H.R.

H.R.
H.R. outside of New York's CBGB in 2006
Background information
Birth name	Paul D. Hudson
Born	(1956-02-11) 11 February 1956 (age 61) London, England
Origin	Washington, DC, USA
Genres	Hardcore punk, reggae
Occupation(s)	Musician, vocalist
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass
Years active	1977–present
Associated acts	Bad Brains, Human Rights

H.R. (Hunting Rod or Human Rights) (born 11 February 1956) is the stage name of Paul D. Hudson, the lead singer of the American hardcore punk band Bad Brains. His vocal delivery is very diverse, ranging from a rapid-fire nasal whine, to feral growling and screeches, to smooth near-crooning or staccato reggae rhymes. He has departed the band periodically to pursue solo efforts that are more mellow reggae than Bad Brains' usual punk/metal offerings. He is the older brother of Earl Hudson, Bad Brains' drummer.

H.R. and his bandmates became Rastafari around 1979. This spiritual direction influenced the music of Bad Brains via his vocals, and inspired the creation of his reggae band, Human Rights (or H.R.).

Although reggae is the main focus on his solo material, he explores rock and other musical genres. He has had numerous albums released on SST Records. A Village Voice review of a Bad Brains concert described H.R. on stage "like James Brown gone berserk, with a hyperkinetic repertoire of spins, dives, back-flips, splits, and skanks.", although in recent years his stage presence has become more subdued, primarily due to his spiritual development from the O.G. Punk/Rasta to more of a Rasta Elder (at least on stage), as well as his occasional playing of rhythm Guitar.

H.R. has collaborated with the Long Beach Dub Allstars on their song "New Sun" on the Right Back album, and with P.O.D. on their song "Without Jah, Nothin'", on the album Satellite. Going back to 1991 (between Bad Brains' breaks), H.R. has been aligned with Jamekee/D.I.A. touring especially SST's "Charge," "Human Rights" and "Singing in the Heart" albums.

During the past several years, H.R. has headlined DIA Records' Global Rock Showcase tours in the 2000s (and recently in early 2014). Stitched together by Tony Beyers, H.R. joined Bad Brains for three CBGB's reunion gigs in 2005 after playing Steven Van Zandt hosted CBGB's Benefit in Washington Square Park, New York City on 31 August 2005. H.R. then regrouped with Bad Brains playing a few dates in 2006. The foursome—Darryl Jenifer, Gary Miller, Earl Hudson and H.R. toured thereafter supporting Build a Nation CD. Build a Nation was produced by Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys and released on Megaforce Records in 2007. Build a Nation is a return to their hardcore punk roots, but also encompasses their unique reggae-punk hybrid sound expressed in I Against I, Quickness and later albums. Build a Nation is the first original album with the original Bad Brains lineup since 1995.