y l t n e i g PWaat itin
F
rank Lini has had run-ins with the law. He grew up in a single parent home and spent time in the street. But this rapper’s story is far from typical. Yes, like most rappers, he calls his brand of rap reality music, but his message is a little different. “A lot of young niggas out there in the streets really don’t understand or know why they’re out there,” he says. “I actually tell niggas that shit ain’t sweet out here. It’s a lot of shit out here niggas don’t know and I [help] show him that the street life is a dead end route. You can’t hustle forever; it’s consequences [to your actions].” With his new project on Radar Entertainment, I’m All In, the Ft. Myers native speaks to his experiences, growing up in a single parent household and the effects that followed. “I knew my daddy [but] he just wasn’t an at-home daddy,” says the 26-yearold. “I really didn’t have anybody to look up to [at home], so I looked up to niggas I admired in the streets. I eventually started running in the streets and seeing a lot of real shit a lot faster then I should have seen it.” Although his mom worked and went to school to ensure that her kids had a good upbringing, Frank Lini still found himself involved in street life. The les40 // OZONE MAG
sons that he’s learned from time spent traveling down a dead end path are sprinkled throughout his album. Already garnering critical acclaim from his five earlier mixtapes, he’s fully focused on delivering his brand of truth. “My best attribute as an artist is that I’m real,” reasons the father of four, mentioning that as a youngster he wanted to be a DJ. “I experienced a lot coming up, just being tied into the justice system and being black and coming from where I’m from. You have no choice but to be real.” Pushed by tracks like “I’m All In,” his album is a culmination of the hard work he’s been putting in over the past 12 years. He just hopes that people give his music an honest chance, despite a saturated rap market. “I can honestly say my biggest influence is God,” he acknowledges. “He blessed me with the talent to be able to spread this good music.” //
Words by Jacinta Howard Photo by Terrence Tyson