A key member of pioneering drill collective Harlem Spartans, South London rapper Blanco played a major part in some of the U.K. drill's earliest hits, including "Kennington Where It Started" and "Call Me a Spartan." In the late 2010s and early 2020s, the MC found similar success with his versatile solo career, covering genres across the U.K. rap scene ahead of debut mixtape City of God. Born to Angolan parents in Kennington, South London, Blanco (born Joshua Eduardo) found a passion for music during his teens, recording tracks with friends at his local youth center. These sessions quickly led to the formation of rap collective the Harlem Spartans, a home for Kennington rappers like Blanco, Bis, and MizOrMac that would go on to become one of U.K. drill's most prominent groups. As part of the Spartans, Blanco soon became one of the genre's most renowned MCs: tracks like "Kennington Where It Started," "Kent Nizzy," and "Call Me a Spartan" quickly became classics of the scene, with Eduardo's grounded vocals offering a strong contrast to the dextrous MizOrMac, assertive Bis, and flow-juggling Loski. Blanco and his compatriots were among U.K. drill's most influential and popular pioneers -- yet significant losses would prevent the group from maintaining their poll position. The tragic deaths of Bis and Latz proved a significant loss, which worsened as Loski and MizOrMac found themselves in legal troubles throughout the late 2010s. Blanco, in a series of legal disputes himself, had his career halted by a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Upon his release, the rapper set to work on a substantial solo career. Through 2019, Eduardo continued with his drill roots on "21st Century Spartans" and "Salomon Rondon," as well as widening the scope with trap and Afroswing styles on his debut EP, English Dubbed. 2020's mellow "Shippuden" soon became the rapper's most-streamed track to date, a trend he continued to capitalize on with "Memphis" and "Anakin" before working with Loski on the frosty drill of "Anglo Saxon." After a brief run of 2021 singles, the rapper released his debut mixtape, City of God. With collaborators including Central Cee, NSG, Loski, and Ama Lou, Eduardo broadened his catalog with a wide range of U.K. rap styles. ~ David Crone, Rovi

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