Rodney Hulsey, who operates under the moniker PawPaw Rod, is a rapper and singer with an easy, retro-leaning sound rooted in ’60s soul, funk, alternative R&B, and indie pop. Born in Hawaii and raised in Oklahoma City, Hulsey spent his formative years traveling the world as a military brat and developing his creative potential. Eventually settling in Los Angeles, he issued his viral debut single, “Hit Em Where It Hurts,” in 2020 to critical and commercial acclaim. The song appeared on 2021’s A PawPaw Rod EP, co-written and produced by Godmode’s Nick Sylvester with help from longtime collaborator Adam Moerder. Hulsey followed up on the release’s success with the aptly named Another PawPaw Rod EP, which featured the streaming hit “Message (Better Days).” Bolstered by the laid-back alt-pop hit “Is It Magic?, This Must Be a PawPaw Rod EP appeared in 2023, with the feel-good “Hello Dear” kicking off 2024.