Formed in the heart of Dallas but born on the highway, Cure for Paranoia came together during a “doomsday road trip” intended to be their last. Having recently been diagnosed with bipolar paranoid schizophrenia, frontman Cameron McCloud found clarity in a hot-boxed rental car; making music with collaborators Jay Analog and Tomahawk Jonez gave him peace of mind. “He said, ‘this is my cure for paranoia.’ Instantly, everyone’s eyes lit up,” a pivotal realization that cemented the group’s moniker. Following the advice of conspiracy theorist friends, the newly christened collective had packed up and headed toward the Four Corners, a location rumored to be the ideal shelter to wait out the apocalypse. When the predicted earth-shattering meteor failed to hit, inspiration struck instead. As Jonez recalls, “On the way from Amarillo to Colorado Springs, like eight songs got written.”

Returning to Dallas with a newfound purpose, the group bypassed the traditional route to stardom, cutting their teeth on the pavement of Deep Ellum. Their reputation was built through relentless busking and electric performances at local staples like COLAB and Drugstore Cowboy. These guerrilla-style sets allowed the band to hone a razor-sharp live performance style that KXT 91.7 FM’s Alec Spicer describes as "equal parts eccentric and electric," noting that the group "has the perfect dose for Dallas." Their commanding artistry quickly moved them from street corners to major stages, earning the ultimate co-sign from the Queen of Neo-Soul herself, Erykah Badu. After catching her ear, the group was tapped to perform at her legendary Birthday Bash, a milestone that signaled their arrival as heavyweights in the scene.

Since then, Cure for Paranoia has shared bills with icons ranging from George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic and Nas to Ludacris and Leon Bridges. Their resume includes stops at SXSW, Fortress Festival, and the NPR Tiny Desk Contest "On The Road" Tour, solidifying their status as festival favorites. While keen to distance themselves from standard regional production, they cultivated a signature "Trippy Soul infused hip hop" sound—a blend prioritized on their anchor project, the Work of A.R.T. EP. This commitment to substance has resulted in sustained acclaim, including being named a three-time NPR Tiny Desk Contest finalist (2023–2025), a PrizeFest Grand Prize winner, and a fixture on The Texas Hip-Hop Top 60. With back-to-back Song of the Year wins (2024 & 2025) and a 2025 Rap Group of the Year title at the Dallas Entertainment Awards, Cure for Paranoia has proven that their survival of the apocalypse was just the beginning of their legacy.

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