Detroit, arguably the country’s hotbed for beat maestros and lyrically tight emcees, has been luring global fans within recent time to focus on more than just the 8 Mile and its most successful rapper, Eminem. Although the city’s musical history will always lie with the accomplishments of the Motown era pushing soul music in the forefront, Detroit’s current shinning stars aren’t too keen on carrying out tradition by synchronizing soulful dance-steps, all dressed in silky satin suits and wing-tipped shoes. Born in Southfield, Michigan, rapper PARADIME is one of the most loved sons of Detroit’s hip hop soil, and is the furthest cat away from singing any high notes. Instead, as his name ironically suggests, the Irish-green, microphone fiend arrogantly negates himself from being any sort of paradigm, unless of course out-drinking partners and bar brawling suddenly became a practice for the community to aspire towards.

Replacing Uncle Kracker as Kid Rock’s DJ on tour, PARADIME is the man instilling the hip-hop sense of the show, having also lent his writing skills to both artists in the past. And now he’s concentrating on his latest LP titled, 11 Steps Down featuring Kid Rock, D-12, Tash (of Tha Alkaholiks), Uncle Kracker, Guilty Simpson and Trick Trick. It’s his third release on his fully operated Beats At Will record label – an imprint far from just a 2-Way Pager and e-mail address company. Again, just like the significance of his name, the album’s title has a somewhat intoxicating twist to it. There were ‘11 steps down’ to his cousin’s basement where in the early 1990’s he first began to lay down his recordings, but today, already with two albums under his coat, PARADIME thinks it’s even more fitting to use such an old title to describe his current lifestyle. “It became a double meaning because in an alcohol rehabilitation program, it’s a 12-step program. The first step is admitting you’re an alcoholic,” he laughs. “So I’m still 11-steps down on a 12-step program.”

Humorous, witty and bluntly honest, PARADIME’s life to the listener is sort of harmless and always entertaining from the outside looking in. He might just be that artist that edges you on towards the bar, the babes, but hopefully not the DUI or getting your butt kicked! Similar to watching Brad Pitt’s character portrayal of ‘Mickey the Gypsy’ in the movie Snatch, it seems as if ever since PARADIME was little, he’d develop into such a personality. “I was a smart ass in school, I’m an Irish, Catholic kid, my family drinks,” he admits. “It’s in my nature to be a sort of a bar brawler! Th

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