PARIAH PETE

BIO

Pariah Pete, aka "Pariah Like Mariah with a P," is a unique artist known for blending Hip-Hop, Indie, and Jazz/Soul, while fostering a strong sense of community. Defining his style as “desert jazz rap,” his mission is simple: to build connections—whether through his onstage rapport or personally delivering tickets across Phoenix. His vulnerable lyrics and the melodic sounds of his band, The Mercuries, create a perfect harmony. Drawing inspiration from both classic and contemporary artists like Kendrick Lamar, Erykah Badu, and Gil Scott-Heron, Pete’s music is shaped by a wide range of influences.

The past few years have seen explosive growth for Pariah Pete, with over 500k streams on Spotify and 10 sold-out headlining shows. His dedicated fans have supported him as he’s opened for artists like Doja Cat, Earthgang, Breakup Shoes, Phonyppl, Brainstory, and John Roseboro. On the festival circuit, he performed at M3F ‘25, VivaPhx ‘24, and ZONAFEST alongside acts like LCD Soundsystem, BADBADNOTGOOD, Beach House, Freddie Gibbs, Mavi, Inner Wave, Crumb, and Chicano Batman. He also headlined the Arizona Hip-Hop Festival two years in a row prior to turning 21, and has played headlining and supporting shows in California, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado.

Pariah Pete has been highlighted in a Phoenix New Times profile piece, mentioned multiple times in the Arizona Republic, and named "Best Hip Hop/R&B Act" by Phoenix Magazine. He was handpicked by Pigeons & Planes to perform with Earthgang at The Van Buren and shared the stage with Katastro at the Marquee Theatre. Buffalo Exchange endorsed his first band-produced track, "Sunkissed," a summer anthem. His songs have aired on 101.5FM, 101.1FM, 98.3FM, and 93.3FM. Recently, he was invited to the YouTube Music HQ in New York City, where he showcased songs from his upcoming EP, and has continued to earn support from industry figures like Annabelle Kline, Tommy Richman, and Dev Lemons.

As a Phoenix-based artist, he began writing music at just 9 years old. Raised by a single Polish immigrant, one of his earliest musical memories is of 50 Cent's "In Da Club," which contrasted with the jazz his mother often played at home—an influence that would shape his own sound. Currently, Pete is focused on releasing music and performing alongside his band, refining his unique position in the musical landscape, and building his community both online and offline.