Paradime

Livonia to the Detroit scene

Paradime is the stage name of Frederick Beauregard, a rapper, producer, hypeman and DJ from Livonia, Michigan, active since the early 1990s. He attended Detroit Catholic Central and Northwood University. Mentored by Kid Rock, he worked as turntablist and backing vocalist in Kid Rock’s Twisted Brown Trucker band, and Kid Rock’s rise is credited with raising the profiles of Detroit-area artists including Joe C., Uncle Kracker and Paradime. His early recordings came through Kid Rock’s Top Dog label, and in 1996 he founded his own imprint, Beats At Will.

Vices and the D12 connection

After his debut Paragraphs (1999), Paradime released Vices on Beats At Will Records in October 2001. The album brought in members of the city’s leading crews: D12’s Kon Artis (Denaun Porter, credited as Mr. Porter among the producers) and Swifty McVay guest on it, Proof makes a cameo, and Guilty Simpson and Shi Dog of the Almighty Dreadnaughtz also appear. That is the extent of his documented D12 link: he worked with members of the group but was not a member himself. In 2002 Vices won him Detroit Music Awards for Outstanding Hip-Hop Recording, Outstanding Hip-Hop Artist and Outstanding Hip-Hop MC.

Steady independent output

Through the 2000s he kept releasing records, including 11 Steps Down (2004), Spill At Will (2007), the Stale Brew mixtape series (2002–2009) and Breaking Beauregard (2011). Along the way he appeared on tracks with Proof, Obie Trice, Guilty Simpson, Dabrye and Hush.

Return on Mello Music Group

In 2023 Paradime signed with Mello Music Group and ended a 12-year break from solo albums with Period., released in September 2023 with production from Apollo Brown and Charlie Beans and guest spots from Guilty Simpson, Marv Won, Ty Farris, A Minus and Copywrite. The label released the videos for “Rock A Bye” and “Time 4 Sum.” The album L followed in 2024.