The Future: Front Page

Sitting in a dimly lit recording studio, rapper and Northeastern University student Front Page, isn’t worried about upcoming finals, his busy class schedule, or a term paper deadline. Page, which is the nickname those close to the young artist often call him, is immersed in the moment, with only one thing on his mind - music.   

“How did that sound?” Page asks fellow Northeastern student and producer Sammy Beats, who was engineering the recording session at an on campus studio.

“Sounding good,” he replied, motioning through the thick Plexiglas window separating the recording booth and the large audio console.

Page, 21, dawned a mo-hawk hair cut in addition to sunglasses, jeans, and Nike sneakers.

This was merely the beginning of Page’s six-hour recording session, working on his new song titled “Pose for Me.”

Page said he seeks to be different from many of his fellow Hip-hop artists.

“Hip-hop is very imitative. I said in one of my songs ‘in terms of artists, not too many originals left, thin-line between influence and identity theft,’” Page said, smiling at the quip-like nature of the line.

“Everybody’s biting the next man and that’s why we get so many classifications in Hip-hop. Like you’re a gangster rapper, hipster, or conscious rapper. I don’t want to be put in any category. I’m me, Front Page.”

The development of Front Page the artist began years earlier in his Hartford, Connecticut home, when he was known only as Karl Dunkley.   
 “My childhood is a big part of my music … I spent a lot of time with my older cousins who were listening to a lot of different artists. They were a big influence on me and I wanted to be just like them. I eventually just took it on, writing on my own, and I’ve never stopped,” said Page.

After his father and mother separated when Page was 7, he found himself in his mother’s beauty salon, not identifying with his surroundings, looking for a way to occupy his time.

“I couldn’t relate to anything, so after I finished my homework I would be in the back writing bars [poetic lines]. That’s how I got through difficult things,” said Page.

“Pose for Me” is part of a newer sound Page is currently using, rapping over instrumentals that are influenced by the musical genre electronica, he described.

With the diverse group of people Page surrounds himself with, it only makes sense for his music to be influenced by different genres, from alternative rock to reggae. Page said he takes great pride in connecting to all kings of people through his words.

His continued development as an artist can be attributed to the time he has spent at Northeastern University.

“When I first came into college I wouldn’t say I was closed minded, but I was stuck in my ways and only listened to music classified as real ‘hip-hop,’” he said, motioning quotes in the air when saying the music genre.

“I don’t want to say I’m really mad at Hip-hop, but I’m not really pleased with the quality of a lot music out,” said Page.

Page is currently a junior, but plans to immerse himself in the music industry following college. Although this is a difficult task, he feels it is his self-made image that people will latch onto.

“No matter what an artist says, the hardest thing to be on a record is yourself. It’s about the persona and personality that you put forth on a record, and once you find that, it’s just unstoppable.”