Frisco (rapper)

British grime MC and member of Boy Better Know

Frisco

Background information
Birth name| Deshane Cornwall
Also known as| Big Fris
Born|  (1982-07-18) 18 July 1982 (age 43)
Tottenham, London, England
Genres|

* British hip hop
* grime
* UK garage
* dancehall

Occupations|

* Rapper
* songwriter
* record producer

Years active| 2003–present
Labels| Boy Better Know

Musical artist

Deshane Cornwall (born 18 July 1982), known professionally as Frisco,[1][2][3] is a British grime MC, rapper, songwriter and record producer who is part of the Boy Better Know (BBK) music label which includes Jme, Skepta, Jammer, among others. He has released three solo albums and a series of mixtapes (Back 2 da Lab mixtape series), guested on tracks by his label mates and established a successful monthly grime event in East London, contributing to the popularity of grime within the UK music scene.

## Early life

[edit]

Frisco grew up in Tottenham, North East London.[1] He started MCing on pirate radio stations in North London in the early 2000s, with fellow artists and friends such as Skepta and Jme, with whom he formed BBK in 2006.[4]

## Career

[edit]

Frisco has been affiliated with TMT (consisting of Cell 22, Presto and Danny B). In 2004, he appeared in the video for "Private Caller", produced by Skepta. He then released the mixtapes Murda Music Volume 1 and Volume 2, before taking a year out to spend time with his son, which he referenced on subsequent mixtapes. He returned in 2006/7 with the mixtapes Back 2 da Lab volumes 1 and 2. A fifth mixtape, Peng Food, was released in 2008.[citation needed]

Back 2 da Lab Vol. 3 was released in 2009, which FactMag stated it "affirms his position as one of grime's most respected MCs."[5]

Frisco's first album, Fully Grown (2010), was considered a disappointment by some critics for attempting to become too mainstream.[6] It would be another four years until the release of his second album British Nights (2014), which he described as being more downtempo and 'introspective'.[7]

In 2015, he set up the monthly live UK music night, The Den, at the Old Blue Last pub in Shoreditch, East London.[7] He is currently CEO of The Den.[8] He has also regularly performed at the Eskimo Dance Grime night, which is seen as one of the most important platforms for MCs within the movement.[9][10]

As well as his own music production, he has gained positive reviews of his guest appearances on the releases of other BBK members, such as verses on "Detox" on Skepta's album Konnichiwa, and on "Don't @ Me" and "Amen" from Jme's album Integrity.[11] 2015 also saw Drake becoming involved with BBK, reportedly posting images of an SBTV cypher between Skepta and Frisco from 2009 on his Instagram account.[12]

In 2016, Frisco released the LP System Killer.[13] Explaining the title, he told an interviewer that “It’s a rebellious statement to say I’m not part of the system. Whatever facade you have over what an artist is meant to be, I’m going to kill whatever idea you have of that.”[14]

In 2018, BBK collectively won the award for innovation at the 2018 NME awards.[15] In May, Frisco appeared on the track "Athlete" with other members of BBK and Goldie1.[16]

Frisco released Back 2 da Lab Vol. 5 in July 2018.[17] In November, he appeared on the track "Sekky" by Capo Lee.[18]

## Discography

[edit]

### Albums

[edit]

* 2010: Fully Grown
* 2016: System Killer
* 2020: The Familiar Stranger

### EPs

[edit]

* 2010: Have That
* 2011: Tear Drops EP
* 2014: British Nights
* 2021: Norf Face (with Jme, Shorty and Capo Lee)
* 2022: Tottenham EP
* 2023: Winning Team (with INFAMOUSIZAK)

### Mixtapes

[edit]

* 2006: Back 2 da Lab Vol. 1
* 2007: Back 2 da Lab Vol. 2
* 2007: Peng Food
* 2009: Back 2 da Lab Vol. 3
* 2011: Back 2 da Lab Compilation
* 2012: Back 2 da Lab Vol. 4
* 2018: Back 2 da Lab Vol. 5

### Remixes

[edit]

* 2010: Eyes on You (Remixes)
* 2011: Ghost Train (Remixes)
* 2011: Shutdown (Remixes)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "The official website for Frisco". bigfris. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
2. ^ "Frisco". Skiddle.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
3. ^ "Deshane Cornwall". Discogs. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
4. ^ "Boy Better Know: Members and History | Highsnobiety". Highsnobiety. 13 October 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
5. ^ "Frisco: Back 2 da Lab Vol 3 - FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
6. ^ "Frisco - Fully Grown [Review]". www.onceuponagrime.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
7. ^ a b "System Killer: Clash Sits Down With Frisco". Clash Magazine. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
8. ^ "SJM Presents Frisco - XOYO". XOYO. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
9. ^ "Eskimo Dance Returns To Boxpark Croydon". Clash Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
10. ^ "as eskimo dance hits wembley this weekend, we celebrate grime's most important rave". I-d. 7 April 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
11. ^ "The Lowkey Importance Of Frisco BBK". Complex. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
12. ^ "The Thin White Line Between U.K Grime And Toronto Rap Culture". Sidedoor. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
13. ^ "Album Review: Frisco - System Killer - Impact Magazine". Impact Magazine. 5 May 2016. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
14. ^ "Frisco releases new album 'System Killer' feat. Skepta, Wiley, Shakka, Flowdan & more… | RWD". rwdmag.com. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
15. ^ "Boy Better Know to win Innovation Award at the VO5 NME Awards 2018 - NME". NME. 8 February 2018. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
16. ^ "Skepta, Wiley, JME & Boy Better Know Grab Goldie1 For "Athlete"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
17. ^ "GRM EXCLUSIVE: GRIME VETERAN FRISCO TELLS US ABOUT "BACK 2 DA LAB VOL.5"". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
18. ^ "Capo Lee calls on Frisco & Shorty for 'Sekky' vocal". RWD. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.