Cure For Paranoia Set the Pace for Dallas Music in 2026 with EP Release Show at Trees

Cure for Paranoia’s show at Trees on Friday night was a strikingly dominant showing for Dallas hip-hop from start to finish, and a fitting celebration for Work of A.R.T., the band’s new EP.

BarbieFartsss kicked the night off with a DJ set that blended drum n bass and atmospheric music with hip-hop classics like Lil Wayne’s “A Milli,”  “Looking For The Hoes” by Sexxy Red and even a nearly unrecognizable mix of Ludacris’ “Fantasy.” Lights strobed and crazy visuals flashed behind the DJ as she set the room’s tone from the jump.

Scuttino, one of our 25 best rappers in North Texas, came out next, brimming with swagger and contagious positive energy. He introduced himself as “Your favorite cousin, Scuttino” and continued to cut up with the crowd in between tracks.

“Ladies, who in here has a firearm?” He asked with a grin. “Some of these guys out here act weird … get y’all one. We’re in Texas, it’s legal.”

He also got real with the audience and encouraged everyone to chase their dreams, saying, “Whatever you want to do, go do it. It’s free to try.” Scuttino repped Dallas to the fullest and truly made the show feel like a community experience. He shouted out several different neighborhoods, from Oak Cliff to Pleasant Grove and even Louisiana, and everyone in the crowd cheered upon hearing their respective neck of the woods mentioned.

Though the Oak Cliff rapper spits with confidence, he speaks with a sense of earnest kindness, a combination that quickly captured the crowd. He shifted things to slow the set down for two unreleased tracks that he glided through with ease, then had everyone in the building chanting the hook for his anthemic “Doug Dimmadome” cut.

Next up was Devy Stonez, who dove straight into his set without warning and unleashed a barrage of bass-heavy beats. Stonez is very even and methodical with his flow, and his bars land with real weight. Like Scuttino, Stonez is also originally from Louisiana but has become a well-known face in the Dallas scene over the past several years.

Prolific Dallas artist Coach Tev hit the stage next. He came out spitting a segmented flow over a syncopated beat, then dug in with quick bars on the next few tracks. His set marked a shift toward more spaced-out, slower beats compared with the earlier acts on the lineup. In between tracks, Tev gave a shout-out to all the fellow artists in the crowd, praising them for the dedication it takes to pursue a creative craft.

“Sometimes you just gotta get up at 3 a.m. and write that shit down,” he said.

He then brought out Blake Cris for his last two tracks and finished with “Egyptian Rugs.”

After Tev’s set, the lights dimmed, and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett walked on stage. Crockett announced her campaign bid for the U.S. Senate earlier this month with the help of Cure for Paranoia frontman Cameron McCloud as part of his series of writing a rap verse every day for 365 days straight. As she hit the stage, she light-heartedly spat a few of her own bars before welcoming the night’s headliners.

In a grand introduction, Cure for Paranoia’s Tomahawk Jonez and Jay Analog, along with each member of the live band, strutted up to the stage through a path marked off by red velvet ropes, as BarbieFartsss introduced them to the crowd in a very fashion show-like presentation. McCloud hit the stage last, sporting a black blazer and tank top with a red shoulder bag, his hair dyed neon blue and green. 

He teased “The Artshow” before telling the audience they’d have to wait a bit longer for that one, then performed a fully fleshed-out version of “pt.1 UNbOTHERED,” a song given new life with the support of his spectacular live band. McCloud rapped at a blistering pace on “World War III,” and had everyone jumping for “No Brainer.” He brought out Tye Harris to perform his verse on “Origin Story,” a hype track with a pensive, tense beat.

While McCloud naturally commanded attention, it can’t be overstated how crucial the band was to last night’s performance. They brought every track to new heights and included several instrumental breaks to fully emphasize every moment. McCloud was quick to step aside for a trumpet or sax solo and gave each member their own moment to shine.

“This is the first time we’ve ever performed these songs, so I want to thank you all for coming to our rehearsal,” McCloud joked.

As an EP, Work of A.R.T. covers an impressive amount of ground in its 20-minute runtime, both musically and thematically. The production is killer; instrumentals evolve organically and bend or break at McCloud’s will to highlight an impactful bar or sly punchline.

McCloud’s sharp sense of humor shines through in just about every song, like on “The Artshow” when he boasts, “I’m fine as fuck, and I kill shit; Luigi Mangione.” The EP showcases his impressive range, from fast-paced bars on “No Brainer” to his more metered approach on “Origin Story.” Saturday’s live unveiling of the new project was a masterclass that showcased Cure For Paranoia’s ability to be able to effortlessly reach into any bag they choose and pull out something impressive.

McCloud took a moment to remind the audience that their daily struggles don’t define them, as he told the crowd, “Regardless of what you’re going through and what you feel like you’re up against, sometimes the shit isn’t happening to you, it’s happening for you. It’s happening in order for someone to see you persevere and say, ‘Godamnit, I can do that shit too.'”

The crowd was rapturous as the band performed “The Artshow” before McCloud took a moment to sing happy birthday to his sister Dorothy.

The group closed out the night with “& Pose,” extending the song well past its usual runtime as the band played their hearts out — we’re talking 10 minutes of all-out, pure, in-the-moment grooves. Everyone on stage was winded by the time they finished, and the audience exploded with applause.

There’s no other way to cut it: If you weren’t at Trees last night, you missed out on a night of Dallas music magic. Between the stacked bill of dynamic openers and the powerhouse performance from Cure for Paranoia, the record release show was one for the books.