There’s nothing like the moment when you find out your passion can get you … Read Full Bio ↴There’s nothing like the moment when you find out your passion can get you paid. In September of 2011, San Francisco’s A-1 was stocking shelves for less than minimum wage, writing songs whenever he could find time. A year earlier he gained an internet buzz with After School Special, a 90′s TV show themed album he had written and recorded while living on a friends couch in New York City. A year later he was back in San Francisco, holding down a day job while working on his follow up mixtape, The Book Of Adam. He put together a release party for the project at a popular local venue in SF, but was unsure if he’d made the jump from having internet fans to physical ones, and was concerned whether enough people would be at the show. But the venue went over capacity, had to lock it’s doors to prevent the fans waiting outside from forcing their way in, and the response was overwhelming. A-1 quit his job the very next day and has been a full time artist ever since.

Born Adam Traore, a first generation US citizen to West African and Italian parents, A-1’s music is constructed around vivid stories of growing up in The City while searching for happiness and self awareness. Regardless of whether a song is catered to be the perfect back drop to a night of raging, or a thought provoking opportunity for reflection, the music always remains true to A-1’s personal experiences. Driven by a desire to be an inherently good person in a morally complex society, A-1′s positivity shines brightly throughout his body of work. His goal is to put himself in a position to help others, starting with himself, his family, and his community, but the rest of the country and world are not too far from his sights either.

The successes of The Book Of Adam and 2012’s THURL have been catalysts in A-1’s career. His music has continued to thrive online and has been consistently posted by Complex, The Fader, The Smoking Section, OkayPlayer, OnSmash, HipHopDX, and more. He was voted by local fans and tastemakers into Thizzler.com’s 2012 Bay Area Freshmen 10 list. In addition to working the online circuit, A-1 has been able to leverage his internet coverage to help him take his music on the road. He’s been a part of Roach Gigz’ Bugged Out Tour w/ Iamsu!, the Canadian leg of Zion I’s Shadow Boxing tour, as well as tours with Equipto and George Watsky, and has opened up for an array of artists ranging from Too $hort and Andre Nickatina to Wallpaper.

Equipped with a heart filled with passion, an insatiable desire for creativity, discerning eyes and ears for quality, and a plan to spread his music to as many people as possible, A-1 is poised to be the first name in music lover’s ipods and itunes in the very near future.

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Born in 1987 to immigrant parents, Adam Rashid Traore better known by his stage name A-1, is a first generation American rapper from the San Francisco Bay Area. Born and raised in the Mission District of San Francisco, A-1 was brought up by his Italian mother and mentored by his Senegalese father who both introduced him to an extreme diversity of cultures from a young age. Being exposed to so many walks of life helped define A's open-minded and charismatic nature, as well as added to his artistic creativity.

Since debuting as a solo artist in early 2009, A-1 has dropped 6 independent mixtapes and is releasing his 7th mixtape, "After School Special" in August 2010.

Faces
A-1 Lyrics

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Tu joues les cowboys...
Tu joues les badboys...

Face à face c'est à celui qui tire le premier
Même si c'est pas facile je serais là comme j'l'avais promis
Et puis s'efface le temps qui passe
Je me prélasse au pied d'un pommier
Je me retrouve au pied du mur je dois trouver un compromis

Pour prouver mon courage à tout prix vouloir se venger
Kill kill est-ce qu'il est sage de mettre sa vie en danger
Je prie pour mon présage et que nos guns restent rangés
Pas aussi fou, je ferais tout pour que tout puisse s'arranger
Règlement d'compte, une tête mise à prix
Epris pour ma discipline je dois faire preuve d'un peu d'esprit
Pris en otage au pire j'applique ce que la vie m'a appris
Pris dans cet engrenage je n'veux plus être un incompris

La bataille verbale vient tout juste de prendre place
c nous de trouver une mélodie efficace
Envoûtante pour te laisser aller
Ouvrir son coeur sans calculer
J'balance une vibe, j'attends ta réplique
Le but de la bataille est de trouver un flow atypique
J'lance l'offensive, tu kiffes la rythmique
Plus de temps à perdre, il n'y a pas de polémique
Entre dualité et fraternité, c'est mon frère d'armes qui est sur scène à mes côtés
Les pieds sur terre la tête dans les nuages
Ce monde tourne à l'envers quand est-ce qu'on tourne la page ?

J'ai lâché mes mots je n'ai plus rien à dire
J'me battrais jusqu'au bout pas question de fuir
J'ai lâché mes mots je n'ai plus rien à dire
J'me battrais jusqu'au bout pas question de fuir

cllez allez c'est l'moment de s'acharner,
Ta famille te le rendra si tu es prêt à donner
Trouve un sens à ta vie pour construire ton chemin
Une question de survie pour un meilleur lendemain

J'ai troqué mon colt, échangé contre un micro
Les balles fusent, quand j'ajuste mes mots
La scène se transforme en far west
Face à mon public, je ne retourne pas ma veste

Je reste droit dans mes bottes, la tête cachée sous mon chapeau
Dégaine en one shot, cherche à shooter ta compo
J'avais des choses à dire, j'ai tenu ces propos
Pas question de fuir, même s'ils en veulent à ma peau

Tu joues les cowboys...
Tu joues les badboys...
Tu joues les cowboys, MC, protège tes arrières
Tu joues les badboys, Même si, t'en as pas la carrière
Tu joues les cowboys, MC, protège tes arrières
Tu joues les badboys, Même si, t'en as pas la carrière
Tu joues les cowboys, MC, protège tes arrières
Tu joues les badboys, Même si, t'en as pas la carrière
Tu joues les cowboys, MC, protège tes arrières
Tu joues les badboys, Même si, t'en as pas la carrière

Tu joues les cowboys, MC, protège tes arrières
Tu joues les badboys, Même si, t'en as pas la carrière

Overall Meaning

The first verse of the song describes a confrontational situation, where individuals are playing the roles of cowboys and badboys. It emphasizes the idea of a face-off, where the first person to take action is seen as the winner. The singer acknowledges that it may not be easy, but they will be there as promised. As time passes, they find themselves relaxing under a tree, contemplating their situation and needing to find a compromise to prove their courage. They question the wisdom of risking their life for revenge and hope that their guns remain unused. They express a desire to arrange things in a less chaotic manner.

The second verse highlights a verbal battle that is just beginning, with the focus on finding an effective melody. The aim is to create an enchanting vibe that allows people to open their hearts without hesitation. The singer initiates the battle and enjoys the rhythm, emphasizing that there is no time to waste and no need for controversy. There is a mention of duality and brotherhood, indicating that the singer's ally is on stage with them. They metaphorically describe being grounded but having their head in the clouds, and express a desire for change.

The chorus expresses the artist's intention to fight until the end without running away or backing down. They emphasize that they have nothing more to say, having poured their words out already. It's a statement of determination and commitment to continue fighting.

The third verse talks about seizing the moment and giving it their all, with the understanding that their family will appreciate it if they are willing to give their best. They encourage finding a purpose in life to build a better future. It's depicted as a matter of survival.

The final verse describes the artist exchanging their revolver for a microphone. They use their words as ammunition and transform the stage into a wild west scenario. They remain steadfast and loyal to their craft, not turning their back on it even when faced with potential threats. The section emphasizes the artist's courage to speak their mind and stand tall, even if there are people who have ill intentions towards them.

The repeated lines in the outro serve as a reminder that playing the role of a cowboy or a badboy is not dependent on having a career in that direction. It suggests that regardless of one's background or circumstances, they should be aware of and protect themselves from those who may try to undermine or harm them.

Line by Line Meaning

Tu joues les cowboys...
You pretend to be a cowboy...

Tu joues les badboys...
You pretend to be a badboy...

Face à face c'est à celui qui tire le premier
In a face to face, it's the one who shoots first...

Même si c'est pas facile je serais là comme j'l'avais promis
Even if it's not easy, I'll be there as I promised...

Et puis s'efface le temps qui passe
And then the passing time fades away...

Je me prélasse au pied d'un pommier
I relax at the foot of an apple tree...

Je me retrouve au pied du mur je dois trouver un compromis
I find myself backed into a corner, I have to find a compromise...

Pour prouver mon courage à tout prix vouloir se venger
To prove my courage by wanting revenge at any cost...

Kill kill est-ce qu'il est sage de mettre sa vie en danger
Kill, kill, is it wise to put your life in danger...

Je prie pour mon présage et que nos guns restent rangés
I pray for my omen and that our guns remain holstered...

Pas aussi fou, je ferais tout pour que tout puisse s'arranger
Not that crazy, I'll do anything to make everything work out...

Règlement d'compte, une tête mise à prix
Settlement of scores, a bounty on one's head...

Epris pour ma discipline je dois faire preuve d'un peu d'esprit
Passionate about my discipline, I have to show some wit...

Pris en otage au pire j'applique ce que la vie m'a appris
Taken hostage, at worst, I apply what life has taught me...

Pris dans cet engrenage je n'veux plus être un incompris
Caught in this cycle, I don't want to be misunderstood anymore...

La bataille verbale vient tout juste de prendre place
The verbal battle has just begun...

c nous de trouver une mélodie efficace
It's up to us to find an effective melody...

Envoûtante pour te laisser aller
Enchanting to let you go...

Ouvrir son coeur sans calculer
Open your heart without calculating...

J'balance une vibe, j'attends ta réplique
I throw a vibe, I await your reply...

Le but de la bataille est de trouver un flow atypique
The goal of the battle is to find a unique flow...

J'lance l'offensive, tu kiffes la rythmique
I launch the attack, you love the rhythm...

Plus de temps à perdre, il n'y a pas de polémique
No more time to waste, there's no controversy...

Entre dualité et fraternité, c'est mon frère d'armes qui est sur scène à mes côtés
Between duality and fraternity, it's my comrade who's on stage by my side...

Les pieds sur terre la tête dans les nuages
Feet on the ground, head in the clouds...

Ce monde tourne à l'envers quand est-ce qu'on tourne la page ?
This world is turning upside down, when do we turn the page?

J'ai lâché mes mots je n'ai plus rien à dire
I've let go of my words, I have nothing else to say...

J'me battrais jusqu'au bout pas question de fuir
I'll fight until the end, no question of running away...

cllez allez c'est l'moment de s'acharner
Come on, it's time to persevere...

Ta famille te le rendra si tu es prêt à donner
Your family will repay you if you're ready to give...

Trouve un sens à ta vie pour construire ton chemin
Find a purpose in your life to build your path...

Une question de survie pour un meilleur lendemain
A question of survival for a better tomorrow...

J'ai troqué mon colt, échangé contre un micro
I swapped my gun, exchanged it for a microphone...

Les balles fusent, quand j'ajuste mes mots
Bullets fly when I adjust my words...

La scène se transforme en far west
The stage transforms into the Wild West...

Face à mon public, je ne retourne pas ma veste
Facing my audience, I don't turn my back on them...

Je reste droit dans mes bottes, la tête cachée sous mon chapeau
I stay true to myself, with my head hidden under my hat...

Dégaine en one shot, cherche à shooter ta compo
Quick draw in one shot, trying to shoot down your composition...

J'avais des choses à dire, j'ai tenu ces propos
I had things to say, and I stood by my words...

Pas question de fuir, même s'ils en veulent à ma peau
No question of fleeing, even if they want me dead...

Tu joues les cowboys...
You pretend to be a cowboy...

Tu joues les badboys...
You pretend to be a badboy...

Tu joues les cowboys, MC, protège tes arrières
You pretend to be a cowboy, MC, protect your back...