Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaquan Bivens.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shaquan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was introduced to music early, really early. My grandfather was a preacher and hearing the choir sing would be the best part of the morning. Around 5 and 6 I really got introduced to Hip Hop with music from Pac, Eminem, Scarface and few others. It wasn’t til about 8 that i started to write and try spitting my own rhymes. Seeing artist like Bowwow made me feel like it was achievable. From then on, I was that kid in school who had the bars. Around 18 and 19 I started having a little fun recording but never really got serious until I was 21/22. Myself, along with a few friends, started a collective and would work our asses off knocking out show after show.
Finally, in fall of 2015, we had our first tour thru Cali. It was easily one of the greatest times of my life. After that tour, I got back Spring of 2016 to Dallas and had life happened. I came close to being a father, but we had issues and that day never came. It thru me back big time because at the time we were figuring ourselves out and I just had a issue with another female I never got to tell her about at all. Those few loses hit me hard and really knocked me off track for a second. I didn’t record another song until Jan. of 2017, “On Mine” which became the first song I released off of “Work in Progress”, which eventually dropped that September. When I dropped that tape, I realized how many people may have been paying attention to me. October came and i was blessed to perform at Gas Monkey Live as part of Dallas Raw. We continued to push and knock out shows like we used to, but even bigger. Nothing was getting in my way.
New Year’s Eve came around and I was headlining in the heart of Deep Ellum, at the Armoury. I knocked that out and had a rush of different vibes and thoughts come to me. By February i was inspired just about everyday to make something new, which eventually led to “I Hope You’re Listening”. This E.P was really a shout to those who kept up with me when i wasn’t working so hard on music as well as a reach out to my ex. The response was phenomenal. I completely was shocked at the love. I was booked in Cali for the first time since our tour in 2015 and came back to booked shows at the Armoury and Expo. Not long after being back, I was fortunate enough to have my own 2 hour set at House of Blues Foundation Room. In the moment of being on stage i realized how far I had brought it from when i had lost myself completely.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road wasn’t smooth, but always managed to stay standing. That was my biggest thing. I always feel like whatever is testing me, cannot beat me. I’m not the most religious person but i do feel we wont be tested by things we can’t handle. Growing up, both my parents were in and out of jail. By 7, my mom had gotten locked up for almost 3 years. 1 year later, my stepdad at the time was charged with a case also. From there, I moved in with my grandparents but they lived a whole different life. Once my mom and pops got out, we got a home and did that thing for a bit but it wasn’t long that sadly they both went back in. Different times and I was about 15 and 19 at the time of each. My mom’s addiction had gotten the best of her and soon it was just me and her living in a 1 bedroom apartment while she waited on trial. Once she got locked up, I had to move and get my own place. That was a wild time. Also, losing a chance at being a dad with the woman I had been with the last 2/3 years was big. I wasn’t sure how to gather myself after that change. I got cold for a minute and kinda fell into autopilot. Going out more and more. Feeling distant from family, who took me back in when I lost my first place and split from my girl. Dealing with the hunger of winning and success on top of wanting to make my family proud was heavy at 1 point. But honestly, I wouldn’t much of anything from my past. It’s made me who I am on this day, and I love this version of me.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Shaquan Bivens – what should we know?
I’m a hip-hop artist. I love to make, Hip Hop music as open as that sounds. I love to see someone realize, “oh I’m not alone in this feeling or situation”. The music I love most has always done that for me. Made me feel like more of a human than some alien whos completely out of it. The thing that will always separate me is the work ethic. I love the feeling of starting and finishing. I chase it. I look for reasons to work harder, whether it’s motivational videos, phone calls with close ones or just working out. I always work to be greater. When people see me live, they always compliment the stage presence. I don’t use back vocals. I look you in your eye. I’m not screaming at the top of my lungs with my shirt off. I give you my message and give you a great show in the process. Things like that have taken me from hallways to House of Blues. I refuse to be out worked, period.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I don’t have enough time for the family involved. HussOnTheBeat is my DJ and producer, TreyJ is just about the closest person i have in the world and has always kept me on my toes lyrically. Obviously, I’m no where with out my mom and sister. Y’all are my rocks. Lorenzo Washington has been a huge influence as a mentor in some ways. Jon Carter is like the big brother who taught me so much about this business early on and still is someone i can reach out to if i need the knowledge. My engineer D-Lou is the goat. He’s always down to work. I reached out to him and in 1 night we recorded “I Hope You’re Listening”. 5 songs in about 3 or 4 hours. A week or so later, he had them mixed and mastered. There are so many people who have helped in some capacity, it’s impossible to get them all.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ShaquanBivensMusic.com
- Phone: 469-671-7397
- Email: Shaquan.Bivens@gmail.com
- Instagram: @ShaquanThe28th
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShaquanMusic28/
- Twitter: @ShaquanThe28th
- Other: www.Soundcloud.com/ShaquanBivens28
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