New York, New York -  Shaquille Townsend and Travon Livingston collectively known and ShaqNLivin (“SNL”) grew up as childhood friends in Uptown, New York.  Shaquille AKA “Shaq”  raised in  Mount Vernon, NY while Travon Livingston AKA “Trey Livin” grew up in Pelham Parkway in the Bronx.

As a kid, Shaq spent most of his free time playing after-school sports.  His parents separated when he was in junior high and staying after school working out and listening to Biggie and Jay-Z on his headphones was his escape.  Shaq was quickly recruited to Iona Prep High School in New Rochelle, NY to play Varsity Football as a Running Back receiving All League and Top 25 Running Back in the Tri-State.  Despite his athletic success, Shaq realized early on, his motivation was music – listening to it, being inspired by it and writing his own lyrics. Trey attended Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School in Manhatten.  His first memory of music was listening to his uncle DJ-ing in his basement during family functions.  Trey started writing freestyles and uploading them on YouTube receiving a great amount of views.  He also gravitated to sports and which led him to a football league where he met his future partner in rhyme, Shaq. The duo became instant friends and started to write lyrics and recorded over popular beats.  Two months later, they put out an “SNL” mixtape in their schools.  One day, they walked into their local pizzeria and were recognized by an excited group of teen girls reciting their lyrics.  This attention and recognition was the fuel the boys needed to follow their love of music.  SNL soon caught the attention of music industry veteran, Damion “D-Roc” Butler from the Notorious BIG legacy and Bad Boy camp.  D-Roc was launching his “Invisible Bully” movement and took the boys under his wing to be part of the “Invisible Bully Boyz” along with Justin Combs, Diddy’s son currently playing football at UCLA.  D-Roc comments, “You don't have to be a thug or ex-drug dealer to rap.  SNL has a  classic New York hip hop sound and the girls love them – they’re a new clean and positive breed of talent.”   SNL’s motto is “Young and Livin” – also the name of their first popular song.  It’s about livin life to the fullest at every chance you get.  It’s about seizing the moment and having fun.  Most of all, it’s about setting goals and doing everything you can to be successful at a young age.