H.R. Human Rights

Paul "HR" Hudson is best known as the frontman for the iconic punk band Bad Brains. HR and his brother, Earl, together with friends Gary "Dr. Know" Miller and Darryl Jenifer, began as Mind Power, a jazz fusion band, then formed Bad Brains in 1979. With unprecedented speed and precision, Bad Brains took the Washington, DC music scene by storm and quickly became the most influential band in American punk history. They created music that was about closing the racial divide and maintaining a positive mental attitude (PMA). This concept of PMA continues to inspire fans to this day.

Early in his career, after seeing Bob Marley in concert, HR became interested in reggae and the Rastafarian movement. These pursuits transformed him and he began to focus more on the spiritual nature of reggae than the fast lifestyle of the punk scene. Deeply inspired, in 1984 he formed the Human Rights band with his brother.

Having formed a friendship with his mentor, musician Ras Michael, a high priest of the Rastafarian movement, HR was baptized in the late 1980's and named Ras Hailu Gabriel Joseph I. Many people in his life began calling him "Joseph" or "Joe" at this time.

Currently, HR performs with Philadelphia musicians as HR & Human Rights. The band has refined yet organic energy that hasn't been felt since the early days of Human Rights.

To learn more, please see the documentary film "Finding Joseph I" and its companion book "Finding Joseph I: An Oral History of H.R. From Bad Brains", which was released in December 2016.