Singer-songwriter and rapper Franco126 crafts hip-hop and indie with longing echoes of Italian pop. He stepped into the spotlight with 2018’s Polaroid 2.0, a joint release with rapper/producer Carl Brave that’s filled with low-key yet evocative snapshots of Roman life. It was followed by 2019 solo debut Stanza Singola, packed with crackling melodies that dug deeper into his psyche. Whether he’s deploying the expressive storytelling form of classic cantautori or exploring synth-y beats with a funky slant, Franco126 takes his music in intriguing new directions.