Not many artists can say their first studio was a beat-up laptop and some hand-me-down speakers, but for Yb Esko, that was his reality. Born in South Florida and later settling in West Palm Beach, Esko’s road to music started in the trenches. He started recording in ninth grade, long before he ever stepped foot in a real studio at 17.

The motivation behind his music is rooted in pain. Losing people at a young age, getting kicked out of his house, and dealing with legal trouble shaped the way he creates. During one point in his life, he was bouncing from one couch to the next, relying on friends or short-lived stays at girls’ houses. Sometimes he didn’t have a bed and would settle for a pallet on the floor or even a broken-down car in the driveway when no one else would take him in. That level of struggle doesn’t leave a person it carves into them, and you hear it in every track he makes.

Yb Esko isn’t just a rapper. He’s an artist. Every song sounds different because every day in his life has been different. His songs like “Molly,” “Long Time Comming,” “State to State,” and “Potential” carry the weight of his real-life experience. They’re not just lyrics they’re memories, emotions, and battles.

Now based in California, he’s trying to balance the chaos of life while pushing forward in music. He’s working on new singles like “WTF,” “Been Threw,” and “Made It Out,” which are set to showcase even more of his growth and authenticity. With a performance locked in for June 21 in San Diego, the stage is set for the next chapter of Yb Esko’s rise.