the essence of Black music.” The Paradox is a great pop punk outfit out of Atlanta, Georgia who made waves (and history) recently by becoming the first all-Black band to reach number one on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart. Their music is insanely catching and their concert is incredibly entertaining.

As NPR writes:

"The Paradox is in the business of bringing rock and roll back to the originators," lead singer Eric Dangerfield says after the band opens its high-energy set with "Get the Message." The breakthrough anthem made The Paradox the first all-Black band to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart. Yet even amid the band's rapid rise, the members' playful spirit remains rooted in humble beginnings spent jamming in an Atlanta apartment.

Dangerfield, Christopher "Xelan" Bernard, Donald Bryant and Percy "PC3" Crews step behind the Desk with the humility and chemistry that helped propel them to national recognition. Their cranking set features fan favorites like the Travis Barker collab "Bender" and the unreleased "I Kinda Like That." Before closing with "Do Me Like That," Dangerfield gives a shout out to a past partner who once tried to hit him with a car. The crowd couldn't help but laugh, yet the story represents their knack for turning life's chaos into fuel for something bigger. That ability to find joy and humor in the mess makes The Paradox's brand of Black pop-punk feel both fresh and familiar.

Enjoy!