The Frontline was an American West Coast hip hop duo from Richmond, California, formed in 1997 by members Left and Locksmith. Locksmith received national exposure on the television program MTV's Freestyle Battle in 2003. The duo released their debut studio album, Who R You, on October 12, 2004, which reached number 48 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart. The recording was reissued as Now U Know on May 10, 2005, peaking at number 46. Their lyrics address issues such as youth mentorship and the effects of drug abuse. Both Left and Locksmith graduated from UC Berkeley, with Left receiving a PhD in African Diaspora Studies. They established after-school mentoring and tutoring programs in Richmond. Their second album, Lock & Left, appeared on September 25, 2007. The group’s recordings include “What Is It”, “Bang It”, “When U Want It”, “The Truth”, and “R.I.P.”, which were featured in videos on MTV. The Frontline became inactive in 2007.
