Atlanta’s DJ Princess Cut Burns Up the Tables With Just A Touch of Femininity

By Nikki D. Bosompem.

Back in the 80’s, when hip hop was fresh on the scene, the industry was primarily dominated by males.  Female MC’s were few and a novelty.  The only female DJ I can remember who reached a semblance of notoriety was Spinderella from the popular group Salt-N-Pepa. Since then, there has not been much female representation on the turn tables.  The fact that men were always central and present behind the tables did nothing to deter DJ Princess Cut, of College Park, Georgia, from observing, learning, and then “touching the tables” herself in a quest to master the testosterone saturated world of the disc jockey.

Princess Cut was surrounded by music all her life which lent to her natural ear for putting tracks together. She attended Tri Cities High School, which she calls “the school of the stars,” because musical successes like Outkast, Xscape, Gorilla Zoe, and D. Woods originated from the performing arts school. As a child she learned to play the piano, and participated in dance from her formative years to her teens. Her brother is rapper Eldorado Redd, who DJ Princess Cut watched as he created music as well. This continuous exposure to the arts from childhood onward demonstrates the strong musical foundation that was laid for Princess Cut. When she was young, she may not have realized the merits of the education she was receiving from her brother or as she tickled the ivories on the piano she did not want to learn. But as she came closer to completing her Psychology degree at Georgia State University, it became apparent that those lessons were definitely needed because she soon discovered she had an affinity for touching the tables.

While at a bar in College Park about seven years ago, Princess Cut showed an interest in the skills of the DJ and started asking him questions while she watched him spin. She was hooked after her dainty and manicured fingers graced the glossy LPs. Six weeks later she bought her own set of tables, her prized Technique 1200’s. Since then DJ Princess Cut has steadily gained a following as well as lucrative contracts with some heavy hitters. At the time of my meeting with her at her home, she had just returned from touring with Southwest Atlanta’s own Goodie Mob and was on her way to Lenox Mall as she has been their official DJ for three years. Not only does Princess Cut get to display her skills with some of the best in the industry, she also travels all over the world playing to crowds of thousands. During her second year as a full fledged DJ, she experienced an opportunity that many other DJs just starting out may not get and that was to perform in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia. Playing in Bahrain was the beginning of DJ Princess Cut’s international exposure which has steadily and exponentially increased year after year.

While her new mix tape featuring the soulful, reggae beats of Bob Marley played in the background, DJ Princess Cut told me about her musical influences as well as the challenges she faces as a female DJ.  As a former dancing student, Princess Cut readily named Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad as two of the most powerful influences leading to the success she enjoys presently.  She also credits Erykah Badu, Ladybug of Digable Planets, and Teedra Moses to her success.  As far as challenges are concerned, it cannot be denied that what DJ Princess Cut does is primarily a job mastered by men, but with confidence and influences like those mentioned above, DJ Princess Cut has been able to prove herself as good as or even better than some of her male counterparts.  She revealed to me that at times she would have to endure people “standing over my shoulder to make sure I knew what I was doing,” but she did not take offense.  She knew that with time as her name grew and her apt skills were talked about throughout the industry, a trust and rapport would be established in relation to her name.

With all of DJ Princess Cut’s accomplishments to her credit and all the other projects she has in the works it can be said that she is the modern “Rosie the Riveter.”  She is making quite a name for herself in the male dominated field of the DJ, she runs her own record label called, Sweetbox Music, Inc., and she sees herself starting her own foundation in the future with the focus on young girls and self esteem. But in the midst of all that, she has managed to remain grounded, humble, and thankful for being given the gift she possesses in the form of “touching the tables and gracing them with femininity.”

Learn more about DJ Princess Cut’s impressive attributes and where to get her mix tapes.  She just released her collection honoring 4/20 featuring the work of Bob Marley.  Go to www.badazzyellagul.blogspot.com and look for her at these sites as well:  www.facebook.com/djprincesscut , www.youtube.com/SweetboxTV and www.twitter.com/DJPrincessCut.

More articles by Nikki D. Bosompem

This article was published on Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 and is filed under Artists, Atlanta Character, Dance, Featured, Music, Reviews. You can follow any comments to this article through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.