Allan Cubas: Urban & Latin Beats from the 504

Para español clic Allan Cubas: Ritmo Latino y Urbano del 504

By AnaMaría Bech

Being part of the Young Money label, “It’s a dream come true” for Allan Cubas, a New Orleans-born Honduran artist whose recognition is growing in the urban music community.

Cubas recognizes the importance of showing up and the fortune of being in the right place at the right time. The way things happen in New Orleans, a friend of a friend told him he could be a good fit for Lil Wayne and Mack Maine’s music label Young Money, which has looking to sign new talent. “Petie called me randomly one night and told me, I feel like you could be a good addition, with the way the Spanish game is growing.”

Those in the music scene have known about Cubas’ dedication and passion for his music and recognize his talent as an American bicultural artist in New Orleans. Cubas’ father is from Honduras, and his mother is a Mississippi native. He grew up in a genuinely bicultural family, which gives him the upper hand in navigating between two languages and the experiences and culture of the Latino and the Anglo worlds. Cubas represents the 504, which happens to be the New Orleans area code and Honduras’s international code.

“I was a music fan for as long as I can remember. I felt like it was an outlet for me to express myself. When I was in Honduras, I would hear different things, but really what hit me was coming to New Orleans at an early age.”

His first musical influence was his father, an avid musician who played and sang a mix of genres of music in Spanish and at church and parties. According to Cubas, his father would have never seen a future in music. “He didn’t pursue it as a dream or career. Coming from a third-world country, I don’t think he saw that as a possibility.”

But Cubas does. He inherited music from his father and the desire to write everything down. His mother taught him to dream big and believe nothing was impossible. He grew up listening to the lyrics from artists such as Roberto Carlos and others his dad used to sing. The New Orleans hip-hop and R&B scenes later influenced him. “I remember going out at the block party and hanging out in bars. Music was always hot”.

The reggaeton phenomenon influenced Cubas and intrigued urban artists and producers in the United States, including Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., who understood the potential of investing in Latin music. Finding out a New Orleans-based urban artist such as Cubas was a match for his label. Cubas’ dedication, work ethic, and focus have gained Lil Wayne’s full support. Meeting Lil Wayne was surreal for Cubas. “When I met Wayne, it was kind of a mutual chemistry from the jump. I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana, so Lil Wayne’s always been somebody I admired. He is the greatest rapper of all time.” 

Cubas has always loved writing lyrics. “When I got to middle school towards high school, I started battle rapping. You know, I always enjoyed spoken word poetry after high school.” You won’t catch Cubas without a pencil. He always carries it as a reminder that lyrics and inspiration are everywhere. He recognizes his writing is a gift, knows his strengths, and learns from his losses. And right now, he is learning from the best. He recently returned from touring with Lil Wayne for over two months, where he got a prime opportunity to perform next to his idol in front of big crowds. “Merit got me here, but there are still levels to go,” says Cubas knowing he will prove he can stand on his own.

Before Young Money signed him, he had performed in various places around New Orleans, the United States, Honduras, and Belize. He created original songs and videos with local producers and friends like Abby Urbina, Eric Bardales, Saul Ramos, and Mario Mejia. He has gotten the support of a few local promoters, such as Tito Miranda and the late Tulio Murillo, but he’d like to see more support from local Latinos.

“My music has taken me everywhere because, as a dreamer, I’ve always been chasing this, and I’m going to keep going with it,” Cubas says, and we believe he is certainly going places.

To hear Allan Cubas, check out various platforms and his recent songs, Inseguro, No Pressure, and Sativa, and support him by following him on social media and sharing his music.