Anishinaabe and Oneida Hip-Hop artist Tall Paul’s ancestral roots flow from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in northern Minnesota and beyond. Born and raised in South Minneapolis, Tall Paul’s music strongly reflects his inner city upbringing. From personal expressions of self to thought provoking commentary on issues affecting Indigenous and diverse communities as a whole, his music evokes a wide variety of substance and soul.

His acclaimed single “Prayers in a Song” is the first rap song to incorporate the Ojibwe language for more than sixty seconds. The track was produced as part of his senior project at the University of Minnesota, which focused on language revitalization, and where he became a first-generation university graduate. The chorus in “Prayers in a Song” is composed exclusively in Ojibwemowin.

His most recent album The Story of Jim Thorpe was released in November 2022 during National Native American Heritage Month. The album is an homage to his childhood hero Jim Thorpe, a Potawatomie and Sac and Fox Olympic gold medalist, NFL Hall of Famer, Major League Baseball Player, and advocate for Native rights.

In addition to being a one-of-a-kind rap artist, Tall Paul is also a powerful inspirational speaker and artist-educator. He has performed and given talks all over the world, from his hometown in Minneapolis, MN, to Chemnitz, Germany, and more. He’s also half of Native rap duo Red Poets Society, who have served as opening act for major artists such as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Mobb Deep, and Jay Electronica.