ESMB

Manny Cuevas

San Diego

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.