Biography
Who is Shawn Fonteno?
Early Years and Background
Shawn Fonteno was born on April 8, 1968, in Los Angeles, United States. He grew up in Watts, a neighborhood within Los Angeles. Shawn did not meet his father until he was eight years old.
As a young man, Shawn Fonteno joined the Crips street gang. He engaged in drug dealing and rose through the ranks within the gang. Following multiple near-fatal shootings and kidnapping attempts against his family, he decided to leave that life behind. Shawn also served as vice-president of an African American motorcycle club called the Choppers MC before choosing to move on from that lifestyle.
Music Career as Solo
Shawn Fonteno pursued a rapping career under the name Solo, which came from his gangster nickname, OG Solo. In the early 1990s, he was associated with several record companies, including DJ Pooh's Lench Mob, Death Row Records, and Priority Records. Shawn was once a hype man for a duo group that included rapper Kam.
Solo appeared in music videos for Kam and DJ Pooh, including "Whoop! Whoop!" and Kam's "Peace Treaty." He also had a song titled "Where I Come From" listed under the duo Kam & Solo. Shawn made an appearance in the documentary Beef 2, where he discussed a past disagreement with Ice Cube over business matters. This event played a part in the rivalry between Ice Cube's Westside Connection and Cypress Hill during the 1990s gangsta rap era.
Grand Theft Auto Franchise and Acting
Shawn Fonteno began his voice acting career in the Grand Theft Auto franchise by voicing a Grove Street Families gang member in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Nine years later, he took on his most recognized role, providing the voice and motion capture for Franklin Clinton in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V. This role became a defining part of his career.
In 2021, Shawn reprised his role as Franklin Clinton for Grand Theft Auto Online. He also participated in a live-action re-enactment of a popular cutscene alongside Slink Johnson, who played Lamar Davis. This re-enactment paid homage to the original scene, which had gained significant popularity through online parodies. Shawn also acted in films such as The Wash. In 2025, he collaborated with Ned Luke, his Grand Theft Auto V co-star, on a commercial for Republic of Gamers by Asus, which included references to the game.
Birthday and age
Shawn Fonteno was born on April 8, 1968, which makes Shawn 58 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Shawn shares the date with 60 other famous people.
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