Chicago-born rapper AWE Manolo reflects on grief, resilience and staying true to himself on his four-song EP, A Letter To Frenchie.
Advertisement
THE WORD
AWE Manolo, formerly known as RND Manolo, was born on Chicago’s South Side and raised in North Chicago.
After losing both parents, he says music became a way to express what he was carrying.
His four-song EP, A Letter To Frenchie, honors his late mother.
The project includes the songs “A Letter To Frenchie” and “Peace Of Mind.”
Manolo says he hopes listeners hear honesty, substance and a message to keep going through difficult times.
AWE Manolo is using music to honor his mother and share the lessons he says life has taught him. The rapper, born Wallace Arrington Jr., has released A Letter To Frenchie, a four-song EP dedicated to his late mother.
Formerly known as RND Manolo, he was born at Holy Cross Hospital on Chicago’s South Side and raised in North Chicago. Music was around him early: he recalls hearing it through his older brothers. He also spent years focused on football and track and field.
After high school and a period in college, Manolo decided that school was not the path for him. He says he looked to two older brothers who had taken different directions—one involved in street life and another playing Division I football—and chose to pursue a different route. During that time, he began recording music, though he did not initially treat it as a serious career. He eventually stepped away from recording before finding his way back to it.
Manolo returned with the EP Losses & Lessons and the single “Back In My Bag.” A later project, Floating Thru Life, was removed from streaming platforms. He describes that experience as an early lesson in the business, learning to have the details in order before releasing music.
Advertisement
In 2025, Manolo connected online with producer OG Dino, who took an interest in his music and asked what he wanted to do. Manolo already knew of Dino through his friend NOGO BAM, who had worked with the producer and spoken highly of him. The two began working together, and the single “What You On” helped Manolo build momentum. He describes the record as a straightforward expression of his focus on making money.
That momentum carried him to Atlanta, where he performed at YK Niece’s sold-out show and appeared on DGB’s Off The Porch and The Progress Report, according to his biography. But as his career began gaining traction, Manolo faced another profound loss: his mother died from cancer. He says the losses of both parents have deeply affected him.
He continued writing through his grief and chose to honor his mother through music. The result is A Letter To Frenchie, which Manolo describes as a soulful and personal release. The title track reflects the project’s dedication, while “Peace Of Mind” offers listeners a closer look at his perspective.
The EP’s message reaches beyond grief. Manolo says he wants listeners to value the people who genuinely care for them, stay true to themselves, take accountability and avoid settling for less. He also emphasizes cherishing and respecting one’s mother while she is still here.
“I’m not here for the clout I’m here to touch peoples heart and soul,” Manolo writes in his artist statement. He says he wants his music to connect with people who keep working and refuse to give up, even when their path is difficult.
With A Letter To Frenchie, AWE Manolo offers listeners a personal introduction to the artist behind the name: someone drawing from loss and perseverance to make music he hopes feels honest, relatable and his own.
