Franko Fraize is a self-made man. Whilst working for BT he started off posting his hip hop on MySpace and YouTube. He worked his way up the greasy pole by gaining airplay on BBC Norfolk, BBC Suffolk and BBC Radio 1Xtra. All of this culminated in his single Treasures, featuring Kamilla Lovett, being playlisted on BBC Radio 1.
Tonight at King Tuts he’s giving a dose of Norfolk hip hop to a mixed crowd of just over a hundred. Franko Fraize offers something different, at the beginning of his set he mixes guitar riffs and trumpet, to which the crowd offers a lukewarm response.
Things heat up once the solid hip hop beats kick-in. Maggie, Underdog and my personal favourite, Siesta, a well written and down-to-earth tune, are all well received. In Trouble Fraize waxes lyrical on the mundanities of life for an ordinary youth from Norfolk, to a ska backing track.
The crowd warms to Franko’s charismatic stage presence. He is by turns dark and funny, and has a positive outlook on everyday life. By the end of the gig he has the place bouncing and the audience eating out the palm of his hand.
Would definitely recommend and go to see him again.
Franko Fraize played King Tuts Glasgow, Sun 22nd Nov 2015