Tracking Back: BLANCO

Let’s be honest, we haven’t always listened to gangsta rap. Not all of our parents played Easy E - Mutha’ Fuckin Christmas at that special time of year.

Most likely something lead us to rap music, something pathed the way to each artist’s sound. It is this journey we’re interested in. What life experiences lead you to who you are today? What makes you shut off everything and everybody around you to emerge yourself in this track, the next track to develop your inner library.

We want stripped back honesty, fond memories and guilty pleasures. We will get to rap music in here somewhere... eventually.

1. Blanco - What is your earliest memory of music as a child? We’re talking nursery rhyme early.

I can hardly remember my earliest memories of music as a kid but I do remember listening to Eminem, Ja Rule, a whole bunch of Hip-Hop when I was younger.

2. What music were your parents/guardians into? What was played around the house growing up?

Angolan Music straight up! My Dad was also heavily into Congolese music (Soukous, Zouk). Back in the day my uncle (he was pretty young) lived with us and showed me about LimeWire – he downloaded a lot of rap so naturally I listened

3. Did you have any tapes or records bought for you?

No, I never brought tapes or records when I think about it. My dad wasn’t interested in me spending money on discs!

4. What is the first music video you can remember?

The first video I can vividly remember is 50 Cent – Candy Shop

5. What was the first record/tape/CD you bought for yourself? It can be a single or album.

I never did… I would borrow my uncle’s records. By the time things changed it was the Youtube era so I never got round to it! But to answer your question first one I really borrowed was 50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Trying

6. What music were you into in the early days at school? Were your friends into the same thing?

I was into Hip-Hop and R&B……R&B was popping back in the day!

7. As a teenager did this change?

No its embedded in my culture, I just got more into it a time went on.

8. Did you play an instrument at school and can you still play it?

I played a little steel pans in primary for a while.

9. Give us a fond memory of one track at high school/college. Any house parties, road trips, holidays...

It’s a personal memory but just know Soulja Boy - Crank That!

10. What was your first experience of rap music? How did it make you feel?

Probably my uncle and his LimeWire downloads. It was instant enjoyment; I just felt the beats and bars…..I couldn’t relate at the time but there was a feeling of familiarity with the music. Guess it was a natural connection.

11. After discovering rap, which artists did you listen to the most?

Eminem, Ja Rule, 50 cent, JAY-Z, Snoop Dogg… loads of people

13. What made you pick up a pen and start writing bars, or what gave you the confidence to start to compose music yourself?

My friends were doing it first, Bis especially. They would record tracks at a studio based in the local community centre. One day I went to see what the hype was all about and ended up writing bars…haven’t looked back since

14. Would you say your sound today carries influences from your childhood?

Yes, I listened to Brazilian music as a child and you can hear the Afro-Latin influences in my music today plus I rap so there’s the hip-hop aspect!

15. Do you have any idols in music? Have you met any?

No idols but I’ve met Drake!

16. Finally let’s end on an embarrassing question. What is your guilty pleasure today in modern music?

Babycakes…don’t judge me!

Check out the new single Anakin from Blanco and other artists on the Tracking Back series below.