Blanco

Joshua Emmanuel Pinto João Eduardo, known professionally as Blanco, is a British rapper and singer of Angolan heritage. He rose to prominence in the late 2010s as a member of the South London drill group Harlem Spartans. Blanco is known for his introspective and emotionally charged lyrics, often drawing from the realness of growing up in Kennington, South London.

Blanco started writing his rhymes aged 15, taking inspiration from the likes of 50 Cent, Biggie, Dizzee Rascal and Skepta. He first crossed paths with the members of Harlem Spartans at a local youth centre in Kennington.

Life isn't just rhymes and beats for Blanco. He was convicted in 2018 of possession of a firearm and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, and sentenced to three and a half years in prison. The charges stemmed from an incident when armed police pulled over a taxi with Blanco and his Harlem Spartans homie, MizOrMac. Cops found a loaded gun on Blanco and a samurai sword stashed in his trousers.