Today we’d like to introduce you to Cabanaa Cartier.
Hi Cabanaa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Baltimore MD, one of top 10 most dangerous cities in all of America. My parents were divorced since birth so I’ve never had the fulfillment of having that Cosby show family-type vibe that I saw on TV which created an empty void.
Age 13 is when I started to experience my childhood friends either getting locked up or killed and then that’s when I realized that becoming a product of my environment was inevitable. I had 2 choices: (1) Jump into the streets and follow the path of my friends… Or (2) Vow to never become anything close to what my peers became. I chose option 2, but that’s when life became more challenging. I started to work 9-5 jobs to make money to support myself and my music career but it wasn’t nearly enough to still be able to buy the latest clothes, pay bills, and still have fun. After a few good, honest attempts to live righteous, I had to find a quick side hustle to generate more funds. So inevitably like my friends, I started to sell drugs but there was a method to my madness. My goal was to make up a couple of thousand dollars to be able to move to Atlanta to pursue my music career. Once I saved up a decent amount of money I moved to Marietta Georgia with a cousin and slept on a couch for months until I saved up more money and found a place of my own to move too.
During that time, one of the biggest artists in the world at that time “Desiigner” rapped on one of my beats in a short film-style music video called “Zombie Walk”. After a series of events post that situation, I finally was able to move into my own place in Downtown Atlanta and continue my journey as an independent artist. I’ve since been featured on Billboards in Times Square NYC, been interviewed on Power 105.1 radio station, and performed at various venues such as AT&T Stadium in Dallas Texas. I’m currently in negotiations with a few record labels who intend on taking my career to the next level.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My journey as an independent artist has been exciting yet tough. Entrepreneurs in general, encounter a lot of sleepless nights, long hours, monetary challenges, and relationship sacrifices. Trying to get people to believe in a vision that only you can see clearly in your own head can be tough but you have to just keep winning. The majority of people only respect results, not ideas. The biggest factor is not letting your emotions get the best of you and to stay consistent even when things aren’t moving as fast as you’d like them to. Slow motion is better than no motion!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a hip hop/R&B artist and what sets me apart from others is that I fully embrace my most truest authentic self. I’m 100% vulnerable and egoless in my music. I don’t write music, instead I freestyle every song based on my emotions at that very moment. My songs are the closest form of time traveling that I have. I can listen to songs from five years prior and put temporarily put myself right back into that very space I was in.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My childhood friend Jacob put in countless hours into my music career as well. He believed in me more than I believed in myself at times and his consistency always reignites my inspiration.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://itsjusavibe.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CabanaaCartier/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/CabanaaCartier/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Cabanaa/videos
Image Credits
@Thegreatjustino_
