‘Paradise Records’ Trailer: Logic’s Directorial Debut Spins a Wildly Funny, Surprisingly Personal Tale of Survival, Community, and Vinyl Culture

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May 24

From Grammy-nominated rapper to record store auteur, Logic steps behind the camera for his first feature—a chaotic love letter to the misfits who keep art alive.

Tribeca 2025 is brimming with buzzworthy premieres, but few are sparking as much curiosity as Paradise Records, the directorial debut of multi-platinum rapper and producer Logic (Sir Robert Bryson Hall II). Blending scrappy indie comedy with absurdist energy and personal flair, the trailer for Paradise Records teases a potentially heartfelt and hilarious first venture into filmmaking for the artist.

Set in a gritty, lovable neighborhood record shop, the film stars Logic as Cooper, a passionate if down-on-his-luck store owner trying to keep Paradise Records from going under. Facing foreclosure, a surprise robbery, and a chaotic crew of co-workers, Cooper must dig deep to keep the store—and the soul of his community—alive.

The trailer sets the tone quickly: Cooper, behind the counter, gets hit with the news that he owes $178,000 to stay open. Cue the madness. As the preview builds momentum, we meet a vibrant ensemble of misfits and cameos: Juicy J, Kevin Smith (who also executive produced), Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Diedrich Bader, Phil LaMarr, Martin Starr, and Tony Revolori, among others. Each scene pops with indie verve—milk crates stacked high, walls covered in posters, a haze of weed smoke, and characters yelling, scheming, and laughing like it’s their last day on Earth.

Logic, who first teased the project seven years ago, has long expressed his desire to write and direct. “Since I was a child I wanted to make a movie,” he shared. “And I’m excited for you all to see what I’ve written and directed.” The trailer makes good on that ambition, showing not just a film, but a passion project built from the ground up.

There’s an undeniable personal resonance here. The record store setting evokes a creative haven—much like the studio was for Logic during his rap career. In many ways, Paradise Records mirrors his own trajectory: an artist navigating obstacles with heart, humor, and relentless drive.

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Executive producer Kevin Smith’s fingerprints are everywhere—in the pacing, the irreverent humor, the misfit camaraderie. The film seems to draw clear inspiration from Clerks, Empire Records, Barbershop, and Friday—comedies centered on culture, community, and survival. But Paradise Records appears to stand on its own, with Logic’s distinct voice giving it fresh energy.

The supporting characters steal many of the trailer’s best moments: a honey-wielding father, a snarky uncle, and employees who feel like they wandered in from a sitcom. But at the film’s core is a familiar and timely question—how do we hold on to culture, art, and identity when the world is increasingly indifferent to all three?

Logic’s love of cinema is well documented, and this trailer is more than just a toe-dip into directing—it’s a declaration. While the full film has yet to screen publicly, the early signs point to a confident, heartfelt debut that combines comic irreverence with personal stakes.

With its world premiere set for June 6 in Tribeca’s Spotlight Narrative section, Paradise Records has all the makings of a festival sleeper hit. Whether or not it finds a wider theatrical run, it already signals a major artistic shift for Logic—from the mic to the director’s chair, with authenticity and ambition intact.