Born to Angolan parents in Kennington, South London, rapper Blanco (born Joshua Eduardo) found a passion for music during his teens, a passion that soon manifested itself in one of the U.K.'s most prominent drill collectives. Alongside rappers including Bis, MizOrMac, TG Millian, and Loski, Blanco founded drill outfit the Harlem Spartans, soon producing classics like "Kennington Where It Started," "Kent Nizzy," and "Call Me a Spartan." Through the mid-2010s, Blanco and his compatriots were one of U.K. drill's most influential and popular groups -- but legal issues soon halted their musical dominance. After a period of incarceration, Blanco transitioned in the late 2010s toward a versatile solo career. He ventured into a plethora of U.K. rap styles across the latter stages of the decade before releasing debut mixtape City of God in 2021.