Houston/ Arts & Culture
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Published on December 08, 2023
Houston's Very Own 'H-Town Frankie' Lights Up the 'Gram with Rap-Beat Christmas ExtravaganzaSource: University of Houston website

Houston's local IT whiz and former DJ, Frankie To-Ong, better known as 'H-Town Frankie', is once again making waves—but this time it's not his data skills turning heads. His home is decked out in one of the most spectacular Christmas light displays around, synchronized to a soundtrack of rap beats that's racked up 40 million views on Instagram, proving that when it comes to holiday cheer, you can mix tradition with a beat.

The internet sensation told FOX 26 Houston, "I really have a passion for making people smile with music," his video capturing attention far and wide and even scoring likes from rap icons like Drake and Travis Scott, solidifying Frankie's place in the limelight. Neighbors and onlookers are drawn to his North Houston home like moths to a flame; they're gathering to witness his lighting mastery firsthand, adding a unique twist to the city's holiday festivities.

Turning his home into a yuletide hotspot isn't a newfound hobby for Frankie, as detailed in a story by Houston Public Media. What started as an endeavor to dazzle his children during the festivities has evolved into a headline-making endeavor. Frankie's lightshows have a history of virality, starting back when the Houston Astros clinched the 2017 World Series and his celebratory lights garnered tens of millions of views. Since then, each year, residents and the internet audience speculate in anticipation of what H-Town Frankie will pull off next.

While the sudden surge in celebrity might hint at a future enterprise, Frankie is clear that a Christmas-light side hustle isn't on the cards—for now. However, the IT guru generously shares his light sequencing knowledge with those who want to light up their own homes, though he made a notable exception—programming a private light show for Texas Children’s Hospital at The Woodlands, allowing young patients to bask in the lights from their hospital rooms. Frankie told Houston Public Media, "My most proud thing that I’ve done is the private light show." So while Frankie's mainstage may be Instagram, his heart—and his greatest performance—remains right here in H-Town.