Paul was born in L. A. but grew up in Stromsburg, Nebraska.

His dad was a carpenter, and his mom was a homemaker until the kids were in jr. high, when she got work in town at the local bank.

Paul started working on farms when he was 10, chopping weeds in a farmer's pasture with his sister. He continued farming through college, until he moved back to L. A. in the summer of '93.

Paul taught in the LAUSD, near King and Figueroa, and also sold cars for a period of time.