Bad News Brown

Paul Frappier (May 8, 1977 – February 11, 2011), better known by his stage name Bad News Brown (at times, also as BNB and Briz Brown), was a Canadian entertainer, musician, and hip hop MC of Haitian origin. He was known for pairing the sound of his chief instrument, the harmonica, with hip-hop beats and rhymes. Frappier started out busking in Montreal in streets and subway stations. He later toured and opened for many well-known hip hop acts or as background musician. He also appeared as an impromptu host in Music for a Blue Train, the 2003 documentary about busker musicians in the Montreal Metro subway train system. In 2004, he signed a management deal with E-Stunt Entertainment Group. In 2009, he established his own record label, Trilateral Entertainment Inc., and released his debut album Born 2 Sin. Brown was found murdered in an alley near the Lachine Canal in Montreal on February 11, 2011. The feature film BumRush, featuring Brown in a leading role, premiered posthumously on April 1, 2011.

Beginnings Born in Haiti, Paul Frappier moved at a young age to Quebec, first living in Saint-Lazare and Hudson before settling in Montreal with his adopted Québécois family in the Little Burgundy area. In school, he struggled with dyslexia. He left home in his teenage years, and quickly discovered a talent for the harmonica that could earn him a living by busking on the street and in Montreal Metro stations. "Busking was the smartest thing I ever did in my life," he says. "It paid my bills, bought me my studio, and within two years I estimate 50 per cent of the city knew I existed."

Frappier developed his sound by playing in the streets, combining his skill as a blues/jazz harmonica player with his love of hip-hop. He adopted his stage name from the suggestion of fellow Montreal rapper Misery, which coincidentally was the name of his childhood favourite WWF wrestler, Allen Coage (nicknamed Bad News Brown).

Brown quickly became accredited as the best busker in Montreal by the weekly arts and music magazine, the Montreal Mirror.

Frappier lived with his girlfriend Natasha. He was also the father of a boy, Izaiah, for whom he had joint custody. Brown described the album's style as "Harmonic Hip-Hop" or "Electronic Triptronic Melodic Harmonics".

The single "Feeling Me On" was released as part of the Universal Music compilation Hip Hop Rai 2, which sold over 50,000 units in Europe. Brown was co-producing the film and was involved in its casting. Some of his original songs from his album Born 2 Sin were included in the film's soundtrack. BumRush premiered posthumously on April 1, 2011, in Canadian movie theaters. Jetté announced that the film would serve as a tribute to the slain artist. Police said there were "clear signs of violence" on his upper body and pronounced him dead at the scene.

Brown was reportedly preparing for a show in Quebec City to be held a day later. He was with his girlfriend until about 10 PM, when he told her he was going out to meet someone. Around midnight, a couple who had been out walking found him lying on the ground at the intersection of Richmond Street and William Street.

As of 2026, no news has been released regarding Brown's death.

Discography

Studio albums First studio album Released: June 28, 2009 Label: Trilateral Entertainment Inc Format: CD

Mixtapes 2009: G'd Up From the Street Up

Singles Year Title Album2009"Soul Clap"non-album single"Touch Her Body"Born 2 Sin"Born to Sin"2011"Harm's Delight"non-album single

Filmography Acting 2003: Music for a Blue Train (as impromptu host) 2011: BumRush (as Loosecanon) Production 2011: BumRush – co-producer