what it do everybody! so this week, we venture to the world of wax and needles, sounds fun right, juuust kidding! but actually...I'm serious because this week we have a sista that has always repped hard on those wondrous wheels of steel.
she's been practicing her craft for over 10 years, she is the NY Source Magazine DJ Champion and the only female DJ to make it to the DMC USA Finals. she's a member of championship DJ team 5th Platoon, Founder and DJ for the all female Hip Hop collective Anomolies and Co-Founder of the coalition R.E.A.C.Hip-Hop (Representing Education, Activism & Community through Hip Hop). she is...
DJ Kuttin Kandi.
having competed in over 20 DJ competitions and having rocked all over the world with everybody from Punk Riot Grrrl group LeTigre to Kool Herc, LL Cool J, Jay Z, Dead Prez and more, this is a sista that takes her craft and commitment seriously, and not just to her music.
her commitment to humanity as an Activist/ Community Organizer is beyond question. She's been the Chair-Elect of the national women’s organization GABRIELA Network and supports various organizations such as Ugnayan, Damayan, FAHSI, CAAAV, ANSWER, United for Peace & Justice and so much more...
finding time to devote herself to teaching and mentoring the youth, for 3 years she taught a Hip Hop/DJ Activism class and Poetry Classes at El Puente’s Leadership Center in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. she understands that the power of Hip Hop can be utilized to educate, build solidarity, create awareness and fight for social justice in the world.
in the role of a motivational speaker she's spoken on the college lecture circuit at universities such as NYU, Yale, Princeton, Harvard, UCSD, Stanford and has taught DJ courses at Jam Master Jay’s The DJ Scratch Academy.
basically I could go on and on with this sista's list of accomplishments and her level of dedication to art and life, but on top of all that she does, she took the time out to answer my questions:::
me: you've done so much! but what was the motivation, in the very beginning that made you want explore DJing?
Kuttin Kandi: My motivation was my love for music that was instilled with my by my late father. He had his own collection of records everything from the Beatles to Aretha to Miles Davis to Jackson 5. It was like it was meant to be when I started meeting other DJ's during my teenage years. And it was definitely meant to happen the minute I put my hands on the turntables. I definitely had been inspired by my fellow crew the 5th Platoon as well as the legendary X-Men (X-Ecutioners) with whom I've had the honor to work alongside with in my battle years.
me: do you still feel the need to practice after doing this for so long with so many accomplishments?
Kuttin Kandi: Yes, I still feel the need to practice. Am I doing that as much as I used to, honestly no. I wish I could spend more time on the lab than I am out there hustling tryin to make a living on giggin. But I'm also back in college, trying to further my academia to help me with my knowledge on the world. Hopefully that same knowledge will contribute to my community organizing and activism. But yes, practicing is important, because as technology advances so does skills in the artform. And we have to keep up with the growing artform. All artforms are never meant to just stay still, they're meant to be fluid and change with the times.
me: what are some of the changes you've witnessed in Hip Hop, specifically the art of DJing since you started?
Kuttin Kandi: There's been a lot of changes in Hip Hop -- politically, musically, technologically. Hip Hop is not linear, it is defined differently to so many different people. However, for me, I believe in the roots of Hip Hop culture and have learned so much from the legends who have started the culture. So, I try to follow on that path. And I notice a lot of routes that Hip Hop has taken, straying from that original path that Hip Hop was once on. The art of DJing itself has evolved over the years to very intricate turntablist skills that are very technical, and very lucrative modern ways of spinnin mp3's via Serato. However there's nothin like the original beat juggling sounds of the battle dj on vinyl. That static from vinyl and that funky beat juggle are sounds you can't deny... that's what makes hip hop.
me: if you could say ANYTHING to young women AND men that are in their bedrooms right now practicing, what would you say to them?
Kuttin Kandi: Study the foundations first... learn the history of Hip Hop. Support Independent artists... and check your privileges (skin privilege, class privilege, race privilege, straight privilege etc..), at that! Realize your access to resources that others may not have...Understand the opportunities you might be given that others may not because of your privileges. Understand what cultural appropriation is... and always give back to Hip Hop culture.
Kuttin Kandi has been interviewed in numerous magazines and newspapers such as Source, Vibe, Vogue, YM, Rolling Stones, the New York Times, the Daily News and the Vibe Hip-Hop Diva’s book. she's received the 2008 FPAC DJ Tribute Award alongside DJ Babu, DJ Rhettmatic and Nasty Nes and in 2009, Kuttin Kandi received the Womanhood Passage Tribute by the Hip Hop-Association. and with all her many projects in the works, well...she's FRESH. period.
so def keep checking for this amazing spirit that's so blesses the art of turntablism! you can follow her on twitter or find her on facebook and support support support Women in Hip Hop!
so til next week, y'all! quick reminder: "She's So Fresh" Showcase is on 11/5!
peaces,
rox
having competed in over 20 DJ competitions and having rocked all over the world with everybody from Punk Riot Grrrl group LeTigre to Kool Herc, LL Cool J, Jay Z, Dead Prez and more, this is a sista that takes her craft and commitment seriously, and not just to her music.
her commitment to humanity as an Activist/ Community Organizer is beyond question. She's been the Chair-Elect of the national women’s organization GABRIELA Network and supports various organizations such as Ugnayan, Damayan, FAHSI, CAAAV, ANSWER, United for Peace & Justice and so much more...
finding time to devote herself to teaching and mentoring the youth, for 3 years she taught a Hip Hop/DJ Activism class and Poetry Classes at El Puente’s Leadership Center in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. she understands that the power of Hip Hop can be utilized to educate, build solidarity, create awareness and fight for social justice in the world.
in the role of a motivational speaker she's spoken on the college lecture circuit at universities such as NYU, Yale, Princeton, Harvard, UCSD, Stanford and has taught DJ courses at Jam Master Jay’s The DJ Scratch Academy.
basically I could go on and on with this sista's list of accomplishments and her level of dedication to art and life, but on top of all that she does, she took the time out to answer my questions:::
me: you've done so much! but what was the motivation, in the very beginning that made you want explore DJing?
Kuttin Kandi: My motivation was my love for music that was instilled with my by my late father. He had his own collection of records everything from the Beatles to Aretha to Miles Davis to Jackson 5. It was like it was meant to be when I started meeting other DJ's during my teenage years. And it was definitely meant to happen the minute I put my hands on the turntables. I definitely had been inspired by my fellow crew the 5th Platoon as well as the legendary X-Men (X-Ecutioners) with whom I've had the honor to work alongside with in my battle years.
me: do you still feel the need to practice after doing this for so long with so many accomplishments?
Kuttin Kandi: Yes, I still feel the need to practice. Am I doing that as much as I used to, honestly no. I wish I could spend more time on the lab than I am out there hustling tryin to make a living on giggin. But I'm also back in college, trying to further my academia to help me with my knowledge on the world. Hopefully that same knowledge will contribute to my community organizing and activism. But yes, practicing is important, because as technology advances so does skills in the artform. And we have to keep up with the growing artform. All artforms are never meant to just stay still, they're meant to be fluid and change with the times.
me: what are some of the changes you've witnessed in Hip Hop, specifically the art of DJing since you started?
Kuttin Kandi: There's been a lot of changes in Hip Hop -- politically, musically, technologically. Hip Hop is not linear, it is defined differently to so many different people. However, for me, I believe in the roots of Hip Hop culture and have learned so much from the legends who have started the culture. So, I try to follow on that path. And I notice a lot of routes that Hip Hop has taken, straying from that original path that Hip Hop was once on. The art of DJing itself has evolved over the years to very intricate turntablist skills that are very technical, and very lucrative modern ways of spinnin mp3's via Serato. However there's nothin like the original beat juggling sounds of the battle dj on vinyl. That static from vinyl and that funky beat juggle are sounds you can't deny... that's what makes hip hop.
me: if you could say ANYTHING to young women AND men that are in their bedrooms right now practicing, what would you say to them?
Kuttin Kandi: Study the foundations first... learn the history of Hip Hop. Support Independent artists... and check your privileges (skin privilege, class privilege, race privilege, straight privilege etc..), at that! Realize your access to resources that others may not have...Understand the opportunities you might be given that others may not because of your privileges. Understand what cultural appropriation is... and always give back to Hip Hop culture.
Kuttin Kandi has been interviewed in numerous magazines and newspapers such as Source, Vibe, Vogue, YM, Rolling Stones, the New York Times, the Daily News and the Vibe Hip-Hop Diva’s book. she's received the 2008 FPAC DJ Tribute Award alongside DJ Babu, DJ Rhettmatic and Nasty Nes and in 2009, Kuttin Kandi received the Womanhood Passage Tribute by the Hip Hop-Association. and with all her many projects in the works, well...she's FRESH. period.
so def keep checking for this amazing spirit that's so blesses the art of turntablism! you can follow her on twitter or find her on facebook and support support support Women in Hip Hop!
so til next week, y'all! quick reminder: "She's So Fresh" Showcase is on 11/5!
peaces,
rox
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