Marcus "Paradise" Dawes (born February 23, 1973), also known by his stage names Paradise and WhoIsParadise, is a British-American rapper, poet, songwriter and community activist. He is best recognized as the co-founder and frontman of the Brixton-based Hip hop group, The 57th Dynasty. Raised in the United States, he spent his childhood and teenage years in New York City and is considered an allochthonous son of the city. Mentored by The Black Panthers as a youth; Paradise's lyrics frequently use social and political themes inspired by personal experiences. During The 57th Dynasty's early years, Paradise's lyrics contributed to their rebellious and spiritual tone. His debut and sophomore albums with the group, The Spoken Word (1996) and Boro 6 Vol. 2 - A Dynasty Truly Like No Other (2002) a