Behind many great artists is an even greater songwriter. Sure there are a few singers/rappers who write their own songs, however, a lot of our favorite hits were composed by multi-talented songwriters; some known and unknown but all extremely significant. At Urban Fêtes SXSW, Bobby Pen sat down with Shanell Young Money; one of the music industry’s most talented singer/ songwriters.

Most of us know her as Shanell SnL of Young Money Entertainment. She has penned numerous hits for major artists including Ne-Yo, Danity Kane, Jennifer Hudson, and Melanie Fiona. She also co-wrote alongside Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Chanel West Coast.

So how did the California songbird go from principal dancer to esteemed singer/songwriter? It wasn’t easy and it didn’t happen overnight. Shanell explains that in the beginning, like most of us, she didn’t have a sense of what she wanted to do with her life [career wise]. She did a few commercials, and gradually found interest in dance.

“I realized I needed to give a fuck about my life. I jumped into dancing and choreography came easily. Meeting all of these artists and being on tour with them, I was able to submit my music to them. But it was a hard game. Half of my shit was probably thrown out the bus window”

Shanell ended up being a principal dancer on Ne-Yo’s tour and never lost her passion for songwriting. Eventually, her drive and unwillingness to give up led her to major career changing moves.

I just kept pushing forward and working with recording artists. They introduced me to producers. They loved what I was doing and that’s how I built my demo and got my first record deal, which was with Usher. My second one was with Ne-Yo. And my third was Lil Wayne.

(Hence how she became Shanell Young Money!)

Shanell co-wrote majority of Lil Wayne’s Rebirth album and collaborated on the We Are Young Money project.

Shanell explains that although the story sounds great and the success is amazing, the notion that once you get a record deal you instantly become famous is not a reality. To become a successful singer/songwriter, you have to work very hard and sometimes you have to make your own path. Think outside the box.

“Getting a record deal was just the beginning”, she said. “I learned that you can be signed and nothing happens. My third time around with Young Money, I had multiple, different, camps or teams. I realized I can do this myself with my own team and I don’t have to fit into the guidelines. Young Money is a super Rap label! When you’re sitting down with these ultimate rappers, and they don’t understand alternative, the guitar, the piano, it’s kind of hard. But they are my family and I learned so much.”

When asked about what she believes is the key to success and how to #PutYourselfOn, Shannell stated that Consistency is everything.

Consistency and time is equivalent to money. I used to hear that saying all of the time ‘time is money’.  But what really put it into perspective for me is when I think about someone in a courtroom. If someone is fined $500 but they don’t have the money, they have to do time. If they don’t want to do the time, they have to have the money. I had to invest the money and time, in myself as an artist. There’s no way to fail. As long as you got the money you got the time. Consistency is key! At first, a bunch of people may not like your music’ but after a while, someone is going to say you got something

Shannell gives another prime example of how “we can hear a song on the radio a thousand times and think ‘I can’t stand that song’, but after awhile you start reciting the lyrics to it, and now you and millions of other people like the song. That’s how it happens.”

After dedicating her time to songwriting for other artists, and also being involved in artist development, Shannell decided that now is the perfect time to focus on herself and drop her own music. She started the Nobody’s Bitch movement, which by her definition is “a person who demands respect because they know their value and self-worth. Someone who is NOBODY’S BITCH walks with confidence, strength, and determination without being ashamed or apologetic about their journey. They use their past experiences, both the good and the bad, as exactly what they are: learning tools. With this knowledge, they mold themselves into well-rounded individuals who redefine and reconstruct the world in which they reside and help others along the way!”

Well, we are here for it and can’t wait to hear Shanell’s upcoming work with Project Girls Club!