"Shanek” was born LaQuaisha Shanek Gross on October 11, 1996 to Teresa Dishmon and Antonio Gross. As a toddler, Shanek was always on the move and loved music. She always wanted her parents to drive her around in the car while listening to music until she fell asleep. Her favorite song was “Who Let the Dogs Out”. Throughout her school year, she has always made good grades and managed to stay on honor roll. Shanek was elected President of the Student council and turned out to be extremely popular. Shanek is always notice by the huge, wonderful smile on her face.

  Beginning at a young age, she has always loved to sing along with the choir every Sunday. Eventually, she was saved and joined the choir at Emmanuel Church. Today, she still loves music and singing. Neither of her parents have any experience in music, so she feels like she must have inherited her talent from her great-great grandfather, the late Mr. Fred McDowell.

  One day for a school project she had to write and record a rap song. That’s when she knew her heart was for music. After recording her song, she knew becoming a young female artist was what she wanted. After hearing her song, she was told that she had potential. She then found the courage to make her own album. At the beginning of 2012 until now, Shanek has been going hard in the studio, working with her new hit single “Pretty & Paid” and “My Own Thang”. Shanek’s song “Pretty & Paid has been on Memphis Own 107.1. She’s been in various shows here and around the North Mississippi area. Be on the lookout for the new and upcoming artist “Shanek”.