By Anna Marden, News correspondent

Barely anyone calls Karl Dunkley II by his birth name. Even some of his professors know him only by his handle:’ Front Page.
‘My mom said to make sure your name speaks to you and defines you,’ said the Northeastern student and burgeoning hip-hop artist. And in a song he recently penned, he raps his unofficial mantra:’ ‘With artists, not too many originals left / thin line between influence and identity theft.’
He said his name defines him because his subject matter is unlimited’ ‘-‘ just like there is a new topic on the front page of a paper every day.
The junior music industry major will perform at Great Scott April 15, where attendees can expect to hear some of his new material, as well as music from his 2008 sampler and earlier.’
‘I always keep the crowd entertained,’ Front Page said, adding that he first took the stage almost a decade ago at his seventh grade talent show.
He said he plans to travel this summer to record material for his upcoming project, which he said has the controversial and satirical title, ‘I Wish I Was White.’
Dunkley said the project ‘-‘ a mix tape slated for October release ‘-‘ will have satirical content but overall, the message is genuine.’
‘Whether you’re white or black ‘- you should just be who you are. I’m presenting me; take me as who I am,’ he said.
The mix tape will be avaible in MP3 form on his MySpace and Facebook pages, and he’ll pass out some CD copies for free ‘-‘ an approach he takes because it’s more likely to wind up in more people’s hands, he said.
‘If people don’t know who you are, why would they pay for your stuff?’ he said.
Some material for the mix tape will be available before it’s finished via online leaks, Front Page said.
This summer, he said he plans to travel the United States and the United Kingdom to record more tracks. He plans to collaborate with others and said he welcomes opportunities to perform.
‘Hopefully some shows will come my way,’ Front Page said. ‘I’m trying to get business done as I travel.’
This summer won’t be Front Page’s first visit to England, though; he has family there and said he has been there many times. He also said he did a co-op in London.
Front Page said he draws inpsiration from British artists, as well as reggae, electro, hip-hop and alternative music. His own sound is a fusion of these genres, but he also said some of his influences are ‘the uninfluenced.’
By this, he said he means people looking for a positive, guiding light, like a student who wants to drop out of school or a person behind bars.
‘I want to make a difference,’ he said. ‘Make a change.’