97Paradox carries a story that starts in Riverside, California, as the youngest in a family of five and a pastor’s kid who grew up inside the rhythms of church life. Music was never just background noise in the house—it was the heartbeat of the family. He played on the worship team, surrounded by harmonies from The Bee Gees, Chicago, and the timeless soul of The Temptations. Friends later introduced him to artists like Eminem and Nickelback, widening his world and deepening his passion. Music wasn’t simply something he enjoyed—it was something he knew he was meant to do.
He started young, banging on drums in the garage at seven years old before exploring other instruments and eventually finding his voice through singing. By high school, poetry began pulling him into a new direction, one that naturally evolved into rap. He started recording covers of the artists he admired in the rap and hip-hop scene, and friends were the first to tell him he had something real. Their encouragement pushed him into school talent shows and even singing at bake sales for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Growing up, his playlist was a mix of Jay Sean, Justin Bieber, Tupac, Eminem, and Drake—artists who helped shape his sound and his drive. He always wanted to make music that mattered, music that touched people and helped them feel seen. As a kid, he dreamed of telling stories that could help someone else fight through what he was fighting through.
Between 2023 and 2026, he committed to releasing music consistently. These years became a turning point, a period where he unapologetically shared the stories he once kept hidden—the trauma he witnessed, the addiction he battled, and the struggles he carried since childhood. His music became a space for honesty, healing, and connection, especially for anyone who needed to know they weren’t alone.
The journey wasn’t glamorous at the start. He recorded his early songs with nothing but a JBL speaker and an iPhone before pulling everything into GarageBand or Studio One. He bought beats from talented producers like Pili (Darkunicorn), KP Kai, and Synopsis, eventually finding the sound he had been searching for through producer Lee Synder. Most of his music came to life in Orange County and Santa Ana, places that became creative homes. And woven into the memories are familiar spots like Tyler Galleria Mall, Myra Lynn Park, Lion’s Head Mountain, and Skofstad Street—where freestyling with friends turned into moments that shaped him.
Before the music came the heart behind it. He grew up as someone who naturally wanted to help, the kind of person who showed up for people by offering loyalty, presence, and a safe place to land. As a kid in youth group, he volunteered to help the homeless and support people fighting addiction. But life wasn’t a straight line. He eventually found himself lost in addiction too, navigating an identity journey as a transgender man while fighting battles most didn’t see. Through God, close friends, and a supportive family, he found his way back. That experience lit the fire behind his mission—to be a voice for people who feel unheard, unseen, or misunderstood, because he knows what it feels like to need that same understanding.
Today, 97Paradox describes his sound as a unique blend of acoustic, lofi, and R&B, a style shaped by everything he’s lived through. Listeners can expect more upbeat, feel-good, motivational tracks on the horizon, the kind of music that lifts the energy in the room while still carrying meaning. His latest release, “Sunshine,” continues that spirit—warm, honest, and undeniably him.
