Music lyrics and other sources suggest that the American punk rock scene spawned a critical splinter group known as "hardcore" during the late 1970's and early 1980's. These youth shaved their heads, and many of them donned traditional "skinhead" garb. Whereas some professed their affiliation with the American punk rock scene, others loosely referred to themselves as "bootboys" and "skinheads." Music lyrics reveal that early "hardcore" youth were largely militant, angry, and possibly violent. Moreover, lyrics imply that hardcore youth perceived themselves as united in opposition to alleged social, moral, and personal enemies. Music lyrics further indicate that the "hardcore" subculture fragmented during the mid-1980's. Specifically, sources show that a substantial number of "hardcore" youth aligned themselves with racism during this period. This paper thus proposes that the "hardcore" youth subculture facilitated the "skinhead" phenomenon's emergence in the United States. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed. 8 notes and 64 references