Atlanta native, Freako Rico, is a symbol of the city’s unrefined elements. His artistic spirit is undoubtedly true-to-self, yet uncanny in its relevancy. His works are as iconic and distinctive as his personality. Freako’s unapologetic nature is something that is refreshing; especially, living amongst the constant smoozing that takes place within any major city. I sat down to talk with Freako at El’Myr to gain some insight into his background and to learn about what motivates him. Continue reading for the full interview below.

How did your passion for art come about?

I mean I was a kid. Honestly, I can’t explain that one. You know what? I’ve been doing art since I was a kid. I’m talking like four. I was addicted to it at a young age, drawing and making shit. I liked drawing stuff and showing people. So that’s been going on since I was a little kid. I wasn’t drawing the stuff, then, and keeping them. I was drawing my family, my pops, my brother and giving it to them. It was on anything, any type of paper. I remember drawing on my dad’s bills. I think he still has a couple of them. Yeah, messing up his shit, but I didn’t know. It was just paper. It was just passion early. It was harvested in grade school because I had some decent teachers that would tell my parents, “yo when he draws it’s different then everyone else.”

Read the whole thing here.

http://plasmamag.com/content/2016/3/20/freako-rico-n