Bas was born in Paris, France, in 1987, to Sudanese parents. At the age of 8, his family moved to New York City. He attended St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, New York.
In 2011, Bas released his debut mixtape titled Quarter Water Raised Vol. 1. In 2013, his second mixtape was released entitled, Quarter Water Raised Vol. 2.
In 2013, Bas was featured on J. Cole's "New York Times" along with 50 Cent from Cole's album Born Sinner, and then on DJ Khaled's "Hells Kitchen" from Suffering from Success. He then appeared on the Dreamville compilation mixtape Revenge of the Dreamers. That mixtape was released in celebration of Dreamville's partnership with Interscope Records, resulting in Bas being signed to Interscope. Two weeks prior to the release of his debut album Last Winter, Bas released a free EP titled Two Weeks Notice.
Last Winter was released on April 29, 2014, by Dreamville Records/Interscope Records. The album was a conceptual project that touches on the cold days in New York City recording the album. The album was supported by the single "My Nigga Just Made Bail" produced by GP808 and featured guest appearances by J. Cole. Last Winter would debut at 103 on the Billboard 200 with 3,601 copies sold in its first week.
Following its release, Bas went on a 10-city nationwide tour titled after the album. Bas followed his own "Last Winter" tour by going on a 24-city nationwide and international tour with TDE rapper Ab-Soul. In 2015, Bas supported J. Cole on the '2014 Forest Hills Drive' Tour alongside Omen, Cozz, Jeremih, YG, and Big Sean.
Bas released his second album, Too High to Riot on March 4, 2016. The album also includes guest appearances from his labelmates J. Cole and Cozz, as well as the Hics. The album would debut at 49 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 10,965 copies in its first week. He also later released a music video for each song on the album. Bas went on tour after the album in June 2016 with Cozz and EarthGang. It included 26 cities in North America and 10 cities in Europe. On January 29, 2017, the documentary highlighting the tour was released on Tidal.
On April 10, 2018, Bas released the one-off single "Pinball II", featuring Correy C. The first single for his third album "Boca Raton" was released on June 19, and featured ASAP Ferg. On August 22, he released the second single "Tribe" featuring J. Cole. Bas released his third album, Milky Way on August 24, 2018. The album debuted at number 35 on the Billboard 200, selling 13,150 album-equivalent units in the first week. Bas announced a 43-city tour to support the album, which began in November 2018 and concluded in February 2019. In late 2018, Bas announced he was working on an album with frequent collaborators, The Hics, the album is due out in late 2021 to early 2022.
Don't Front
Bas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't front for your nigga, don't
Don't front for a nigga
Don't front for your nigga, don't
Don't front for a nigga
Don't front for your nigga, don't
Don't front for a nigga
Who changed when you called? Who came?
Still do, never falter
You know I rock with you like Gibraltar
Ain't no pressure, how 'bout me and you make a movie in memories
Remember, now that's forever
Gotta love the way we put it all together
Lord knows I love the way He put you all together
You are stellar, and I'm a champion
Clique full of real niggas, living way up in the hills, nigga
My next door neighbor's a Hilfiger
Big gate cops can't come thru
Got chicks down for the one-two
Got one thing, she the one to
Lord, how many of my dreams gon' come true?
With you I could be patient
Limousine, that's a little tad much for you
Ain't no need, put some weed in that blunt for you
We go deep girl, we go deeper
I can tell when it mean that much to you
Don't front for a nigga
Don't front for a nigga, don't
Don't front for a nigga
Don't front for your nigga, don't
Don't front for a nigga
Don't front for a nigga, don't
Don't front, when you see me in the city and your friends, they talk about me
Talking down about me, how they say I ain't committed
What the fuck they know about me?
Told you everything there is to know about me, still you doubt me
I got niggas in the state and the county and the city
All my niggas that escaped, 100k to Sallie May, let me get the record straight
We gon' see some better days, facts
Bassy Bas the Basquiat of rap then basket my pain and left on my needs
Peel on these scars, appealing to bars
It's something I need to function, not me
It's nothing I need, nothing like you, so that's what I need
Looking for you, and you and I need it, got justice side
You to my dreams, you were my angel, viewing my demons
You are now in all of my sins, I pray you're undo
All that I been, I pray it come through, I pray it come too
I pray it come true
Don't front for your nigga, don't
Don't front for your nigga, don't
With you I could be patient
Limousine, that's a little tad much for you
Ain't no need, put some weed in that blunt for you
We go deep girl, we go deeper
I can tell when it mean that much to you
Don't front for a nigga
Don't front for your nigga, don't
Don't front for a nigga
Don't front for your nigga, don't
Don't front for a nigga
Don't front for your nigga, don't
In Bas's song "Don't Front," the lyrics touch on themes of loyalty, authenticity, and intimacy in relationships. The repeated phrase "Don't front for a nigga" emphasizes the importance of being genuine and true to oneself in the presence of others, particularly in romantic relationships. The song suggests that there is no need to put on a facade or pretend to be someone you're not just to impress or appease others.
Bas praises the connection he shares with his partner, describing it as a "true flame" that is unyielding and lasting. He expresses his unwavering support and loyalty, comparing their bond to the strength of the Gibraltar rock. The lyrics also allude to their shared experiences and memories, highlighting the value of the moments they've created together. Bas acknowledges the special qualities of his partner and proclaims his love and admiration for the way they complement each other.
The song also addresses outside criticism and doubt. Bas dismisses the opinions of others who speak negatively about him, asserting that only he and his partner truly understand the depth of their relationship. He refers to his friends and associates in the state, county, and city, indicating that he has a strong support system. Bas also acknowledges his own flaws and past mistakes, hoping that his partner can help him overcome them. The lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and the desire for validation and acceptance from his loved one.
Overall, "Don't Front" encourages authenticity, loyalty, and unwavering support in relationships, highlighting the importance of staying true to oneself and finding solace in the connection shared with a partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't front for a nigga
Do not pretend or act differently for someone
This a true flame, this ain't butane
This is genuine and real, not fake or artificial
Who changed when you called? Who came?
Who stayed loyal and supported you when you reached out?
Still do, never falter
I continue to support and stand by you without wavering
You know I rock with you like Gibraltar
You know I am unwavering in my loyalty to you, like the rock of Gibraltar
Ain't no pressure, how 'bout me and you make a movie in memories
There's no rush or obligation, let's create lasting memories together
Remember, now that's forever
Those memories will last forever
Gotta love the way we put it all together
We should appreciate how well we complement and support each other
Lord knows I love the way He put you all together
I truly admire how God created you, perfectly crafted
You are stellar, and I'm a champion
You are extraordinary, and I see myself as successful and victorious
Clique full of real niggas, living way up in the hills, nigga
I surround myself with genuine people who live luxuriously in the upscale neighborhoods
My next door neighbor's a Hilfiger
Even my neighbors are famous and well-known figures like Tommy Hilfiger
Big gate cops can't come thru
My security measures keep unwanted individuals far away
Got chicks down for the one-two
There are women who are ready and willing to engage in intimate encounters with me
Got one thing, she the one to
I have one special person, and she is the perfect one for me
Lord, how many of my dreams gon' come true?
I wonder how many of my aspirations and desires will actually be fulfilled
With you I could be patient
I am willing to wait and be patient when I am with you
Limousine, that's a little tad much for you
A limousine might be too excessive or unnecessary for you
Ain't no need, put some weed in that blunt for you
There's no need, I'll just roll a marijuana joint for you instead
We go deep girl, we go deeper
We have a profound emotional connection, we understand each other on a deep level
I can tell when it mean that much to you
I can sense when something holds great significance and importance to you
Don't front, when you see me in the city and your friends, they talk about me
Don't act differently or pretend when you encounter me in public and your friends discuss me
Talking down about me, how they say I ain't committed
Speaking negatively about me and claiming that I lack dedication
What the fuck they know about me?
What do they really know about me? They don't have personal insight
Told you everything there is to know about me, still you doubt me
I have been open and honest, revealing all there is to know about me, yet you still have doubts
I got niggas in the state and the county and the city
I have friends and connections in various locations
All my niggas that escaped, 100k to Sallie May, let me get the record straight
All my friends who managed to overcome difficult situations, paid off student loans, let me clarify
We gon' see some better days, facts
We will experience more positive and prosperous times, that's a definite truth
Bassy Bas the Basquiat of rap then basket my pain and left on my needs
I, as Bassy Bas, am a highly talented rapper akin to Jean-Michel Basquiat, I openly display and express my pain while caring for my own desires
Peel on these scars, appealing to bars
I am revealing my emotional wounds, finding solace in creating and performing heartfelt lyrics
It's something I need to function, not me
Writing and performing music is necessary for me to function, it's not just about myself
It's nothing I need, nothing like you, so that's what I need
I don't need anything else besides you, because you are exactly what I need
Looking for you, and you and I need it, got justice side
I am searching for you, and you are searching for me, we both desire companionship
You to my dreams, you were my angel, viewing my demons
You are the one who makes my dreams come true, you have been my source of guidance and comfort while I face my inner demons
You are now in all of my sins, I pray you're undo
You are involved in all aspects of my life, including my mistakes and regrets, I hope you can forgive and reverse them
All that I been, I pray it come through, I pray it come too
I hope that everything I have experienced and all that I am, will eventually lead to positive outcomes
I pray it come true
I sincerely hope that my deepest desires and wishes become a reality
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Joseph Maurice Hill Jr., Zackary Williams, Abbas Hamad
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind