Welcome back to the Truth in This Art. Thank you for joining me for my conversations bridging arts, culture, and community. I am your host, Rob Lee. And before we get started, I'd like to remind you to visit our website, the truth in this art.com, for more episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates. Today, I am super excited to welcome my next guest, an Atlanta based visual artist celebrated for his vibrant and unconventional style that merges hip hop culture, Atlanta culture, pop culture, and street art.
Rob Lee:Please welcome, FRKO. Welcome to the podcast.
FRKO:Yeah, man. Thanks for having me on, man. I'm honored.
Rob Lee:Thank you for coming on, man. I I'm truly honored, man. I've been following your your IG and your work, what have you, and I'm like, again, I'm always surprised. Like, how did dude say yes?
FRKO:You said, how how did I say yes?
Rob Lee:Yeah. I was like, how did I get this dude?
FRKO:I'm always I always like doing podcasts, man. I've been doing shit. I've been on I've been on, like, a couple a few dozen podcasts over the years, man. I like talking. I talk a lot.
FRKO:And I got a story. I always got stories to tell.
Rob Lee:Yeah. We we like stories. We like having folks, like, so to share, you know, their their insights, share their background, and obviously, you know, sharing the stories. So, you know, we could start off with with this one. Like, I gave that very sparse intro.
Rob Lee:You know, visual artist, what does that really mean? So I wanna give you sort of the space to introduce yourself. I think there's a lot more weight in someone describing who they are. Like, when I introduce myself, you know, it might not be, like, podcast. It might be something else.
Rob Lee:Somebody say, yo, like, I'm, you know, wizard of podcasting. That might not be in my bio. So, you know, how would you introduce yourself in your own words?
FRKO:Yo. You know what's funny? I just left the mall. I just was down here on the south side of South Southlake Mall, and I and I bought these I bought these fake with plastic glass I'm wearing right now. Dude asked me he was like, yo.
FRKO:You know, what do you do for a living? And I had told him I said I said I'm an artist. Right?
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:And I always tell people I'm an artist to see, you know, where they where they are with, like, how they interpret an artist. And so he was like, oh, yeah, mate. He's like, oh, you rap? And I was like, and he I I was like, no. I mean, I have rap, but, no, I'm not I'm not a rapper.
FRKO:He's like, oh, yeah. So you do music? I'm like, no. And then he was like, so what do you do? And I was like, I I'm a visual artist.
FRKO:And then the guy was like, what what is a visual artist? And I was like, okay. So visual. And I got and my I got I got my kids with me and everything. I'm like I'm like, so visual?
FRKO:You know what visual means? Okay? An artist. He was like, I I'm not understanding. And I was like, okay.
FRKO:What do you I said, what would you call someone who thinks on Canvas or who who who who's sculpts? That's an artist. Like, so and then he was he felt dumb, and he was like, yo. I'm like, wow. I was like, yo.
FRKO:I mean, it's just I mean, the Internet got y'all hearing artists and thinking straight up rappers. And, you know, I'm a black man covered in tattoos buying fake fake Versace's at the hood mall. So I was like, yo. No. But he was like, yo, I ain't I he was like, I've never heard of a visual artist before.
FRKO:And I was like, wow, man. That's some wild shit, man. Dude was, I don't know, man. I think dude was, like, little eastern or something. You know?
FRKO:But he was he could tell he's been here. You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:But I was like, you know, damn, bro. You really never heard of that? And he was like, no. I was like, wow. So he kinda, like, engaged me.
FRKO:I'm like, yo. That's but I usually I ain't gonna lie. When I tell people I'm a artist, that's usually what they do.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:They'd be like, oh, man. Like, you know, hey. Where can I hear some of your raps? And I I I have rap music. I gotta I mean, I got I'm a SoundCloud rapper still.
FRKO:Like, I haven't rapped in years, but I dropped off the SoundCloud album, like, what, 6 years ago.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:So it's like but I, you know, I tell them, and then I I mean, I walk away. I I let people on and just think I'm a rapper, bro. We'll talk. Because people just they not believe they'll believe you're a rapper before you're an actual, you know, visual artist.
Rob Lee:I mean
FRKO:Oh, yeah. I I just tell people I'm a artist, man. I just say, hey. You know, what you do? I'm a artist.
FRKO:No. You know, if it's for, like, if it's for, like, like, buying a car, I tell people, like, hey. I'm a commercial illustrator because I do commercial shit. Yeah. Sometimes, that pays that pays for you know, that that keeps my credit good.
FRKO:So it's, like, tell them that shit. But most of the time, I just say I'm an artist.
Rob Lee:No. I love it. And, you know, you should you know, if you run into that dude again, you should say, yeah. You know, multidisciplinary, exploratory, just blow his mind with all of the artist statement words.
FRKO:I don't even. No. I got, you know, I got homies that do that, man. I hate hearing it. It's just cringey.
FRKO:I don't like I don't like talking like that that that highly of the shit, man. Because, you know, I could I consider comedian stars. Like, all my comedy homies that that they all I can't draw for shit. I'm like, yeah. But you coming up with these creative ass crazy jokes.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:Like, you're an artist too.
Rob Lee:Yeah. I mean, this this idea of of what it is and what it isn't is is really odd. Like, I I did in the beginning of, this this year, I did an arc of interviews with comedians. And, you know, because I really wanted to highlight that. Like, I respect what they do.
Rob Lee:I enjoy what they do. And, there's it's writing as a part of it. There's storytelling as performances, all of these different elements, and it's diminished because it's not, quote unquote, fine art or, you know, the other thing I wanted to comment on because I think you're you're really because what you were describing, here when I say, like, I have a home studio, and every now and again, I go to, like, a few studio sites I got in the city in Baltimore. And I may hit someone like, yo, I'm headed to the studio. They're like, yo, you better drop some bars?
Rob Lee:Exactly. No. I'm going to a podcast. Like, why are you
FRKO:Yo. Same thing is happening to me. I got dude. I live in the burbs now, but when I lived in the city, I I had a studio down the street. I had a studio for, like, almost 5 years.
FRKO:And so, yeah, I I've said the same thing. I like, I'm about to head to my studio, and they're like, oh, yeah. You about to go record? I'm like, no. About to go cut wood, paint shit.
FRKO:You know what I mean? Like, talking about but yeah. No. It's it's funny, man. It's just music takes over.
FRKO:That's all. Oh, yeah. I'm glad music is, like, in the forefront, because it definitely is an inspiration to a lot of my art and you know? So it's like, I'm I'm glad music is where it's at.
Rob Lee:Yeah. And and and we're definitely gonna dive into that a little bit deeper. So I wanna I wanna touch touch also on because you you shared it when we, you know, first started talking before I put the actual record button on. You know, I wanna get a little bit more about what were you into growing up. Like, you know, I listened to some of those multiple interviews you've done.
Rob Lee:I see football, BMX, skateboarding, obviously, art. Tell us about some of your early interests and, like, kinda what led you to to art as sort of a vocation.
FRKO:I tell you the truth, dude. I was a little brother, and I had a I had a bunch of older brothers in the house, so I followed where anything they were into. Yeah. My brother my brother Marcus, he's, like, 5 years older than me. I followed anything he was into, man.
FRKO:So, you know, shit. When when I was born, he already was collecting baseball cards and sports, and he was all into sports. And so, you know, shit. By the time I was talking and walking, I was trying to just emulate what he was doing. So, he kinda put me in the sports culture.
FRKO:My mom, the art side of it, I really I really wasn't that interested in in in art. I was interested in just doing my art. You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:Sure.
FRKO:My mom, she kinda nurtured that part to get me into art, around when I was, like, 5 years old. So, and I wasn't and I wasn't I wasn't really the competitive type when it came to art. Like, I wasn't sport. I just was like, you know, everybody got a thing and they do it a certain way, and I respect it and I like it. But, you know, this is how I do my shit.
FRKO:You know? Mhmm. So so, you know, with that, man, came me just diving in the, just, you know, TV culture and watching TV. And, like, my mom's real big on movies, and, like, we had a house with we had a house with, like, 6 TVs in it, man. And it's, like, not a big house.
FRKO:It's a split level house with, like, our TV in every room. The TV is gone. So, you know, one day I saw the X Games in the nineties and, like, was cray and came crazy about BMX and skateboard. And just anything extreme, I just was like, oh, man. I wanna I wanna watch that shit, try it.
FRKO:You know what I mean? Just I mean, I feel like a lot of us like, I was born in 88. A lot of them nineties kids grew up the same way, man. I grew up just like any other kid, man. And then, like, growing up in my neighborhood, I'm from Stone Mountain, and that's right outside of Atlanta.
FRKO:And so, but I but I I was fortunate to grow up right, like, walking distance from the MARTA train so I could get on the train. I had a bus that I had a bus that, I had a I had a bus that that that that that ran down my street. So the bus stop was, like, literally 500 feet from my, from my doorstep. So I kinda I kinda had, like, a city kid living just the literally, my where my neighborhood was placed. Like, now if you went, like, 4 miles, you know, east, you was you wasn't getting that.
FRKO:But I I literally was able to walk somewhere and, like, get on the bus to get to the train, and that was, like, a 10 minute ride. And then get on the train to go to downtown or go to the Braves game or go to the Falcons game, me and my brother. So, like, I fortunate to kinda have that kinda kinda, like, upbringing. You know what I'm saying?
Rob Lee:Yeah. So,
FRKO:yeah, I was in I mean, I was in everything, man. Pop culture, everything. Like, I I literally was in everything. Like, people used to make fun of me because I was in the, you know, quote, unquote white boy shit. But, hey, I mean, I I well rounded myself because I didn't, like, I didn't look down on nothing.
FRKO:I was into everything. I was like, I like this. Let's do this. You know? I dig it.
Rob Lee:I dig it. And it's, I'm I'm an older brother, so I I I kinda was setting the the course of things or what have you. And, but it's not much of a gap. It's like a year and a half gap between my brother and I, my my younger brother and I. And, you know, it's it's one of those things where it's just like, hey.
Rob Lee:Like, why are you talking about my style, Blaise? Like, even now, my man's will come over. It's like, yo, what kinda cologne you got? I'm like, come on, you know.
FRKO:Y'all like yeah. Y'all like y'all like how my sons are. I got yeah. I got I got 2 sons. This my oldest 2 are 23 months apart, man.
FRKO:Oh, wow. Like, same shit, man. You could tell you could tell it's gonna deviate a little bit as they get older.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:But, yeah, they're both playing baseball, and they're in the monster trucks. But you can, yeah, you can tell there's a difference that's gonna happen. Because, you know, yeah, that's a beautiful thing, man.
Rob Lee:Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. So me
FRKO:and my brother my I mean, let's say this. My brother my brother is 5 years older than me. Uh-huh. Oh, he saw the change when I was, like, 10. Because, like, he stopped riding his bike.
FRKO:His bike was a piece of shit, Huffy. I out of his hand me downs, but I really, like, was like, yo, I want a BMX. Like, I wanna learn how to do this shit that I'm seeing because I see a little kid doing it. And I yo. I can do that then.
FRKO:And I'm like this chubby fat kid. But I was like, I know I can do this shit. And, like, you know, like, my first summer riding, I broke my collarbone. And that really, like you know, most people are like, oh, fuck it. And I'm gonna start skateboard.
FRKO:Most skateboarders started off, like, riding bikes. And they're like, something happened. They're like, yo, skateboarding's way easier. But me, I was like, no. I'm a stay on this bike shit.
FRKO:You know what I mean? Yeah. I I learned how to skateboard too, but, like, I I just the bike shit really had me, like, hooked. Like, even even to even to this day, I'm still kinda I'm still hooked on being Mexican shit.
Rob Lee:Yeah. I mean, when we were younger, we we tried to do the the the skateboard thing. We have both of them, skateboards, bikes we use the projects, East Baltimore, and just getting it. And, like, oh, why you doing that white boy stuff? And it's just like, you know, that's what we got.
FRKO:Yeah. That's just stupid of me now, though, man. I mean, now looking back, like, everybody who was on that who's saying that type of shit, they're just boring as adults now. And they were they were
Rob Lee:behind the curve. That was the other thing because, like, you know, I'm a few years older than you have you, like, 85. And, you know, I remember when remember that song Vans that came out?
FRKO:Yeah. By the back. Yeah. A little beat.
Rob Lee:Yeah. And I I was in college when that came out, and I see all of these, like, jackasses wearing Vans and just dressing like jackass, and I was like, come on. I was in Vans way before I was this is just what I was doing, and now it's just like, now it pops. Now I can't get my Vans at a price that's affordable. Holy shit.
FRKO:I used to wear Vans half cabs back in, like, 8th grade.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:And I used to wear Vans roll you know, Jeff Rowley, and I used to wear but I used to wear a half cabs. I love Steve Caballero.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:And so, I remember getting, like, roasted for wearing some Vans on, like, the first day of school when I was in high school.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:And the band song came out, and, you know, these idiots at my high I went to one of the dumbest high schools in the area, by the way, too. And, anyways, these fools was like, yo, you like, you know, hey. I got Vans on. You know, your yours are fake. And I'm like, what do you mean, bro?
FRKO:They only thought slip ons were the only thing Vans made. They thought Vans had just came out. Now they since 1972, you dumbasses.
Rob Lee:I
FRKO:remember they was like, those aren't Vans. I'm like, I'm not arguing this shit with y'all, man. I'm wearing Vans air because I didn't wear slip ons. I I only wore Thai Vans. Yeah.
FRKO:And that's what the song says. Got my Vans on, but they look like sneakers.
Rob Lee:Right.
FRKO:They're not slip on, you idiots. See, they're saying it in the song. I remember and that's when I was like, yeah. I'm done talking to people about, like, my culture now. You know what I mean?
FRKO:So, like, I kinda down sometimes, and then sometimes, like, you know what, man? I a shift happened in my life. A shift happened when I was, like, 16. I was working at the mall, and I met a dude that end up, like, mentoring me, like, for years now. And, like, his name's Chilio.
FRKO:I don't know if you ever heard of him. He's a he's a photographer down here. But, like, dude, he he saw me wearing half cabs and thought he was like, yo. You ride BMX or something?
Rob Lee:And I
FRKO:was like, yeah. I do, actually. And then he was like, oh, shit. I do too. And then we hit it off.
FRKO:You know what I mean? But because it's a it's a subculture. You know? And then you don't see a lot of black kids not alone in the Atlanta area doing that shit. You know?
FRKO:So yeah. I mean, it's funny, man. But, you know, I always tell kids that story because I'm like, yo, be yourself, man. You never know who you beat. You know?
FRKO:Because I was, like, trying to dumb myself down, which I I was like, yo, buying buying Jordans that I really didn't like.
Rob Lee:You know what I mean?
FRKO:I remember buying the, the Jordan.
Rob Lee:I
FRKO:remember buying the, what, the fourteens.
Rob Lee:Mhmm.
FRKO:I remember wearing them, and they hurt my feet. And I was like, why would I do this to myself?
Rob Lee:Yeah. I mean, before before I move into that this next question or what have you, definitely got one comment I wanna share with you, and it it definitely, I think kinda serves as a segue. I have one of those instances many instances because I'm I'm, you know, I look like I should be playing football. Like, I'm 64. I was a big kid or what have you.
Rob Lee:Like, just look like a, you know, like a default left tackle. Right? But don't I'm gonna be for it.
FRKO:You know
Rob Lee:what I mean? And it was it was this girl I was, like, into in college, and I went to Morgan, you know, so shout out HBCUs. And I remember she was just like yeah. I was I was trying to work an angle. I was like, yo, so so what's good?
Rob Lee:Like, I'm I'm working all of my rhythms. I felt particularly, like, I'm on point right now. And she was like, yeah. I would talk to you, but you'd be wearing, like, a hazard. So I don't really know if, you know, like, you ain't you're not wearing all the cost or nothing.
Rob Lee:I was like, yo, they're they're like the same company. They're literally
FRKO:That's the same fucking company.
Rob Lee:I was just like, oh, okay. And I was like, I'll never talk to her again. I was like, she she's uninitiated. You know? So that was a small That's
FRKO:a hey. Not to cut you off, but that's a you shit right there, bro. That's you shit. That's not happen an hour too. Motherfuckers is watching what you wearing and shit.
FRKO:Stupid as hell.
Rob Lee:So so tell us a bit about that because, you know, you you touched on a little bit earlier when you were describing the the mall situation of, like, you mentioned a sculptor. You mentioned painter or what have you as sort of other examples of of artists, and I see that that was what you were gonna major in or what you majored in at at Howard. So talk about sort of that time and anything that really stands out for you during that time up up here in this this DC this in DC.
FRKO:Yeah, man. So coming out of high school, I was playing football in high school, and, I didn't have a art teacher in high school that was, like, really that supportive. And so they she she wanted she tried to steer me to go to SCAD, to Savannah College of Art and Design. Yeah. And so I I applied, you know, and and they offered me a $8,000 scholarship.
FRKO:And my my both of my parents, at the well, my mom definitely didn't have any money. My dad had money, but he wasn't trying to he wasn't trying to pay for nothing. And so, I ended up at Howard because I had a I have a, a aunt up there. I got a aunt up there through marriage who was in the fine arts department. And so she got she got me a look.
FRKO:She got me she got my portfolio looked at by the, chair. And then I we went up there, man. We went up there on a on a weekend trip and shit. They got me right in, man. They saw me like, they love my work.
FRKO:And then one thing they heard, they heard me say, like, hey. SCAD offered me, you know, a scholarship, and I got accepted. And they were like, oh, hell yeah. We're gonna take we're gonna take somebody from, you know, from from a from SCAD. You know what I mean?
FRKO:So I said, no. I'm not gonna go to SCAD. I'm gonna go to Howard, man. So I got up there, and, I got up there, man, and and and my major is painting. My my, my minor was printmaking, but then they pulled the printmaking program.
FRKO:And then they have enough people in it, of course. Printmaking is a old school art. But the the the thing good thing was that, I've I discovered sculpture, which I never had the resources to do when I was in high school. So I started sculpting, started building stuff and doing, you know, just three-dimensional concept and enjoying it, man. But, yeah.
FRKO:And I'm in the the printmaking ended up coming later because, the digital photography teacher, his name was Michael b Platt. Rest in peace. He had all the printmaking stuff in his basement, and I didn't even know it. So when he like, all the the stuff from the school he he put in his basement and his and his, and his row house in DC. And so I ended up learning a printmaking.
FRKO:You know what I mean? And, like, doing all doing everything. So I always tell people I got, like, a broad degree that I didn't get, but I got a broad education, you know, a 4 year education in, like, studio art. So it's like, I can say I majored in painting, but, man, at that school, dude, you do everything, especially if you're outspoken individually, you know, your professors, you know, you get in good with everybody and do you know, you're gonna you're gonna pick up you're gonna pick up some lessons.
Rob Lee:That's great. It's great to get that that sort of well rounded background, like, you know Yeah. And I feel like
FRKO:I only get that at Howard. I mean, I I like HBCUs, but Howard definitely, because it's like that their their fine arts building is a family. You know, a lot of, like, my, like, my wife went to Kennesaw State here, you know, in Kennesaw, Georgia, right outside of Atlanta. And I remember, like, going to their art department and their art department was really, like, hey. I do this.
FRKO:I don't speak to them type shit. And, you know, you know, you know, HBCU love is different, man. You know, we we speak to each other. And if we don't, we are eventually. You know what I mean?
FRKO:Yeah.
Rob Lee:Oh,
FRKO:yeah. The first time. But after, you know, 4 years of seeing the same people in your in the department, hey. Everybody knows it. We all party the same way.
FRKO:You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:Yep.
FRKO:You know? Like, everybody party and everybody like the same music. Like, nobody was lame. Everybody was family. You know?
FRKO:So yeah. No. It was a great great experience, man. I wouldn't I wouldn't that that's one part of my life, dude. I would never change, brother.
FRKO:I went to Howard. I loved it. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.
Rob Lee:Oh, yeah. The that HBCU experience is just something else. And, no, that's that's a really good point. And, you know, with, you know, doing doing these podcasts, the ones that are done in, in DC, they pop up on Howard Radio. They're they're you know, you know, those h you know, the HD, 3 equivalent, what have you.
Rob Lee:So, you know, having that relationship there as well. So I wanna I wanna shift gears a bit into, you know, sort of your your your work, your your current work, what you're working on these days. Like, you know, obviously, you know, seeing sort of the the hip hop threads, the the pop culture threads, and the Atlanta culture and, like, seeing those influences. Talk a bit about sort of your personal and creative brands, like, though those origins of this is how I wanna, like, this is the work I wanna put out. Like, where did that come from?
FRKO:Man, that came from when I was young, man. Because when I was young, I had my mom supported anything I did. Right? But, you know, I'm as a boy. I wanted I wanted the approval of a father.
FRKO:My dad, you know, he kinda he kinda always had something to say. He's a very opinionated guy. I love him to death, but he gets a lot of opinions. So, you know, things I would wanna draw, I always had in my mind, like, damn, what will my dad say? You know what I mean?
FRKO:Or what you know, my mom didn't give a shit. She just was like, you know, he's being he's being creative. He's being this. You know? She always made it made a good excuse for me.
FRKO:But when I was young, man, I was super inspired by, you know, the rawness of reality and looking at everything from, you know, a really hard, hard point of view. You know? I never looked at pleasantries. I never was trying to have pleasantries at all. And and and, like, as a as a teenager, like, I remember wanting to just do, you know, anything I saw.
FRKO:You know what I mean? And, like, to have depictions of things. And I couldn't do it in school. Some stuff was just too wild. You know what I mean?
FRKO:But even stuff that, like, even just, like, I the shit I saw on TV from the shit I saw, like, in the streets. Because my neighborhood, like, where I'm from got real rough when I was, like, in middle school. So in high school, it just was shit going on all the time. You know what I mean? Yeah.
FRKO:And so I I didn't I didn't live in Pleasantville, so I just I didn't think to, like, do black art. Like, I was black art was, like, made in the eighties nineties and shit just to go over somebody's fireplace. Like, I was, like, I'm doing my shit. You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:And so, and I and it and it didn't really come from me looking at other artists even though I did find artists like Art Crumb and, like, Wilford Lemonius later. But I was, like, I was already just, like, that those those ideas popped in my head just off of just who I am and what I'm into, like, my interest. You know what I'm saying? And, I was I wasn't doing it for nobody else. I'm still not I I still do all my work for me.
FRKO:Like, I get, like, this rush of dopamine while I'm creating and while I'm drawing the shit I wanna draw. You know? I never know how it's gonna come out, and I really enjoy it because of that. You know, I never know.
Rob Lee:I love that.
FRKO:Yeah.
Rob Lee:It's it's it's important to really have that that sense of, like, why do you do what you're doing and how you go about it and so on. And and doing this, like, you know, 800 every 800 interviews coming up in the course of 5 years. And Yeah. You know, folks will ask, like, so how do you pick this person? Why are you doing this interview?
Rob Lee:Why you asked that question? Because I wanted to, because I thought it was interesting, because the person was down to talk about it, and, you know, I think the thing that brings folks in, I'm able to, as we were kinda touching on a little bit earlier of, like, who's an artist, whose stories matter, things of that nature. You don't get that if you're going for, as you as you were touching on, sort of whose work is over the fireplace, if you will.
FRKO:Right.
Rob Lee:I'm looking for, like, yo, I saw your stuff. I don't know if it was the algorithm or if I just got good taste. I think it's a little bit of both, but I was like, I'm gonna get this dude up, and if he says yes, I got questions for him. I got all types of questions for him.
FRKO:Yeah. Yeah. So No. It took a long it took a while for me, though, man, because, like, it's it it wasn't until I got out of college that I started, like, showing work because I always I was on the gallery circuit. You know?
FRKO:Like, college, like, college art, you kinda just ride ride where the galleries are going. You kinda follow to get to get in with a get a agent and all that. And I kinda was like, man, fuck that. I'm about to just do my shit and use the Internet. You know what I mean?
FRKO:And it hit me after I left college and I was working on, like, TV shows and shit. And I was just always drawing. Like, I have to draw every day. So I mean, I had downtime. I was just doodling in my black book.
FRKO:And, like, people, like, yo, man, why don't you, like, you know, I'm, like, damn, you're right. I gotta shit show this stuff. But it's just and my I still was trying to overcome judgment. You know, somebody just giving their own giving opinions I don't wanna hear. You know what I mean?
FRKO:Or, you know, giving, like, a just a critique that they have no scholarship in doing. Like, I I grew up hearing that shit from just I hate to say it, but, like, just regular ass black folk. I don't wanna hear that shit no more. You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:So, you know, me going out on my own and, like, and, like, me me and my wife I met her and her family. Her family is, like, super, super wild, you know, individuals, you know, and they, like, they, you know, they they, like, hey. If you love it, if you like it, we love it. Fuck it. You know what I'm saying?
FRKO:And so I didn't have to hear nothing from from a lot of people, man. So, like, I kinda, like, built a world around, like, my love of art just was in the forefront. You know what I mean? My love of what I but yeah. No.
FRKO:That's that's a real thing. A lot of kids come to me now. How you how how did you get the courage just to post anything? I was like, I mean, what's gonna happen if you don't? No one no one will see your shit that you wanna share with the world.
FRKO:And, like, that's your duty as an artist is to is to make the world interesting. You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:It it adds the the color and the flourish to it and, you know, what I do in in this and getting into education in the last year or so. There are so many people who wanna do podcasts. So I've been teaching high school students, and I'm gonna teach some people just who are interested in it. And this is one of those mediums, and I hear all the time. I say, oh, it's not art.
Rob Lee:It's not art. It's not art. And I was like, yeah.
FRKO:That is.
Rob Lee:And, you know, and and there's there's a skill to it, and, you know, all of these these sort of different things. Do I feel a lack of confidence in it? Yes. Artist box, checked. And it it it is that thing, but I I definitely try that and I do what you what you were describing there.
Rob Lee:I'm like, yo, put it out there. Don't just hold on to a bunch of podcasts. The the conversation gets stale or heavy. It's the only way you get better. It's the reps.
Rob Lee:It's all of that.
FRKO:That's very true, bro. That's very true. You gotta do it.
Rob Lee:When when I think of your work, right, like I said, I I, like, I laugh more than I should, and people are like, what are you scrolling through? And I'm, like, sitting there, you know, it was one I think I think it was a I think it was one you did, it was like maybe Lamar. So I'm, you know, Baltimore, and I'm like, alright, what my what my man got here? And it it definitely I see the the art crumbs stuff, and I see I see the references. Right?
Rob Lee:And your stuff is funny and original. It's that this Maya idea, you know, and it's like, what is it, most advanced yet acceptable. It's just like, this is familiar, but it's taking it with its own sort of spin on it, your spin, your individuality. Yeah. Your Stuff is relatable as as well, you know, very topical on point.
Rob Lee:How do you stay current, you know, and then get that stuff out so quickly? Because when you were covering some of the stuff with the the the Drake and, the Kendrick stuff of, like, that's going out, like, lightning fast. So so talk a bit about that.
FRKO:Man, my wife hates that shit, bro, because, well, the thing is, dude, I I give credit back to, like, education. Like, I I can read and comprehend that, like, very fast. I and my comprehension is, like, I don't have to think that hard. You know what I mean? I don't have that many like, I have 3 kids in the house.
FRKO:You know what I mean? I have 2 dogs and a whole wife in the house. You know what I'm saying? And mortgage. And I still am able to just always, like, like, read something and know what the fuck is going on.
FRKO:Like, I can hear, like, Drake's lyrics, Kendrick's lyrics knows exactly what's going on. Maybe I'm, like, I'm just, like, I put too much into it as far as listening to shit, but I know what's going on. I I'm a I'm a socializer. I'm always talking. I'm always talking to people.
FRKO:Oh, shit. I'm always talking to people. She gotta get off of this. Hold on.
Rob Lee:Yeah. I'll edit in post.
FRKO:Yeah. So I'm always I'm always talking to people, man. And I'm always I don't know, man. I look into things real real deeply, man. I pay attention to details on every fucking thing I do and conversations.
FRKO:Like, you're not gonna pull a fast one on me because I'm always watching. You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:I'm always watch so, yeah. I I really to answer that question, I really can't, bro, because I I don't know any other way to do it. I know that when stuff happens, it's not that I'm thinking about, like, thinking about posting in time. I'm just thinking about getting this shit out of my head because I can't sleep. Like like, I gotta get it done.
FRKO:You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:It's like that Miles Davis interview, and they were like, if you didn't have music, what would you do? And you like music being in your head. He's like, it's always in my head. It's always there. I gotta get it out.
FRKO:You gotta get the shit out of the interview. Yeah. I'm I'm exactly the same way. So it's like, shit happens, and I'm like, hey. Or something, like, I get a idea.
FRKO:I gotta get it out, and it drives me nuts. It drives me nuts to do it. It drives me nuts to do it. I need to hold on, bro. Yeah.
FRKO:She gotta get her phone off of here. Okay. Cool. Yeah. So you gotta edit that out, man.
FRKO:My wife's phone's still connected to our CarPlay. Yeah.
Rob Lee:I I got it. Yeah. Yeah.
FRKO:Yeah. So, what was I about to say? Yeah. I gotta I gotta get this stuff out, man. And, like like, we was on vacation, right, a couple weeks ago.
FRKO:And, like, my wife's just like, oh my god. We can't go nowhere with this fool.
Rob Lee:If he's
FRKO:but if he does not if he's telling my mom, I'm gonna play games with my mom. And, like, she's like, you know, if, you know, if he does not get the if he does not draw, he is a grump.
Rob Lee:If he
FRKO:doesn't get to draw nothing, he's grumpy as hell. You know? And I'll and and then I am, bro. I gotta get I gotta be able to draw. And we were in a hotel room.
FRKO:That's why I was like, I can't stay in hotels. I gotta stay in Airbnb. I need a table. I need a table. I can't be in the small ass box.
FRKO:I gotta I need a table. That's all I needed. A table and sit a chair. And that's it. You know what I mean?
FRKO:I need and my shit that I need, like, my my paper and my pencil, my pen, whatever. But, yeah, I gotta get it out, man. It's it's a burning desire. I've I I remember well, something I just did recently, bro, I slept I slept on it. And I shouldn't have.
FRKO:Oh, the shit I just the shirt I just dropped with Kendrick. I slept on the shit. I went to sleep because I was exhausted. I had started sketching it, and I went to sleep. I never usually do that.
FRKO:Usually, I do everything at once. Like, if I start in that, I'm finishing it, like, in one sitting. And, and I taught I taught myself a lesson. I'm like, yo. I can't do that.
FRKO:I got to finish this shit right now. But I tossed and turned. I couldn't sleep. Woke back up at, like, 6 AM and went back down and, like, like, started doing this shit. But it's it's it's fucked with me because I was like, yo, I'm dumb as hell.
FRKO:I should've been had this done. And so and that goes back to college too, man. Because, like, deadlines are real and art in college. And, like, I've never missed no deadlines. I used to be on top of everything.
FRKO:You know what I mean? Like, I was I was on the dean's list at Howard, man, for 4 years straight. I had straight a's for 4 years, man. And so, no. For 3 years.
FRKO:My freshman year, I had got a b and something, but I had straight a's, bro. I was on it. You know what I mean? Like, I'm just I'm I'm real particular about about doing this shit. Without having to talk about it, it's kinda weird talking about it right now because I usually don't talk about it.
FRKO:I just do it. You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:Yeah. It's that's what it is, man. I get shit out, man, and I'm just paying attention. And then I find a lot of stuff interesting. You know?
FRKO:Like, I I'm into things. You know? And if I can't find the interest, I won't do it.
Rob Lee:Yeah. You know?
FRKO:So when I take commissions, I do a tech I take a lot of commissions, man. And people people try to get me to do stuff that they will see it in their mind. I'm like, yo. But if I'm not interested, shit ain't gonna come out right. Like, it's just not gonna it's not gonna look good.
FRKO:It's not gonna look good. You need to do it. I always tell you, like, you you do it then. How about I just let you do it?
Rob Lee:And I I'm definitely wanna dive into that a bit more, but we it's this thing that me and my partner, we talk about all the time. When people have these takes, these hot ass takes, and it feels like ill informed or, as you were saying, they don't have scholarship for this, it's we we do this thing. It was like, yo. Where's yours? You should just do it.
Rob Lee:Like Yeah. Yeah. I have people in the DMs. Well, you know, again, why would you ask that question? You should have asked us.
Rob Lee:I was like, well, here's a this is where you get these mic from. You know, these are the mics that I use. This is the time I require. I use Calendly. I use all I give it a full map.
Rob Lee:Right? That was a class. But I give the full map of how you go about and do what I do. Here, you do it.
FRKO:Yeah. You do
Rob Lee:it. The best questions.
FRKO:Right. Everybody like Isaac Hayes said, man, everybody has a way of doing a thing. Yeah. You know? He he did it he did it his way.
Rob Lee:You know what
FRKO:I mean? And respect respect it. And and if not, like, go do it your way, man. It's it's it's it's a 1000000000 people in this world doing the same thing. Do it your way.
FRKO:But yeah.
Rob Lee:So much opportunity to get your stuff out there as you were talking talking about having to get it out there. I think even when people make their attempt to do it, it's like the irrationality, the sort of courage or or or ignorance, if you will, to say, I'm just gonna put it out there. And and just see what happens. I think even if people can do the same thing or similar stuff, that's a trait that's just lost at times. Like Yeah.
Rob Lee:And, you know, I do a lot. I put a lot of stuff out there, and I see that you're regularly putting up images of work that you're working on. And, you know, you you touched a moment on, a moment ago on sort of, like, clients and and and picking up commissions and things of that nature. So so talk about, something that that that sticks out, like, as far as a a client or a collaboration that either was wild left and you couldn't do it or, like, just wasn't interested in doing or just wanting one really, really well. It's just like this was a really cool situation that's really worked out super well.
FRKO:No. Because yeah. I mean, 1st man, I ain't gonna lie. I do a lot of agency work with, like, creative agencies and advertising agencies, and, like, I won't give a scenario of one that didn't work out because I've always done everything. Yeah.
FRKO:I've never I ain't gonna lie. Like, any commission I've gotten, it's all I've always completed. And they they got what they wanted out of it. You know what I mean? But certain certain advertising companies or creative agencies that are that are maybe, say, coming from another they're coming from another city or state that wanted, like, to capture me in Atlanta or capture just, like I ain't gonna lie.
FRKO:It's just some corny white girls that don't know the fuck's nothing about black people. And, you know, they use the thing. They could just do a deep dive, excuse me, on Instagram and figure somebody out. Those are the worst ones. Those are the worst.
FRKO:They don't get it. You know what I mean? And then I get but then I get companies that do get it. You know? And they they know how to they know how to communicate, and it's not just talking.
FRKO:They know how to communicate through through, you know, it's not always just talking. They just they just get it. You know what I mean? They have a a way a way they contact me and stuff, and then the way they, you know, they send me things and stuff. Like, that's how you just like sending roses.
FRKO:You know what I mean? Right. They send that shit, then they come back, like, okay. You know, we want you we want you to do this too. Like, can we can we work with you?
FRKO:And I'm like, yeah, man. You you hook me up with this. Hell yeah. Or, like, I love getting gifts and stuff. You know what I mean?
FRKO:And so it's like, yeah. I wanna let's do this together. You know? Or the conversation that it doesn't have to be so formal. You know?
FRKO:Like, buy me a drink, man. Like, I'll be telling people I'm a easy girl. You know? Like, buy me a drink buy me a couple of drinks. Buy me give me give me a little give me tipsy, and then we'll do some work.
FRKO:You know? Because I like collaborating with people. I love people. I love people, man. I love talking shit.
FRKO:And, you know, you know, like I said, if this was a in person interview, bro, we'd be we'd be we'd be we'd be there for we'll be 3 hours talking, bro, because I talk so fucking much. You know? And I just love talking to people, bro. But yeah. So, I mean, I think the that's the worst one where they they don't know me that well.
FRKO:They're not trying to get to know me. They're just trying to give me some work. I got one that landed on my desk today that's like that. And I had to kinda, like, coach them through what I don't do, coach them through what I'm gonna do. You know what I mean?
FRKO:Yeah. And they're like, oh, yeah. Okay. We can't do that for that. And I'm like, well, I can't do that for that price.
FRKO:Y'all lowballing me. This is what I'm not gonna do. You know? I don't tell them what I used to tell them. My wife my wife told me to stop saying that because I was like, oh, yeah.
FRKO:I got 3 kids. I don't do that no more because everybody, you know, everybody don't need to know that. But I'm like, yo, obviously, I got responsibility, and I'm doing everything all hard. Like, I don't work anywhere. You know what I mean?
FRKO:I haven't worked in 10 years. It's been like, this past March was 10 years of being a freelance. You know what I mean? And so, and I've, like, built a life off of it. So it's like, I don't play around when it come to come to that kind of shit.
FRKO:So yeah. I mean, me and I don't I I don't like to say I I partner with people. I hate saying collaborate. I I partner Yeah. With brands, Because I don't some stuff that I put out with brands is not something I would put out for myself, of course.
FRKO:A lot of shit. I'm just like, I wouldn't do that, but I I'm a do it with them because they're paying well, and people love it. Somebody I know and I know somebody likes this shit. You know what I mean? So, you know, I I got this some shit this this this year.
FRKO:And they're like, oh, people people loved it, but I I I whatever. And people bring it up, oh, man. That shit was sick. How you feel about that? I don't really give a fuck about it, but whatever.
FRKO:You know what I mean? Yeah. And it's like because that's I'm an artist, man. I wanna do my thing. You know what I mean?
FRKO:But that's a check, man. I gotta pay bills. I gotta pay mortgage. Like think the thing think
Rob Lee:the thing when you you you have, like, I think of movies. And when they joke about, like, you have these, like, high art, like, sort of like, oh, you do these classy indie movies, and then you see that one blockbuster that pops up. And it's like, oh, right. You gotta pay that mortgage, or you need a new boat. Yeah.
Rob Lee:And you gotta you gotta do those things, you know, because
FRKO:Thanks, dude.
Rob Lee:It's a society that that we're in. And, you know, and I like I like that distinction you made there too, sort of, like, partnering. Like, when I hear partnering, it denotes that there's a degree of equality there. It's like, you guys offered this. This is the language that we're speaking in.
Rob Lee:I do this for this, and this is what you pay me. Right. Comes to collaboration, it is is smooth. Like, I think there's some word magic going on there, but when someone says collaboration, it feels a little weird at times depending on where it's coming from. And the collaboration thing is like, yeah, we're gonna give you exposure.
Rob Lee:And It's like, no. No. You're gonna pay me. I'm a, you know, we're we're working freelance or whatever that might look like. And, you know, when I do this because I recognize sort of the voices and the folks that I'm able to connect to and speak to, there's Yeah.
Rob Lee:Value there. And the same thing as you were describing, you know, when people hit you up, they don't really know who you are. I wanna get to know who you are. I don't wanna get you that that first or second drink. Right?
Rob Lee:They see you like, oh, yeah. We need hip hop Atlanta. You know, that's that's that's black. Let's do that as a shortcut or shorthand to get inside the culture. Yep.
Rob Lee:So that's that's that's sort of the thing and you know as you're touching on it's Yeah. You know when you're able to do the stuff that aligns, like, when folks asking, how do you curate us? Like, who who interests me? Yeah. Sounds like the same thing for you.
Rob Lee:So yeah.
FRKO:Not yeah. And and now, dude, I'm starting to get, like, these, like, gigs where I'm, like, getting hired. I just did something, with a media company this past week weekend, and I got hired on as an influencer. And that shit's weird as fuck. Because I'm so used to doing work and, like, and, like, this is the 2nd time, 3rd time I got hired on as an influencer.
FRKO:And, like, the last, like, 4 years, it's strange. It's so strange. And I'm and I'm like, what what the fuck do y'all want me to do? And they're like, oh, just promote the the event and, like, show up, hang out, and, you know, just interact with people. And I was like, what?
FRKO:You guys gonna pay me that to do that? They're like, yeah. Yeah. Do you know? Because I asked them.
FRKO:I was like, yo, how much is how much is influences? Because they was like, yeah. What's your budget for influence stuff? And I I don't do it. Like, how much do y'all really?
FRKO:And they're like, oh, somebody like you, you probably get this. And I'm like, oh, really?
Rob Lee:And they
FRKO:was like, yeah. They was like, you should do more influence and shit. You're at personality. I'm like, yeah. But it's weird because I'm used to doing so much art and just, like, working.
FRKO:I'm a I'm, like, I'm a workaholic, really.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:And you know, but I I don't know, man. I and the but the thing is, like, you know, then they hit me and was like, hey. Did you get any, like, photos and videos? I'm like, I mean, barely. I got, like, maybe, like, 7 photos, and they were like, I thought my job was to hang out.
FRKO:And it was, oh, yeah. But most people, like, take pictures. I was like, no. I ain't gonna lie. When I'm in front of people, my phone's in my pocket.
FRKO:Yeah. Like, I'm like, oh, I I'm old school. I talk to people eye to eye and, like, I'm not about to have my phone looking at my phone, like, while I'm talking there. Like, I'm talk I talk to individuals and laugh and, like, cracking jokes. My phone was in my pocket.
FRKO:I'm sorry. No. It's like Same for me. Organic. You know?
FRKO:It's the same for
Rob Lee:me, and I've gotten real selective as to where I'm at. And as sort of the profile gets bigger or however that might feel or I I the I've been hit with the influencer thing a few times. I was like, I don't know if that's I don't know if I'm your guy. I was like
FRKO:Yeah.
Rob Lee:I'm awkward. I'm off putting. I'm good one to 1, but if it's like, hey, work a room, be man on the street. Yes. I love my skill set.
Rob Lee:That's not really what I do. I'm I'm capable of doing it, but, you know, it takes a lot of energy out of me. You wanna see Surly Rob. You you could see me be Surly.
FRKO:Yeah. Well, you know, I'm I mean, I'm I'm a crack jokes, man, but I well, I got to the event, bro. I'm thinking they had a bar there. I drink, man, and they had that shit was so real water. Oh, man.
FRKO:I said, goddamn, bro. I was like, I'm about to have to talk to people 4 hours sober. It was cool, man. I feel like a kid again. You know what I mean?
FRKO:I feel like a I feel like a 10 year old kid that just ran his mouth all day. I can't you know what I mean? I just talked to every fucking buddy. That's how that's that's who I was. So I I'm really in touch with my youth side and, like, I guess, like, the, like, when I was a kid.
FRKO:I'm very, very still in touch. I remember everything. Like, I feel like adults it's a crime for adults to forget their childhood. You know what I mean? Mhmm.
FRKO:Like, bad and good. I remember all of it, and I, like, I cherish it. You know what I'm saying? I think that's, like, I feel like artists have to have that to be an artist. You cannot be an artist as an adult without being a child still.
FRKO:You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:Yeah. Because there's there's a responsibility to it and that, you know, like, I have a mortgage too. I got the home studio. I tried to make, like, a conscious business decision. I'll put it as you'll you'll love this.
Rob Lee:You'll love this. I had corals, right, up until I went to college, and I was like, the professional thing would be to cut my hair that I've been growing. I look like a Samoan before I cut it. And then, like, well, I guess I gotta go with this conservative, like, regular. Hair's never gone it was just like, you Samsoned yourself.
Rob Lee:You de Samsoned yourself. All of the powers I got.
FRKO:Right. Dude, that's like me in suits, man. I still don't have a suit. Like, I still never had a suit. I I mean, I have them, but they're shitty.
FRKO:And they're off colors. Like, I got a cobalt blue suit I wear all the time. Like, it's people you know, it's it's silly, man, but, like, like, my dad was all like, you gotta get yourself a black suit or if you gotta go in an interview. I'm like, what the fuck interview would I go on? Like, what?
FRKO:You know? And I I honestly, he told me that shit when I was, like, 18 when I was get when I when I was going to Howard. He was like, you need to buy yourself a suit when you get up there because, you know, you got presentations. I'm like, what what the fuck do I need a suit for? You know, it doesn't like, and I, like, I literally just, like, good going going going to fine arts and my proper professors are walking around with Jesus sandals on with their crusty toes out.
FRKO:Like, nobody nobody gives a fuck about that shit, dude. Be yourself. And, like, that's why I give credit to all my professors at Howard, man. They really molded me into who I was already wore. It was they you know, I was already that I was already becoming that person.
FRKO:They they they they was like, yeah, man. Put push the gas a little harder and become that person. You know?
Rob Lee:Yeah. Yeah. Quicker, bro. Like
FRKO:and Yeah. I mean yeah. Because I saw it. They was like, yo. This dude's a fool, man.
FRKO:And they was like, but goddamn he works so much. He party so hard. He's this is who he is. You know? And so when I was leaving the school, I didn't graduate.
FRKO:I had I had a situation
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:Where I coulda I coulda I coulda graduated, but I wouldn't try to I didn't have the money to pay. How Howard probably like Morgan State does this too. Dude, I was 3 credits short. People pay and walk. And I did not have I'd, like, I couldn't just pay it and walk, and I didn't.
FRKO:I didn't have the money. My grandfather, rest his rest his soul, had the money. He didn't believe it because he's old school. He's like, there's no way you could just pay your way through this. I'm like, dude, I was on dean's list.
FRKO:They're happy that they're happy for me to graduate. And I didn't I didn't pay shit. I just said, fuck it. I'm leaving. I said, I'm leaving.
FRKO:I finished my program. I did my senior thesis and everything, but I couldn't I had 2 I had 3 elective classes that I didn't take my freshman and sophomore year because I was too busy doing art. So yeah. I gotta yeah. So it's it's a situation where I can't I do wanna get my degree because I wanna teach, man.
FRKO:I do. I I'm I wanna teach, but I don't wanna teach in a public school. You know what I mean? But I wanna t I wanna be able to to educate kids. You know what I'm saying?
Rob Lee:Now I hear you. And, you know, that's it's it's a similar situation. I almost, like, you know, I I was scholarship, all of that stuff. I got up in the 4 years. It was it was fine.
Rob Lee:But, definitely, they made it very challenging that 2nd semester senior year off of one goofy ass class that didn't really matter. I just didn't take the honors version of it, and me and the teacher had some static. And I was like, yo, we may have a physical situation in this class of actually taking.
FRKO:Oh, you did? Yeah. That's some HBCU shit, man.
Rob Lee:I was like, is it in all of our best interest?
FRKO:Yeah.
Rob Lee:You and I. I don't I don't like the notion of, a giant black man calling other black people monkeys. I don't I don't really jam
FRKO:Oh, hell, no.
Rob Lee:I can't jam with it, and that's what my point is.
FRKO:Nobody can do that, period.
Rob Lee:Right? And in inobusmerchant of any any school or anything along those lines, but that was sort of what my individual experience was, and I was just like, I I have an alternative for us. So there's there's one other thing I wanna go into real quick before I go into these rapid fire questions, and I I I I I relate to this. Like, you know, in listening to you, you you talk or what have you. I'm I'm I'm I don't think you're an Aquarius, but I'm getting some vibes.
Rob Lee:I'm an Aquarius. I always look for the for the brothers. But, I I I was He's an Aquarius? Yeah.
FRKO:Now my, my dad my dad's an Aquarius, and my, my middle son's an Aquarius. I'm a Sagittarius.
Rob Lee:Okay. My both of my parents are Sagittarius, so it's, you know Yeah. It's it's like it's it's around. It's like I I know this this sensibility. I know this energy.
Rob Lee:Yep. But I remember, watching this video, and I think it was, it's it's definitely you're on a you're you're talking about BMX, what have you, And I was doing my research, and it was one where I think you were talking about sort of maybe this desire to leave Atlanta or what have you, and you maybe try to make it more of like New York or or something to that effect, but he ended up thriving, you know, in Atlanta as you've been describing, like, you're you're crushing it or what have you. Yeah. You know, could you talk about sort of that experience, because I relate in that when you're at a place, you know, things feel familiar and so on, and then you feel like maybe I maybe I should leave. Maybe I should look at other opportunities.
Rob Lee:Maybe I'll be bigger here or bigger there. And and I think it'll be beneficial to, like, folks that are questioning where they're at and what it could mean for their careers in in the arts.
FRKO:Yeah. Man, you you probably that probably that that had to be, like, maybe 8, 9 years ago probably when I said shit like that. For real.
Rob Lee:I dive deep. I dive deep. I only Yeah.
FRKO:Yeah. Yeah. I mean, dude, man, I ain't gonna lie. I was always trying to get back to up north. You know what I mean?
FRKO:I did not wanna move back here. Only reason I moved back here is because my my wife. You know what I'm saying? I did not wanna come home, but I'm glad I did. But I I I wanted to stay in DC, man.
FRKO:I wanted to fucking live in DC. I was I honestly if I did not meet my wife when I met her, like, a year and a half before I left DC, I would still probably be in DC or be in New York because I just was not trying to come home. Atlanta to me was a place of, like, like, I couldn't find I couldn't find the beauty, the art beauty that I know it has. I I was expecting Atlanta to be something that wasn't. And back then and then I started well, this is the probably before.
FRKO:I probably said that before I moved. I lived, like, right in downtown Atlanta for, like, 4 years on Edgewood Ave where all the bars are. And I used to be I used to frequent that frequent the city and but when I started living on the city and started realizing, like, yo, this town has something that nobody is able to put in visual other than just doing the pictures. But, like, drawing it, like, I've no one no one's ever been able to do it, like, the the the way I can see it. You know what I mean?
FRKO:And I started taking the beauty in it, man. I'm like I said, I'm born and raised. You always wanna get the fuck out of where you're from, kinda. But I still love New York, and I ain't gonna lie. I tell my wife I I always tell my wife that, hey.
FRKO:If we hit it if I hit this shit and get some money money money one day, like, I'm buying a fucking I'm buying a a house in DC. That's what we're doing. And we're gonna live there for 4 or 5 months out of the year. You know what I mean? And I'm like, I need that shit.
FRKO:I need I need to live there again. You know what I mean? I still need something out of that place. You know? And, I mean, hell, that's, Romare Bearden, man.
FRKO:The artist Yeah. He he did that. Like, hold on. Let me see if this works. I gotta Romare Bearden stayed and, he had a he had a they they had a a, you know, retrospective show here at the High Museum and, you know, he's from Charlotte, lived in in, in Pittsburgh for years, And then he moved to New York.
FRKO:And you saw the the shift in his work, like, each place. You know what I'm saying? And, you know, they had some of his writings and how he spoke about how he always, like, enjoy being in Pittsburgh because the work ethic is a, you know, blue collar town and all that. But then, like, New York was something. Like, I I gotta travel still, man.
FRKO:And, yeah, I got these kids now. So my kids I want my kids to be able to travel with me. We're homeschooling. So I was like, yeah. I mean, you know, it's not over yet.
FRKO:Of course, for me, I might move. You know? But I think I'm a always come back home to Atlanta. You know? Like I said, I bought a house here right in the burbs, but, like, every I lost my studio I have for 5 years in the city.
FRKO:And at first, I was like, damn. I'm doomed. Like, I I don't have I don't have nowhere to go, like, do my my my big pieces and shit like that because I just thought I had to have that, like, status of saying I have this studio that that people can come hang out in and see me. But it ended up being, ended up being a beautiful thing that, like, I got my family, and I never I never really leave my house.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:And I got my I got, like, a shed in the backyard that I just keep all my shit in, and I and I work I work I work out of where I wherever I'm at. You know what I mean? In my in my space and, and my kids are right with me. So it's a new I have a new type of life. You know?
FRKO:You know what I mean? That that, that I kinda created me and my wife created for us ourselves, man. So, like, me saying that, dude, I was still trying to I was still trying to run it high from something I needed to do in the city, and I did it, you know, and I'm still doing it. And but, yeah, I mean, I still wanna go to New York and I don't know if I wanna live in New York, but I I'll live in DC and take that take that train ride, man. You know what I mean?
FRKO:Like, I I definitely miss DC though, man. I definitely miss DC for sure. I I got something when I get older, I wanna I wanna be there more than here. You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:I hear you. When you,
FRKO:Yeah. Like, well,
Rob Lee:When you take that train up, man, make sure you make sure you come through Baltimore, man. Make sure you say what's up, man.
FRKO:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I love Baltimore too, man. I I love Baltimore, man.
FRKO:And and, you know, it's just I'm a Sagittarius, man. Sagittarius gotta travel. Like, you know what I mean? I got a, I got my I got a solo show open in Portland in a couple days, and, like, dude, I don't I haven't traveled in so long by myself. I'm so nervous because I'm always I'm like the dad that literally is just with his family all the time.
FRKO:You know what I mean? Yeah. Like, I'm, like, I'm the dad that's never by himself. I I don't even know what to do by myself. Like, literally.
FRKO:I don't, man. I really don't, man. Last time I did Art Basel was what? I I haven't done it in so long because I don't like leaving the kids. I don't like leaving, man.
FRKO:I would turn down some shows at Art Basel every single year because I just I just don't like Art Basel either, though. I love Miami. I I spent time in Miami too, man. I worked down there when I first got out of school. I was there for 6 months, and I really dug into Miami as far as, like, the scenes and stuff down there.
FRKO:I was all over the place just watching and, you know, pulling you know, I I I'm a I'm a voyeur I'm a I'm a voyeur kinda guy. I watch I watch every fucking thing, man. And I just I get I get some I get something from it. I guess it's artists, man. I just watch I watch things.
FRKO:I pull I pull, pull reference. You know what I'm saying?
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:So let me From, from life.
Rob Lee:Let me throw this one thing at you, and and and thank you for sharing sharing that piece because I think it's, it's really important. Like, when folks are you're thinking about it, it's it's sort of like home is always home. And, you know, you always
FRKO:have those
Rob Lee:places you wanna go to. Like, I'm at this stage. I'll be 40 in January, so I'm really thinking, I don't have any kids. And I'm thinking, like, you know, splitting time, that's a very alluring thing. Like, between here and it's probably gonna be the south.
Rob Lee:It's probably gonna be New Orleans. Like, that's my speed. That's my type of city. And Yep. I'd look for a piece of Baltimore in any of these places that I go that I may consider relocating to a splitting time in, but you don't wanna have that as a box that's unchecked.
Rob Lee:So, definitely, your sentiment about gotta get back up north is like, this makes sense. Yeah. Stances dictated, sure. But, you know, this is what it is right now, and this is and it Yeah. It's important.
Rob Lee:It's not like you're slumming it or anything, and I feel the the sort of same way.
FRKO:Yeah. No. I mean, let me say this real quick.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:I I love places, and I I have a a spiritual connection with, like, where I feel free at. And DC and this and DC DC had this they still have a skate park. It's called Shaw Skate Park. Right? And it's it's been renovated, like, 2 different times.
FRKO:And I used to be there every fucking day. Everybody knew it. And I used to hang out, drink drink beer, smoke weed, you know, just doing just just the shit that we do there. But, it's funny because I the same characters I knew in DC is a skate park in Decatur, Georgia, right out, you know, right right off the right off the Marta called McCoy that I've been going to since I was 12. And I had the same vibes, bro.
FRKO:Same vibes. Like it's, it's, it's just a kick around talk shit skatepark. It's nothing like crazy. It's a small, you hang out. And so I would be, I would come home, be at that skatepark.
FRKO:Be like, damn, I wonder what the fool's doing at Shaw. And then I'll be at Shaw skate park in DC and be like, damn, I wonder what they doing at d park. And I'm like, I'm like, I was conflicted because I love every, I loved it was it literally had the same characters at each park, same characters. I know there's one skater who ended up moving from DC to Atlanta, and he did the same thing. Like, he he was seating me literally in DC and then sometimes see me in Atlanta.
FRKO:And he just like, yo, this is he's like, it's trippy seeing you here, and then we I see you at the park there. I'm like, I know, bro. What's weird, man? But he was like, you know, I'm like, but I honestly missed I can't I don't know, man. Like, I was I was conflicted for years, man.
FRKO:I honestly didn't know what to do with my life. The kids the me having kids, me getting married, having kids really, like, you know, made me sit my ass down. But I was like, yo, I just, I just, I need, I need those kind of free freedom vibes. But now it's funny because, like, everything just lives in memory now. And, like, I'm just so I'm I'm I'm I'm good with it.
FRKO:My kids have brought me back to the childhood that I I I forgot about somewhat. You know what I mean? Especially my oldest son is 6. He's doing a lot of shit I did when I was 6. And I'm like, dude, I gotta give him the I gotta give him the the best childhood that he can.
FRKO:Like, I had a great childhood growing up, man. And, like, we wasn't we wasn't even we was middle class poor, sometimes poor. You know, it depend it depend on the child support payments. But, like, we we we we didn't know it. Like, my mom tells people all the time.
FRKO:Like, yeah. You know, hey, man. For years, we was poor, but, like, they didn't even know it. It's like they had they like, she know she really gave the she gave us a good, a good life. You know what I mean?
FRKO:Yeah. We did. We couldn't tell, man. We just I didn't ask for much, man. I and I worked my ass off.
FRKO:I cut grass. I knew how to hustle, man. That's where all my hustle comes from. I just hey. I I need that.
FRKO:I'm a go get it. I'm not you know, I'm watching my mom. She's struggling to pay bills. Fuck it. I'm gonna go do this shit.
FRKO:I'm a go get this money. You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:Oh, yeah.
FRKO:And I'm 10 years old doing that shit. You know? So yeah. But no, man. That's that's a that's a great question, man, that you asked.
FRKO:Just I know it segued into a whole bunch of other shit, but
Rob Lee:Oh.
FRKO:Yeah. I definitely was a younger guy when I when I said that. Like, I'm I'm I'm cool now. I'm not gonna move to New York now, but no. Definitely not now, dude.
FRKO:New York is New York is not New York no more, man.
Rob Lee:Yeah. And I It's not in New York I remember. I appreciate that. And, I wanna move into these last and these final moments hit you with the rapid fire questions. You know, like I was saying earlier, it's kinda like top ones.
Rob Lee:It's you know, I said what I said. It's sort of that energy. So I got 3 of them for you. So you've mentioned you're a workaholic, right? So I would imagine it's not too much time, but what do you watch?
Rob Lee:Like, what do you watch these days? On TV?
FRKO:Yeah. I'm watching the boys on, Amazon, the boys.
Rob Lee:Yeah. Yeah.
FRKO:You get it? The boys series. I watch, like, 2 I watch I usually watch, like, a series of 2 at a time because I I don't watch TV, like, every day, but I will I I I get the you know, I need a dopamine, man. I got you know, I I get I get I get a rush, you know, on Thursdays, I sit down and watch the boys. So, I love that series.
FRKO:I love the comics. So I was like, you know, I've been hooked on since that shit since since 2020, man.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:You know, I watch movies when they I watch movies when they come out and stuff, like certain movies I'm into, but I'm not I'm not a guy that's following, the trends of the social media trends with movies. I'm a watch it because I'm interested. I just, you know, but I'm not really a I I'm a sports watcher. I watch the Braves every fucking day. I watch the Braves every day.
FRKO:Football season comes around, I watch the Raiders. I watch the Falcons. But, yeah, as far as that, man, I'm just I'm just watching baseball and and watching the boys right now. That show you've heard of that show. Right?
Rob Lee:Absolutely. And I I watch baseball every day or the boys. I got a bunch of shows to watch.
FRKO:I gotta work. I I and, honestly, honestly, like, looking at other people's artwork, I get inspired, but sometimes it just, like, it drowns me out. Sometimes I'm looking at too much stuff.
Rob Lee:Mhmm. Yeah. Makes sense.
FRKO:And I'm trying to watch that new star wars show the acolyte is so horrible though, the writing they gotta, and I, and I thought I was the only, I thought I was the only one I got on YouTube and I was like, oh shit, everybody's talking about how horrible this show is. I was like, cause I'm a, I'm a star, I'm a star wars nerd. And so like, I'm like, yo, am I am I tripping or the day? I go on YouTube. I'm a YouTuber too, man.
FRKO:I sit on YouTube watching shit while I'm drawing. I listen to podcasts, but I go on YouTube and just listen to crazy shit and listen to the nerd reviews and stuff, dude. And I'm like, I thought I was the only one. That's so crazy, dude. I'm a watch that shit tonight, man, but I was I'm a keep watching it, but it's like, yo, they gotta fucking they gotta fix this show, man.
Rob Lee:Yeah. Here's the next one I got for you. What's your favorite place to eat in Atlanta? Like, you know, I, I, like I said, I barely been down there, so I don't have any, you know, context.
FRKO:Oh, man. That's a hard question, bro. I'm not a foodie as much as everybody thinks I am. I eat to I eat to just not have a headache. I'm a I I used to be on a health kick real heavy.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
FRKO:And then I had kids, but I never I'm a drinker, man. I I literally love having drinks, man. I'll say I I won't say food because I eat I eat any fucking thing that's hot. You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:That's great. You know, to
FRKO:tell you the truth, I mean, I will, man. I will. I mean, I don't eat pork like that, but like, dude, if it's good, I'm eating it. But I'm I'm not gonna say, oh, I got this spot that I have to have. I I don't do that.
FRKO:Like, I'm just I'm I'm a street guy, man. I I literally was just I eat when I when I when I, you know, but I got I got I go to my homie's spot. My homie, my homie Omar and Dwayne, they have this place called, Pollo Primo. It's like a Peruvian Mexican, fusion Yeah. Spot.
FRKO:I eat there a lot with my family. You know, I'm gonna shout them out because they're good people in my peoples. Other than that, I eat hot wings. You know, I do I eat I eat Atlanta food a lot. I eat a lot of hot wings and, but I I, you know, I I enjoy a good Philly cheesesteak when I could find a good one.
FRKO:But other than that, like, I don't have a spot, man. I just go, I drink and I drink and party when I can. And I barbecue, you know, a lot on my own. But other than that, like, I don't have a I've never been a guy that's like, I gotta have this spot. You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:I dig it. I dig it. And, Yeah.
FRKO:I'm not a food people think I'm a foodie, bro. I'm not a foodie. I just got like, I'm fucking I'm a eat. Like, I'm going to Portland. Everybody's like, oh, I got all these food spots for you.
FRKO:I'm like, dude, I'm I I know I like, I'm friends with action, bro. So I'm not action, bro. I'm not about to fucking sit here. You know, this food you could get me. I'll try some different gins and different, you know, give me some liquor.
FRKO:Give me some liquor, man. I'm gonna drink. I'm a I'm like, I'm I know this trip I'm going by myself. My wife is like, you barely gonna eat. I'm barely gonna eat.
FRKO:I'm gonna be pounding beers, drinking gin, taking shots of tequila. I'm not fucking eating like that. I eat, I eat just to drink.
Rob Lee:No. I hear you. I hear you. And and and here's the thing. Yeah.
Rob Lee:This this this is, this is one I'm just gonna replace it with just because of what you just said there. Yeah. I I tend to drink an old fashioned wherever I go. That's sort of my go to drink. What is your go to drink?
FRKO:Just gin, dude. I if I if I go somewhere, I want gin I want gin, shaken, and that's it. And it's not and not a martini. I just want a gin meat. I I want I want I want your gin.
FRKO:And then people are like, what the fuck? I'm like, yeah. I want a gin. I want a gin meat. Double that bitch and give it and give it, shake it up and give it to me like that.
FRKO:No rocks. Gin neat. Gin neat. And they're like, you want straight up gin. I want straight up gin.
FRKO:I'm a purist. I don't do, I don't do any. I don't do. If I do do a cocktail, a gin I drink I I like Negronis. Okay.
FRKO:But other than that, I like a Negroni here and there. I I well, I'm usually usually if someone else is paying for the drink, I order Negroni. If I'm paying for it, just give me a gin neat. If you know, somebody's somebody's gonna treat me, I'm like, hey. Yeah.
FRKO:Yeah. Yeah. Give me a Negroni. And then my next drink will be a gin neat. And then my 3rd drink will be another gin neat.
FRKO:And then my 4th drink, I'll I'll I'll get a I'll get a gin and tonic just to get the water in there. But, like, you know, I I usually just get gin straight up. Yeah. Because I used to drink gin. I mean, dude, I Seagram's gin was sponsoring me for a year in 2015, and I was almost died, bro.
FRKO:I was drinking so much gin. It's ridiculous. Yeah. It was a it was a daily daily just drunk on the streets of Atlanta, and everybody knew it. They're like, this nigga's drunk as fuck.
FRKO:I'm like, yeah. I'm yeah, man. But, like, and then people be like, yo, you was drunk 5 hours ago, then you went home and drew some shit and put it out on Instagram.
Rob Lee:Yeah. And
FRKO:then you're back out on the street. I'm like, yeah. I just did that real quick. I thought about how to go do it. Yeah.
FRKO:I'm like, yeah. I had to go. Yeah. So now I definitely enjoy a good gin drink, man.
Rob Lee:Okay. Okay. Then then you know you know what? You you come up here, the the Negroni and the first gen is on me.
FRKO:Oh, hell yeah. No, I appreciate you. Yeah. I'm yeah. That's what we do, man.
FRKO:We just trade drinks, man. I got a homie who who drinks gin also, but he's like half the size of me and he never can hang. So, you know, he, he, we'll, we'll, we'll go. I will go to a spot. I'm like, alright, man, with 6 drinks, 6 drinks, y'all 6 drinks.
FRKO:We'll go back and forth. You know what I mean? And then we all, I don't do shots anymore. I'm too old for that shit. I do a shot of whiskey, but I'm not doing no shots of none.
FRKO:No. I had shots of whiskey. Yeah. But I drink everything, man. I drink.
FRKO:I had a professor Michael B. Platt, bro. Rest in peace. He taught me this shit. He, he, people used to ask what he drink.
FRKO:He said, I drink wet.
Rob Lee:I'm just not saying.
FRKO:Yeah. I drink wet, man. Cause I'm the same way. I'm like, damn, bro. I don't really have a preference.
FRKO:I, if I'm drinking it, I'm gonna fuck what it is. I'm drinking it. That shit.
Rob Lee:That's great. That's great. So there there's 2 things I wanna do, guys.
FRKO:I I drink everything. I'm not I I'm not I'm not, like, out of the shower from from yeah. I drink everything.
Rob Lee:I dig it. I dig it. And thank you.
FRKO:I love
Rob Lee:No. We're we're still here. We're still here. So let me let me close out. Offer.
Rob Lee:I realized
FRKO:Hold on. You broke you broke up a little bit. Alright. What did you say?
Rob Lee:I said, let me close out here because I realized where we're at and, afternoon.
FRKO:Yeah. We're we're in, bro. I told y'all just 3 hours.
Rob Lee:No. No. No. I I appreciate the time and the the conversation. This has been, you know, just a lot of fun, and it's good to, you know, have you on.
Rob Lee:And so, you know, one thing I wanna do is thank you for spending some time with me. And, the second thing I wanna do is invite and encourage you to tell the listeners where they can check you out, your work, social media, website, all that good stuff. Shameless plugs, the floor is yours.
FRKO:Oh, man. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks for having me on, man. Yeah.
FRKO:You can find me, on Instagram at brico Rico. Just how it sound. And, I'm on I'm on Twitter here and there, frk0 Rico. If you're looking for any of my comics or merch or just prints or any other we got durags. I got Nick Cannon's turban and, you know, pro Palestine turban on there, at, frkopestcontrol.com.
FRKO:It's it's it's it's it's a, it's a happening little website. I'm I'm I'm pushing, man. I don't have a website for my work. I need to get one up. I gotta get with somebody, a website builder to do that.
FRKO:Music sounds about, and some some some little singles I put out here and there when I rap. I haven't rapped in years now, though. So yeah. Last time I wrapped was the 20 was 2020. The pandemic, I got bored and started rapping again, but I said, nah.
FRKO:I'm hanging this shit back up. Can you guys be gotta be careful being a rapper in Atlanta, man. Everybody want everybody always wanna shoot rappers here. It's ridiculous. That's why that's why I'm wearing I wear fake fake Versace shades.
FRKO:Everything's fake. Yeah. Nothing is real, dude. You can't rob me. I have no money.
FRKO:Everything's tied up in my escrow.
Rob Lee:That's good. That's good. And there you have it, folks. I'm gonna again thank Freako for coming on to the podcast and spinning the yarn with us and telling us about his journey. And for Freako, I am Rob Lee saying that there's art, culture, and community in and around your neck of the woods.
Rob Lee:You've just gotta look for it.
