Blab Music
Lawrence Paul Unveils Decade-Long Archive in New Album, Highlighting Indigenous Hip-Hop Legacy
After years of silenced beats, Lawrence Paul, the Cree rapper from Alexander First Nation in Alberta, is finally releasing a decade‑long archive of unreleased tracks. The new studio album, which spans recordings from 2008 to 2024, is billed by Paul as “the most exciting thing I’ve ever put out.” It will feature collaborations with hip‑hop heavyweights Killah Priest, former Shady Records rapper KXNG Crooked, and Indigenous artists Melody McArthur and Joey Stylez, and follows his 2024 release Lost Tapes 2 and the 2022 single “Ghost Dance” with McArthur.
Paul’s musical path began with a fiddle at nine, before the rhythm of hip‑hop caught his attention in his teens. His first major project, Gutta Muzik, debuted in 2008 and earned an Artisans Recognition Award from the Morinville Chamber of Commerce. Over the next decade he expanded his catalog with Gutta Muzik (Special Edition) (2018), Lost Tapes (2019), and Lost Tapes 2 (2024). The new album pulls from the same vault, offering listeners a curated journey through the evolution of his sound.
Beyond the studio, Paul has carved a niche on the live circuit, opening for legends such as Snoop Dogg, G‑Unit, Lloyd Banks, and D12. He also works in the public‑relations and communications department of Alexander First Nation, merging his digital‑media skills with his music career. In interviews, Paul stresses that his Cree identity—he identifies as Treaty 6 Cree and Indigenous to Turtle Island—shapes his artistic vision and fuels his commitment to representation.
The 2022 single “Ghost Dance,” released on May 20, tackles the discovery of 215 unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Paul, whose mother survived residential schooling and whose great‑grandfather was involved with a convent, said the track was a personal response to the tragedy. Together with McArthur, he used the song to raise awareness about the historical and ongoing impacts of residential schools, positioning music as a vehicle for education and dialogue.
Paul frames the forthcoming album as both a retrospective and a forward‑looking statement. He argues that Indigenous musicians must challenge stereotypes by presenting diverse voices, and he views the new release as a platform to showcase the resilience of Treaty 6 communities. By compiling years of unreleased work and collaborating with artists across the hip‑hop spectrum, Paul seeks to broaden the visibility of Indigenous talent within the mainstream music industry. The project is expected to cement his role as a cultural ambassador and spark conversations about Indigenous history, treaties, and contemporary life.
The album will be distributed across major streaming services—Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud—and promoted through Paul’s social‑media channels on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. While a precise release date has yet to be announced, industry observers anticipate a fall 2026 launch, aligning with Paul’s ongoing mission to elevate Indigenous narratives in hip‑hop.
Paul’s musical path began with a fiddle at nine, before the rhythm of hip‑hop caught his attention in his teens. His first major project, Gutta Muzik, debuted in 2008 and earned an Artisans Recognition Award from the Morinville Chamber of Commerce. Over the next decade he expanded his catalog with Gutta Muzik (Special Edition) (2018), Lost Tapes (2019), and Lost Tapes 2 (2024). The new album pulls from the same vault, offering listeners a curated journey through the evolution of his sound.
Beyond the studio, Paul has carved a niche on the live circuit, opening for legends such as Snoop Dogg, G‑Unit, Lloyd Banks, and D12. He also works in the public‑relations and communications department of Alexander First Nation, merging his digital‑media skills with his music career. In interviews, Paul stresses that his Cree identity—he identifies as Treaty 6 Cree and Indigenous to Turtle Island—shapes his artistic vision and fuels his commitment to representation.
The 2022 single “Ghost Dance,” released on May 20, tackles the discovery of 215 unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Paul, whose mother survived residential schooling and whose great‑grandfather was involved with a convent, said the track was a personal response to the tragedy. Together with McArthur, he used the song to raise awareness about the historical and ongoing impacts of residential schools, positioning music as a vehicle for education and dialogue.
Paul frames the forthcoming album as both a retrospective and a forward‑looking statement. He argues that Indigenous musicians must challenge stereotypes by presenting diverse voices, and he views the new release as a platform to showcase the resilience of Treaty 6 communities. By compiling years of unreleased work and collaborating with artists across the hip‑hop spectrum, Paul seeks to broaden the visibility of Indigenous talent within the mainstream music industry. The project is expected to cement his role as a cultural ambassador and spark conversations about Indigenous history, treaties, and contemporary life.
The album will be distributed across major streaming services—Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud—and promoted through Paul’s social‑media channels on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. While a precise release date has yet to be announced, industry observers anticipate a fall 2026 launch, aligning with Paul’s ongoing mission to elevate Indigenous narratives in hip‑hop.
