Meet the Artist: ESMB

Born and raised in Southeast San Diego, Manny Cuevas—known to the streets and the stage as ESMB—came up in the heart of the 90s and early 2000s, surrounded by a melting pot of musical influence. Though he calls himself a late bloomer, he never looked back once he stepped into the game.

It all started with rewriting lyrics to popular songs just to study their rhythm and flow. At the time, ESMB was homeless, living in a ’93 Ford Thunderbird with his father. That struggle lit a fire. With nothing but drive and raw hunger, he began recording tracks using webcam mics at internet cafés, uploading them to YouTube to create his buzz.

By 2009, he dropped his first mixtape, Confessionz of a GANGster, pushing over 100,000 units across California through pure grind and grassroots hustle.

More than an artist, ESMB is a student of the game. He studies lyrics like scripture—spending hours with books, dictionaries, and thesauruses to refine his craft. To him, success isn’t just about what you know—it’s also about who you learn from, and how you grow.

Over the years, he's been blessed to collaborate with talented artists who’ve helped shape his journey. The story continues—raw, real, and straight from the heart of San Diego.

Follow ESMB on Instagram, Twitter, and Spotify.

Who is Mr.Mono. Lawrence Gabaldon better known as Mr.Mono he was Born in Albuquerque New Mexico in the late 90s, the MC has realized the life of a gangster there is nothing two options death or incarceration he has made a 360 in his life an absolutely did a major change he is now a living story telling soldier from the rough streets of the south west and is now giving advice to the young upcoming MC’s in the music industry he is no longer with gang affiliation he has made a completely change the artist is now focusing on his music career taking it on a new journey that it has never been on he left the old friends behind that he felt they were in it for fame he is taking it big timeeee.... New Mexico MC is doing major moves for himself at the moment he is taking the game on a ride of his lifetime... early 2000 he was hustling in the streets of the southwest all the way to the West Coast dominating the streets with firearms till late 2017 he was convicted for a federal charge in the United States by FBI he was charge for arm trafficking conspiracy at the same time the artist have faith prayed every night to the man above the creator of earth simply there was a blessing that was put out where the United States district attorney dropped the charges from armed trafficking to intent to distribute the artists has had no record in the past not known to the department of justice he was simply given a second chance to change his life the artist immediately Took advantage of the chance started to make a change in his life immediately he was blessed with that opportunity to actually stay in the free world still fighting his case but at the same time at home located in his Music studio doing hot exclusive songs taking the journey onto the next level that's when he gave the hustle he immediately turned his whole life around with his music career and was sign to empire distribution had the opportunity and chance to work with Sony music the artist is now working hard banging on the door of success he simply plead guilty total intent to distribute a less charge in the federal and is still giving a chance to be in the free world as we speak he could not stop counting his blessings for the opportunity was given he is at the moment working very hard on multiple albums for Sony entertainment he has left the gangster life he still got his Ink life story telling tattoos on him to represent his lifestyle that was the past and that is not the road to take… to let y’all now he does not forget where he comes from he is now speaking to the young youth letting them know that is not the right route to take in life he even heaving the 13th alphabet on his left eye, just to let them know who he was rolling with at that time now he is doing well…

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