LaQuisha Hankens, a multi-talented and gifted songstress, who has the ability to captivate, encourage and motivate everyone that hears her music. Documenting her life through a mixture of rap, gospel, neo-soul, rock and jazz, she has the ability to rock the house and to sing inspirational melodies that is food for the soul. LaQuisha has walked both wide and narrow roads of life and through her music she demonstrates how faith in Christ Jesus can make you an over comer of the impossible. LaQuisha, a native of Los Angeles, California, has been dreaming of a music career since the age of 9. Throughout time she has grown into a rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, engineer and musician. A beautiful woman of God, who has been saved since the age of 19, is no stranger to the woes of life. Growing up as a child, she faced multiple levels of abuse and neglect. She got her first job at age 12 to help her single mother make ends meet. With more responsibility than the average child, her level of maturity excelled. LaQuisha is the oldest of 14 children and 7 of them lived in the home while growing up. As a child she also grew up in the ways of the Church of Christ. A church with a doctrine that did not support the use of musical instruments as a way to worship. With that, she still begin to teach her self to play the piano, she sang in the church choir and played the trombone in her high school band. Although, she faced adversity everyday, she never gave up on her dreams of a music career. As time progressed, LaQuisha was inspired by Lauren Hill, Mc Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa and of course God to go forth and pursue a rap career at age 15. She worked day and night perfecting her skills in rapping and songwriting, which lead her to multiple first place titles in local talent shows. By the age of 17, she had landed a recording contract with Universal/Private Eye/LowLife Records. Next at age 18, she had already been blessed to be the opening act for artists such as: Teddy Riley, Eve, Jermaine Dupri, John B., Jodeci, Alicia Keys, Ludacris, DJ Quick and plenty of others to add to the list. She also did a collaboration album called Escape from Death Row, which included numerous Death Row artists such as: Kurupt and Daz Dillinger A.K.A Tha Dogg Pound, Tray D., and a host of others. With all that success and opportunity before her, there was still an unexplainable emptiness. The fast-paced and high profile lifestyle began to send her into a downward spiral of depression and with the call of God on her life; she knew something had to change. At age 19, her adventures in the music world were brought to a stand still, when she confessed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. At that point she decided to end her recording contract before she was able to complete her album. Making a decision to end her contract was not easily understood. Her family and friends cursed her because they could not understand why she would give up a chance at fortune and fame, but LaQuisha was coming into the understanding of what God had stored up for her. She began to come into a place of deliverance from lifestyle and past hurts, to walking in peace and joy. As she grew in Christ, the many gifts and talents were soon to come forth with all realness and sincerity. Being obedient to God, LaQuisha rested from music for about 2yrs. After that period of rest, God began to show her how to obtain the many blessings and opportunities he had stored up for her. Continuing in music, she was eventually led to the decision of opening her own recording studio. Immediately she began networking with local artist, musicians, engineers, and producers to learn what it takes to succeed as a business owner, producer, musician and engineer. Within a year, she had built her first recording booth in her bedroom. Where she continued teaching her self piano and also how to produce and engineer music. Today as a beautiful and mighty woman of God she is ready to take on the world. She is called to the nations, a foster mother, assistant youth minister, rapper, singer, producer and engineer. LaQuisha continues to defy what should have been impossible for her to obtain. She is now the Founder, CEO and Head Engineer of Sweet Sound Recordings, Located in Portland, Oregon. LaQuisha is definitely a gift and inspiration to all that she meets. She is a woman who is striving for success according to Gods purpose and plan for her life. CHECK OUT MORE OF HER MUSIC http://www.myspace.com/la_quishahankens
