FRONTIn' Frontin’ is poetry publication exploring the theme of masculinity within hip hop culture. It is an archive of images and narratives of rappers across 50 years of hip hop history. This is a publication that utilizes the voice of the marginalized black man to chronicle his experience in urban America. Masculinity has always been a sensitive topic in the hip hop genre, especially evident in its lyrics and widely recognised by its fans. However, the context they are used in transforms their meaning entirely. Hip Hop’s generational progression brings a continuous flow of new artists to the genre, breaking boundaries and challenging cultural norms such as toxic masculinity which has pervaded the genre for so many years.
YELLOW
MINORITY STRUGGLE
ORange
'FEMININE' TRAITS PINK
MISOGYNY
PURPLE
HOMOPHOBIA BLUE
HYPERMASCULINITY
GREEN
VULNERABILITY Color Code Colors are used throughout Frontin’ to categorise each of the lyrics by theme
I’M DIAGNOSED WITH REAL NIGGA CONDITIONS, A YOUNG NIGGA GOT IT BAD CAUSE I’M BROWN
Interscope, Top Dawg, Aftermath YAH. © 2017 Kendrick Lamar
Ruthless, Priority Fuck Tha Police © 1988 N.W.A.
BITCHES AIN’T SHIT BUT HOES AND TRICKS, LICK ON THESE NUTS AND SUCK THE DICK SHAKE YOUR MONEY MAKER LIKE SOMEBODY’S BOUT TO PAY YA
Deathrow, Interscope Bitches Ain’t Shit © 1992 Dr. Dre ft. Jewell, Tha Dogg Pound and Snoop Dogg
DTP, Def Jam Moneymaker © 2008 Ludacris ft. Pharrell Williams
Playboi Carti Kanye West
Playboi Carti Common
COULD HIT YOUR BITCH, YOU COULD NEVER HIT MINE, NIGGA, I FUCK YO BITCH FOR THE IRONY
300, Atlantic The London © 2019 Young Thug ft. J.Cole and Travis Scott
RCA Plain Jane © 2017 A$AP Ferg
MY HEART’S AN OPEN SORE THAT I HOPE HEALS SOON, ALL MY FRIENDS ARE DEAD, PUSH ME TO THE EDGE
Dream On, GOOD, Universal Motown Soundtrack 2 My Life © 2009 Kid Cudi
Generation Now, Atlantic XO Tour Llif3 © 2016 Lil Uzi Vert
Kevin Abstract Pharrell Williams
A$AP Ferg Eazy E
I NEVER SLEEP, ‘CAUSE SLEEP IS THE COUSIN OF DEATH, WE WASN’T ‘POSED TO MAKE IT PAST 25
Columbia Records N.Y. State of Mind © 1994 Nas
Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella We Don’t Care © 2004 Kanye West
BELIEVE ME, SWEETIE, I GOT ENOUGH TO FEED THE NEEDY, ONLY WAY I BEGIN THE G OFF WAS DRUG LOOT
Bad Boy, Arista, Big Poppa Big Poppa © 1995 The Notorious B.I.G.
Loud Records C.R.E.A.M. © 1994 Wu-Tang Clan
Tupac Shakur A$AP Rocky
Grandmaster Flash Playboi Carti Lil Uzi Vert Kanye West
THIS IS AMERICA, MY BABY MAMA’S DRAMA DON’T LIKE ME
mcDJ, Roc Nation This Is America © 2018 Childish Gambino
Arista, RCA Ms. Jackson © 2000 OutKast
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A HOUR LATER HAVE THAT ASS UP IN THE RAMADA, DRIVIN’ WITH MY DAD AND HE TOLD ME IT AIN’T CHRIST LIKE
Shady, Aftermath, Interscope, Universal P.I.M.P. © 2003 50 Cent
GOOD, Def Jam Follow God © 2019 Kanye West
Kendirck Lamar OutKast
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Jaden Smith Pharrell Williams
TIA AND TAMARA IN MY BED, I’M A SMART GUY, HOMO’S A NONO, SO FAGGOTS, STAY SOLO
Glassnote, Island I. The Worst Guys © 2013 Childish Gambino feat. Chance the Rapper
Relativity Heidi Hoe © 1992 Common
ALL MY NIGGAS LOCKED DOWN IN THE 10 BY 4, THEY WANNA BE BLACK AND THINK YOUR SONG IS HOW IT FEELS.
Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella Hard Knock Life © 1998 Jay-Z
Roc Nation, Dreamville, Interscope 1985 © 2017 J. Cole
Pharrell Williams Jay-Z
OutKast KYLE
BE LIKE MY DADDY’S FRIENDS, HOPPING OUT THAT MINIVAN, MOST OF MY HEROES DON’T APPEAR ON NO STAMPS
Blacksmith, A.G. Nate © 2014 Vince Staples
Motown Fight the Power © 1989 Public Enemy
WHAT’S GUCCI, MY NIGGA? WHAT’S LOUIS, MY KILLER? WHAT’S DRUGS, MY DEALER? WHAT’S THAT JACKET MARGIELA? AND NO THIS AIN’T A PURSE, IT’S A SATCHEL
Roc-A-Fella, Roc Nation, Def Jam Niggas in Paris © 2011 Jay-Z, Kanye West
ASAP Worldwide, RCA, Polo Grounds Potato Salad © 2018 A$AP Rocky, Tyler, the Creator
Frank Ocean A$AP Rocky
The Notorious B.I.G. Pharrell Williams
I TRIP, WE BOX UP CRAZY BITCHES, PUT YOUR FROWN ON BEFORE THEY THINK YOU SOFT
Dreamville, Roc Nation, Interscope Foldin’ Clothes © 2016 J. Cole
Columbia The World Is Yours © 1994 Nas
YOUR CREW IS FEATHERWEIGHT, MY GUNSHOTS’LL MAKE YOU LEVITATE, DON’T PUSH ME CAUSE I’M CLOSE TO THE EDGE, I’M TRYING NOT TO LOSE MY HEAD
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Sugarhill The Message © 1982 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Loud, RCA, BMC Shook Ones (Part II) © 1994 Mobb Deep
A$AP Ferg The Notorious B.I.G.
Kendrick Lamar GoldLink
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YOU’RE SHUCKIN’ AND JIVIN’, STEALIN’ AND ROBBIN’, LOOK AT WHAT REAPER GOT YOU, STUCK IN THE MUD
Def Jam Crack Rock © 2012 Frank Ocean
Top Dawg Entertainment Stuck in the Mud © 2016 Isaiah Rashad ft. SZA
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NOW MY MOM PIMPS AN AC’ WITH MINKS ON HER BACK, BRAND NEW WHIP FOR THESE NIGGAS LIKE SLAVERY
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Bad Boy, Arista Juicy © 1994 The Notorious B.I.G.
Glassnote Bonfire © 2011 Childish Gambino
A$AP Rocky Playboi Carti
Travis Scott & Kid Cudi Tyler, the Creator
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NOW, WHAT’S COOLER THAN BEING COOL? (ICE COLD), I WAS JUST FRONTIN’
LaFace, Arista Hey Ya! © 2003 OutKast
Arista, Star Trak Frontin’ © 2003 Pharrell Williams ft. Jay-Z
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I GOT A LIVIN’ ROOM FULL OF FINE DIME BRIZZLES, THAT IS WHERE I WAS HIDIN’
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Doggystyle, Star Trak, Geffen Drop It Like It’s Hot © 2004 Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell Williams
Columbia Garden Shed © 2017 Tyler, the Creator
Jaden Smith Lil Yachty
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Tupac Shakur Lil Nas X
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'CAUSE FAGGOTS HATE WHEN YOU GETTIN’ MONEY LIKE ATHLETES, BECAUSE WE’RE ALL WRITTEN DOWN ON THE SAME LIST
Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love) © 2001 Jay-Z
Profile Records It’s Like That © 1983 Run-D.M.C.
STREETS DON’T FAIL ME NOW, THEY TELL ME IT’S A NEW GANG IN TOWN, SO WE PRAY TO THE GODS THE JAHS AND THE ALLAHS, TO KEEP US SAFE AND WATCH OUR LIVES
Top Dawg, Aftermath, Interscope Hood Politics © 2015 Kendrick Lamar
Cinematic Music Group Waves © 2012 Joey Bada$$
Kendrick Lamar Pharrell Williams
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