Artist Spotlight: Francis Thomas

Written by on July 19, 2016

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Wake up and smell the rookie, to-be-known rapper/songwriter Francis Thomas is dishing up something that Houston needs. 

With influences from Kid Cudi, Travis Scott, Drake, Kanye West, M.I.A., Tupac, A$AP Mob, and Slipknot to Kurt Cobain, Francis Thomas started his artistry at the age of 13.  His humble beginning of posting videos of himself rapping on Facebook has evolved into the recent release of his first full length LP, NIRVANICan intoxicating journey into the aspirations of a starry-eyed yet eerily aware young artist.

The album is a battle between Francis Thomas’ naturally suave vocals dressed in trance synths as heard on “ME U & THE SIXNINETWO” and aggressively charged raps ala Kanye on “OBLIVIOUS.” There is something for everyone in NIRVANIC— Nirvana references, a Cassie sample, haunting synth melodies, biting auto-tune and snare combos, odd genre bending instrumentals, and an XXYYXX  production credit. The album’s single, “SOBRIETY” has a hook hot enough to reel in any casual listener and a production quality and lyrical style that makes the track deserving of its 10.4K Soundcloud plays and so much more.

If you’re really about Houston, give the unique flavor of Francis Thomas a chance, if not, still do so. You can even catch him and several other up and coming Houston artists at Warehouse Live on Saturday July 23rd, doors open at 6pm.

Buy tickets here or at the box office.

Francis Thomas’ social media platforms: Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Twitter.

 

By Jade Castillo

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