Cleotha Payne lll (born March 18, 1983), known professionally by his stage name F. Blanco is an American Hip-hop/Rap Artist.
On January 7, 2016, F. Blanco released his first official mixtape entitled “Bad Past Good Reason” on DatPiff. The project featured artists such as Jose Guapo (QC), Kidd Kidd ( G-Unit), Big Kuntry King (Grand Hustle), Neno Calvin (Rich Gang)with production from Beat Billionaire( MMG), Cheeze Beatz, The Real Hasani, Big Fraze and more.
He was later featured on another mixtape hosted by DjHyDef via Mixtape Monopoly entitled “Money & Hoes 19”.
Blanco was born & raised in the 3rd Ward of Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. After graduating from John F. Kennedy Senior High School, he attended Southern University of New Orleans. He was in college all the while aspiring to be a great in the music industry.
He got his first start in 2002 as a part of a rap group called “The Nappy Nation” which included producer A.D. Future, rappers Big Zues, Money Bagz, Ceasar, Cutty, Int’l Petey & Weava.
After the group went their separate ways, F. Blanco decided to pursue a solo career. At that time is when he met Anthony Givens, CEO of Frontline Ent. who saw the potential in the young rapper and wanted to work with him immediately. Once they got started, things were coming together until Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Blanco was forced to relocate from his home town and settled in Atlanta, Georgia where he had to start all over.
Shortly after moving to Atlanta, he met Alan Simmons, also known by his stage name So Real, CEO of InnercircleNoSquares. The two became best friends and he was later recruited into InnercircleNoSquares. All the while, Blanco not knowing that his childhood friend Money Bagz , who was more like a brother to him, had become famous in Atlanta for his unique tattoos.
While being a part of InnercircleNoSquares, he reunited with Money Bagz and the two decided to put a solo project together for Blanco. Money Bagz was always very influential in F. Blanco’s career from the very beginning so with Money’s resources and Blanco’s talent, the two were on their way.
Bad Past Good Reason was held up due to minor differences but was later released on January 7, 2016 (Super Bowl Sunday ) with the help of Jace Tone of Ecaj Enot Ent. & Eno Edwards of Dirt Road Music. Jace Tone published one of the singles from Bad Past Good Reason entitled What U Mad For feat. Luciano (R.I.P.) while Edwards project managed the rest of the mixtape. He elaborates more about the project in his K-SWAB interview.
Upon completion of the project, Blanco shot a video for another song from the mixtape entitled Pusha Man. Now he has an upcoming single entitled Drippn, while working on his second mixtape entitled The Sinatra Effect, which will be released by the end of the year.
“The only way I won’t get to where I’m going is if I stop” he says.
What is your background? tell us where you grew up and some information about your upbringing/experiences as a youth: Well first of all, I’m from the 3rd Ward of Uptown New Orleans. This is also where I grew up. I will forever love my city. Always. It wasn’t easy growing up New Orleans. Either you become a taker or you get taken from unfortunately. I remember as kids we would hear gunshots and we would make ourselves believe that they were firecrackers. Me as a youth though my parents were great parents ( may God bless their souls ) so I had opportunities that other kids didn’t have honestly but because of the my environment & the decisions I made, I turned to the streets.
At what moment did you know that music was your life and what feelings did you have towards making an active impact with your music? To be honest, music was always in me. In our household, my mother & father had every record spinning from Grover Washington Jr to the Isley Brothers so I always knew that music was destined for me so I decided to act on that vs just sitting around talking about what I want to happen. From promotional performances to interviews, dropping mixtapes & singles. You name it, I’ve done it.
What artists inspired/influences you and if you could collaborate with any artist (alive or passed) who would it be and why? Soulja Slim would definitely be in my top five simply because I knew him personally so I knew that what he spoke, he lived. Also, Jay-z, Nas, Eric B & Rakim, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Common, I mean the list goes on and on. Whenever the opportunity should arise, I’d like to work with Jay-z, Rick Ross, Kendrick Lamar, Future, Young Thug & J Cole.
Honestly what do you think about the current state of hip hop/mainstream music? Honestly, I really believe the game is missing a me & others like me. Don’t get me wrong, major salute to everybody doing it. As long as it’s a win but I will certainly say that the game has changed a lot & unfortunately sometimes it was for all the wrong reasons.
Currently, what projects do you have in the works that you are most excited about? Currently, I dropping my new single entitled “Bad Past Good Reason” which is on www.datpiff.com & I am about to drop my upcoming mixtape entitled “The Sinatra Effect” meaning that this project will have an effect on the world, just like Sinatra.
What are your short term career goals within 6-10 months? My short term goals are to have my next project released , finish up with the GMSH ( Get Money Stop Hating ) tour that I’m currently a part of & it’s another tour coming up after that.
What are your long term career goals within the next 2-5 years? To become my own boss & make history. There’s nothing else I can honestly say. I’m coming for my spot. Period.
If you had one song out of the catalog you have created to show a person what song would it be and why? In my honest opinion, “Pusha Man” and I say this because I believe the world needs to hear this & I’m more than sure they can relate to the song. It’s a message in that song that can possibly change the way our youth are headed, which is something the game is missing. Black lives do matter. A great deal as a matter of fact.
To the person who had never heard of you what is it about your music and story that you would tell them to entice them to be a supporter? I would say to that person: If you wanna hear good quality music that you can relate to, take this Cd and once you’re done listening, it will change your life.
If your music could be described in five words what would those five words be? I would describe my music as Real, Street, Global, Original & above all, great music.
What do you bring to the game that is unique and different? Myself first of all. There’s never been an F. Blanco. Second of all, our children need positivity more now than ever & I don’t see a lot of people attending to that issue. Maybe its because they don’t dare to be different. I do.
To the aspiring artist who is considering a career as a musician what lessons or advice would you give them to inspire them or to uplift them in the journey? I would say to that person to never give up & the only way that they won’t get to where you’re going is if you stop. You are your own enemy.
What are your social media profiles and where can people purchase/download your music? They can find me on IG/Twitter by searching for @icf_blanco. Facebook: FBlanco Blancoblockgang & the link to my mixtape out now is entitled “Bad Past Good Reason” which is on DatPiff , Subscribe to my YouTube page so you can check out my music, performances, videos etc. Reverbnation, SoundCloud, same thing: F. Blanco Also, I’m featured on Money & Hoes 19 hosted by DjHyDef via mixtape monopoly along with Drake, Gucci Mane, Young Thug, Rocko, Quavo & Take Off ( Migos )& many more.
What are your final words you would like to say to people that you have left out? Keep God First, Stay driven with whatever you do and you’ll get there.