Meet FRKO, The Artist Behind Action Bronson’s Single Cover Art

Inspired by cover artwork from classic 1990s albums from OutKast, A Tribe Called Quest, Snoop Dogg and more, artist and creative visionary FRKO is looking to bring back the excitement of visual components in hip-hop with his free-hand cartoon style.

The Atlanta native, who most recently designed the artwork for Action Bronson's lead single, "Actin' Crazy" off his major label debut album Mr. Wonderful, built a relationship with the Queens rapper and his management through Instagram, after noticing that Bam Bam would repost FRKO's artwork on his IG page. This eventually led to the talks of FRKO creating the artwork for the single and possibly more work with the Flushing rapper down the line.

XXL reached out to FRKO to find out more about his innovative drawings, his relationship with Action and his upcoming work. —Roger Krastz

XXL: The fondness for art is growing in the hip-hop community; did you feel at one point that it was under-appreciated?
FRKO: Art was under-appreciated, but now it's somewhat overlooked. Most hip-hop heads aren't looking at the album/single covers anymore because they're downloading it and not getting the hard copies. Physical art does a lot more for the senses to me. I grew up memorizing Outkast, So So Def, Tribe Called Quest, Too $hort and Snoop Dogg's early albums.

How would you describe your style of art?
My art is just my free-handed cartoon style. Every artist has his or her own hand style, of course, and I've drawn this way forever. I was classically trained in art programs since childhood and I learned figure drawing and painting aside from partying hard [during] my years at Howard University, but I naturally draw in this cartoon style.

How do you get started on a brand new piece of work? Do you have any rituals?
Man... I get my mind right by pedaling my Skavenger BMX bike around the city (ATL) listening to a track with descriptive lyrics, and I just get an idea from a lyric and visualize the art in my mind. I get back to my block, grab a beer from my corner store, head back to my apartment and begin sketching.

What was the first piece of art you worked on, and at what age?
I would have to say the first piece I worked on was this mural in my elementary school. I had the best part of the mural, shitting on the 5th and 6th graders. I was five years old. [Laughs] I sold my first piece of art at the age of 10 for a couple of hundreds or something.

You've been working with Action Bronson as of late doing the very dope artwork for his single. How did you connect with him?
First off, I'm a huge fan of him and his music. I don't co-sign new rappers much but when I began listening to his music and checking him out on IG I saw him reposting people's art that they did of him. I said, "Man, I can do that," so I started drawing his lyrics as exact as I can get them, like, every detail I could include. Action started posting the art and I could tell he was getting a kick out of the work. After the fifth one I did I said fuck it and sent his manager an email just giving him my contact info. He hit back a month later with good vibes and good news asking me to do some art for AB. I was down of course.

What covers have you done for Action?
Just the single "Actin' Crazy," but we got more in the works. I cant say too much. [Laughs]

What inspired the cover art for Action's single?
I listen to his songs over and over and every time I find a silly or just ridiculously clever lyric that prompts me to draw something. On a few of the pieces I infused a little bit of '80s and '90s pop culture as well as a little graffiti culture to add contrast. I can't help it. His show Fuck, That's Delicious also kept me motivated to create.

How long did it take you to create the artwork for Action Bronson?
Like a day. If I rush it I miss things I wanted to incorporate in the work. I refer back to the elements and principles of art a lot and color and balance [are] the biggest two I focus on.

What do you want people to capture from your artwork?
I want people to catch the small things that I add for small laughs. I did a Gucci Mane drawing that blew up on IG and Tumblr that's referencing "The Shawshank Redemption." I drew a rat in in the piece saying, "He'll be back." The latest AB piece I did I included the hilarious driver (Charlie the cab driver) from one of his FTD episodes in it and people got a kick out of it.

While creating different art pieces, what do you find yourself listening to for inspiration?
Growing up in ATL I naturally listen to the old Southern rap music like UGK, OutKast, Three 6 Mafia and Goodie Mob, but I always end up listening to my "dad's music" just because growing up that's when and where I did my art most of the time. At my pop's house drawing on the floor while he bumped jazz, '90s R&B, Motown oldies and Phil Collins. I like to take myself back to when I was discovering my style. I vibe out to instrumentals and beats by Aviators Music Group.

What's the hardest challenge of being an artist in today's era?
Getting recognized on the Internet. Attention spans are short nowadays and art shows aren't as frequent like they were in the past, or people just go for the party and not to buy work. So us digital artists use social media as a showroom. The downside to that is people trying to steal my work even though it has my logo (FRKO). I've found people putting their name on my art. Blasphemy!

What's the next hip-hop artist we should expect you to work with?
That's hard to say. I won't do work for anybody, especially if I don't like their music. Money is money, but my creativity doesn't run off of money. I gotta vibe with the artist, real talk. I would work with older rappers before these new kids. Everybody is wack to me.

For what other rapper would you like to design an album cover?
Killer Mike. I've been a big fan of his since I was in middle school, plus he's slept on in his own city of Atlanta because all of the bullshit the radio plays. He has the energy I would love to recreate on an album cover. I dig the album cover he and El-P got for their Run The Jewels albums.

What are your three favorite hip-hop records at the moment?
"Easy Rider" by Action Bronson
"Fergsomnia" by A$AP Ferg
"Give Em Hell" by KEY!

Where can people purchase your artwork?
frko.bigcartel.com