Paris, left, at Fresh Fest in New York
Paris is one the original B-Boys of Rhode Island. He grew up in Pawtucket and was one of the first members of Furious Rockers and Return To Burn. He later founded Prospectors On A Mission as the lead MC, which developed into a hip hop clothing store.
Listen to Paris’s story.
Follow our interview notes to go explore his story more deeply.
First Inspiration [0:00]
- Paris’s brother, Mark Fisher
- Freestyle Uprock (YouTube)
First experience with bboying [0:34]
- Prospect Heights, Pawtucket
- United Skates of America
Dancer Connections [1:11]
- RI B-Boy pioneer, Carlos, Coolie D
- Manton Projects
- Boogie Boy
Carlos and his crews [2:00]
B-girls [4:06]
- Ellie from Furious Rockers (Eddie’s sister)
The Start of Furious Rockers [5:07]
- Furious Rockers on That’s Incredible World Battle [Furious Rockers appear at 2:20] (YouTube)
A more personal evolution [6:22]
- First rap performance in 1988 at Roger Williams Park
- P.O.A.M. – Prospectors On A Mission
The projects: violence, crack, and living on the edge [8:19]
POAM and the community [9:56]
- 91-92 creative writing development workshop
- community outreach through the aspects of hip hop and the arts
Keeping it real AND right [11:45]
- Finding out who you are and where you are going
- Mike Doran – DJ
The early identity of hip hop [12:50]
“Rap is easier to commercialize” [13:57]
The international growth of hip hop [15:25]
Eminem and China [16:40]
Hip hop today [17:58]
Faith and culture [19:04]
Peace, love, and unity [20:06]
A reflection of humanity [20:40]
Paris, far right, with The Steady Force Crew, a branch of Return To Burn, after winning the Rocky Point B-Boy New England Competition in 1983.
POAM store in Downtown Providence, 124 Mathewson Street. Left to Right: Paris, Sean G, and Ed Al.
