D-fro

D-Fro live (10-10-12)

## Other attributes

### Fourth

Associated Acts - Kinfolk, Fedx, Enoch Ink, Ofte, Z Diesel, Gozza, Aslaam Mahdi, The Many Faces of Faces, Shadi, Span, Tommy Chu, Young Linners

### Fifth

website - https://www.facebook.com/dfromusic

***D-Fro*** (actual name: **Dustyn Frolka**) was a producer and rapper from Owosso, Michigan. Along with various singles he put out since 2008, D-fro released two full length albums, *Witness My Growth Vol. 1* (2010) and *From the Cradle to the Grave* (2012) as well as two independently released EPs, *Lost and Found* (2012) and *Appetizers* (2013). He also released a collaborative EP with Kinfolk entitled *Best Of Both Worlds* (2013). D-Fro is noted as being one of the most successful hip-hop acts to come out of Shiawassee county, having over 4,000 accounted fans from a combined total of all his social media. He's also notable for the founding of the now on hiatus Revol Records in 2012. D-fro passed away on February 15th , 2014 (age 19) after a violent murder in East Lansing where he was found on I-69 at 10:00pm.

## History

### Beginnings and *Witness My Growth Vol. 1* (2008-2010)

Frolka began producing instrumentals at the age of 14, where he worked vigorously to release early singles and mixtapes. He launched his brand of hip hop under the guise of D-Fro in December 2008. During this era he was able to diversify his contacts and build a small, but strong community of affiliates that he took inspiration from and began working with himself to release music. This set Frolka up to hone in on his sound and image for the live performances and projects he would release in the future.

On December of 2010, D-Fro released his first full length album *Witness My Growth Vol. 1*. He would go on to spend most of 2010 and 2011 finding and performing shows to promote the album.

### Live performances, Revol Records, and *From the Cradle to the Grave* (2011-2012)

Frolka began performing live in early 2011, rapping over songs he created for *Witness My Growth Vol. 1*. He was avid about finding shows even though he was still only in high school during this point in time. He would go on to perform at the Greater Flint Arts Counsel (April 2011), Billy's Lounge in Grand Rapids (May 2011), among various other venues. In January 2012 Frolka established Revol Records as a platform to release his own and other's music, music videos, promotional material and more. Essentially Revol Records existed as its own record label that Frolka fronted and ran.

On January 11, 2012 Frolka released his first major single entitled "Cradle To Grave". This was coupled with his first music video released to Revol Records official YouTube channel. The video was met with overwhelming positive reviews and as of February 17, 2016 has accumulated 12,239 views. This generated a strong share of hype and anticipation for his second full length album entitled From the Cradle to the Grave which was released on February 1, 2012.

D-fro promoted his material off of the album with even more live shows, which contributed to him creating a relatively large fanbase both online and in the local community scene. On July 21, 2012 he won a battle of the beats style competition in Flint. He performed with other local acts Gun Shot Amy, Formerly Lucky (now Pleasant Accidents), and Levi and Shannon at the first Whitley Benefit Concert in August of 2012.

### *Lost and Found*, *Appetizers*, and *Best of Both Worlds* (2013-2014)

Frolka became one of the most sought after local producers during this time. On top of many collaborations he would feature on, live shows he would perform, and projects for others he would produce through Revol Records, D-Fro managed to release three projects during 2013. The first being *Lost and Found* which was then followed up with another EP entitled *Appetizers*. After that he worked with KinFolk to create *Best of Both Worlds*.

On March 13, 2013 D-Fro released a single that remixed Chance the Rapper's "Acid Rap" to create his own song "Acid Rain". On March 22, D-Fro released another non-album single entitled "Just For You" on his soundcloud. On April 20, 2013 Frolka released his first single from *Best of Both Worlds* "The Thing". This was his second song to be accompanied by a music video which was then released onto Revol Record's YouTube channel.

### Death and prison sentences of murderers (2014)

Frolka had entered his sophomore year at Michigan State University in Fall of 2013. During his time there he had gotten involved with others that led him on a "downward spiral" according to close friends. Frolka was arrested for cocaine possession on January 30, 2014 - just weeks prior to his murder. He was then kicked out of his dorm because of actions that were deemed a threat to the safety of other residents, according to the university.

On the night of February 15th, 2014 Frokla had met with three others in an SUV, Samantha Grigg, Tyrel Bredernitz, Brendon Heim. Frolka was beaten with brass knuckles and robbed before he jumped from an SUV on I-69 in Bath Township. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital. On his Twitter he noted that he was meeting the trio in order to obtain DMT.

## Other Work

Through Revol Records Frolka was able to collaborate with a large number of other artists including Kinfolk, Fedx, Enoch Ink, Ofte, Z Diesel, Gozza, Aslaam Mahdi, The Many Faces of Faces, Shadi, Span, Tommy Chu, and Young Linners.

## Discography

##### **Full Length Albums**

* Witness My Growth Vol. 1 (2010)
* From the Cradle to the Gravel (2012)

##### **EPs**

* Lost and Found (2013)
* Appetizers (2013)
* Best of Both Worlds (2013) *with KinFolk*

## References

1. ↑ http://www.last.fm/music/D-Fro/Witness+My+Growth+Vol.+1
2. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/from-the-cradle-to-the-grave/id499367800
3. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/d-fro/tracks
4. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/d-fro/tracks
5. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/d-fro/tracks
6. ↑ https://www.reverbnation.com/dfro
7. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/RevolRecords/info/?tab=page\_info
8. ↑ http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/02/17/msu-student-found-dead-on-lansing-highway/
9. ↑ https://www.reverbnation.com/artist\_974582/bio
10. ↑ https://www.reverbnation.com/artist\_974582/bio
11. ↑ http://www.last.fm/music/D-Fro/Witness+My+Growth+Vol.+1
12. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3443838546952&set=a.1594615837540.2067073.1600261687&type=3&theater
13. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3443853387323&set=a.1594615837540.2067073.1600261687&type=3&theater
14. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/d-fro/d-fro-cradle-to-grave-prod-by
15. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpCsQrWUtWI
16. ↑ http://www.last.fm/music/D-Fro/From+the+Cradle+to+the+Grave
17. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/events/315000081929931/
18. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtmyjhFx6RA
19. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/d-fro/just-for-you-feat-kadet-prod
20. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/d-fro/d-fro-best-of-both-worlds-ep
21. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeaZHZsFXXE
22. ↑ http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/01/29/4th-teen-gets-prison-in-michigan-state-students-death/
23. ↑ https://twitter.com/dfrothemc/status/434859842587480064

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