03/03/2026
Love this for them!
An all-Black pop-punk band from Atlanta, The Paradox, just made Billboard history by topping the Alternative Airplay chart and reviving that classic Warped Tour vibe in a big way.
Formed in summer 2024, the four-member group lead singer Eric Dangerfield, bassist Donald Bryant, guitarist Christopher “Xelan” Bernard, and drummer Percy “PC3” Crews, quickly rose to prominence. They opened for Green Day at Truist Park in their hometown, shared stages with All Time Low and The Offspring, and collaborated with Blink-182's Travis Barker on their track "Bender" plus a cover.
Their breakout single "Get the Message" hit #1 on Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart on January 24, 2026, their first #1 and the first for an all-Black band on that chart. It also performed strongly on Rock & Alternative Airplay with millions of impressions.
Momentum began with "Do Me Like That" going viral on TikTok (nearly 10 million views from a backyard set), peaking at #4 on Alternative Digital Song Sales. Their six-song EP "NSFW" fueled the rise, and they've built nearly a million Instagram followers. Fans call it healing, many who felt out of place in rock now see themselves represented. As the band says, they went from being teased in high school for loving pop-punk to dropping hits that expand the genre.
(Photo: Lauren Nakao Winn / The Paradox)