Meet El Compa Negro.
Photo credit: @elcompangerooficial / Instagram
He’s a 19-year-old singer from California who says he’s got the heart of a Mexican.
Don’t believe him? Just watch.
Credit: @elcompanegrooficial / Instagram
What??? Hijo de Suuuu!
credit: PBS / via Reddit
His name is Rhyan Lowery and he grew up in Compton, California.
Photo credit: @elcompanegrooficial / Instagram
He told Estrella TV that most of the friends he grew up with were Mexican, so he’s always been influenced by Mexican culture.
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El Compa fell in love with norteñas while living in Perris, California.
Photo Credit: @elcompanegrooficial / Instagram
One day, he said he heard live music from a neighbor’s house. Thinking it was a party, he went over to crash it and discovered it was a practice session for his neighbor’s norteño band.
They let him hang out during practices…
Credit: Musica Marca Diablo / YouTube
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… and he eventually started playing drums with the band. He then got the itch to sing when he heard Julión Álvarez’s “Y Tu.”
Credit: Musica Marca Diablo / YouTube
… El Compa Negro started building a buzz through social media.
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He eventually caught the attention of Larry Hernández
Credit: Musica Marca Diablo / YouTube
…who invited him to perform a few songs with him at a live show.
Since then he’s been performing with his band, El Compa Negro & Los Mas Poderosos.
Photo Credit: @elcompanegrooficial / Instagram
And meeting a who’s who of the regional Mexican music scene:
Photo Credit: @elcompanegrooficial / Instagram
Yep, that’s Luis Coronel…
Photo Credit: @elcompanegrooficial / Instagram
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And Beto Sierra…
Photo Credit: @elcompanegroofical / Instagram
And Jorge Gaxiola of Voz De Mando
Credit: Musica Marca Diablo / YouTube
He’s also performing at bailes across the United States.
Credit: Musica Marca Diablo / YouTube
El Compa says he’s got a few haters who think he shouldn’t be singing Mexican music.
Photo Credit: @elcompanegrooficial
But El Compa says this to those who doubt his love for Norteñas: “Yo soy negro, claro. Afroamericano. Corazón y alma de un Mexicano.”
Follow El Compa Negro on Facebook.
