Shanelle Gabriel is a 23-year-old spoken word and singing virtuoso. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY she has displayed her skills at colleges and venues across the country. She performed the Promo Opening and featured on 2007's sixth season of HBO's Def Poetry Jam and recorded a nationally televised promo for the 2007 NFL Draft. She also was a member of the 2006 Nuyorican Poets Cafe National Slam Team and a competitor in the 2007 Individual World Poetry Slam Competition in Vancouver, Canada. Greatly influenced by Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, Richard Smallwood, and Stevie Wonder for their emphasis on lyrics and creativity, her tenacity has allowed her to become a shining star in whatever path she has endeavored to take.

Like many greats before her, Shanelle got her early start showcasing her talents in church. Later, she acted in productions of The Vagina Monologues and Macbeth. At the Utica College Auditorium she performed as both a singer ...