***Special thanks to the BRIDGES CREW for collaborating with the LADIES!! For those of you who don't know the night has a long history, first Knitting Factory, Zen Sushi, and now at the Derby. Seen some of the best of best take the stage over the years, who played music so good it could bring you to tears, but I've also thought of Bridges as a freestyle haven, where it didn't matter if you were breakin, tappin, wackin, lockin, poppin, or wavin. We have a special line-up for you this month, hope you take the time to learn, about the guests coming thru to see why they love what they do. No doubt they've felt the glory, but they've also felt the pain, so they use their talents to entertain, but ultimately make a change.
Hope to see you July 5th as Bridges and Ladies First come together to bring you a beautiful night...
DJ KUTTIN KANDI. Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished female DJ's in the world. She is a member of DJ team champions 5th Platoon, Founder and DJ for the all female Hip-Hop group Anomolies, Cofounder of the famed NY monthly open mic nights "Guerrilla Words" and Founder of the coalition R.E.A.C.Hip-Hop (Representing Education, Activism & Community through Hip Hop. Djing for over 10 years, Kandi competed in over 20 DJ competitions such as ITF and Vibe. She is the NY Source Magazine DJ Champion and has been the only female DJ to make it to the DMC USA FINALs.
Beyond Kandi's artistic talent, she is a committed Activist/ Community Organizer. She is a member of women's organization Gabriela Network and supports various organizations such as Ugnayan, FAHSI, CAAAV, United for Peace & Justice and etc... She also devotes her time teaching and mentoring the youth. She utilizes Hip Hop to educate, to build solidarity, create awareness and fight for social justice in the world. She is a known motivational speaker and has spoken on the college lecture circuit at universities such as NYU, Yale, Princeton, Harvard, UCSD, Stanford and etc. In 2005, Kuttin Kandi received the "Women In the Game" Award and is also a 2007 Black Lily Music and Film Festival Recipient alongside Jill Scott and Toshi Reagan and received the Social Change in Music Award.
She currently works at the Women's Center at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and has also returned to college to obtain a double B.A. degree to an MFA and a PH.D. in Ethnic Studies. From modeling for Starter clothing, shooting commercials for BET's Stop The Violence campaigns to writing cover stories for YRB Magazine to starting campaigns against Hot 97's "Tsunami Song", to keynote speaking across the country, DJ Kuttin Kandi has proven she is is not just a DJ who has inspired hundreds of people through her musical talent, but she is also a DJ with a lifestory that has inspired thousands to change the world. http://www.myspace.com/kuttinkandi
GINA RENE. Born into a multi-ethnic family, Gina Rene grew up in the Bohemian setting of Santa Cruz, California. As a youth she listened to artists like Stevie Wonder, Cab Calloway, and Ella Fitzgerald along with more contemporary artists like Prince, Chaka Khan and Run DMC. She was raised in the early Hip-hop/Pop era of the 80's when it was about raw creativity and truth. Combining all of these influences with her own melodies, flowing over beats with her own rhymes became second nature to Gina over time.
Gina Rene has just a bit of irreverence towards limitation in her beliefs and makes it known with a wide variety of vocal stylings and topics in her music. She'll sooth you with her melodies and then wake you up with the truth in her words. She writes and sings her own songs, and a few in collaboration with others, blending R&B and Pop melodies with the wit of a true lyricist. One original of hers, "U Must Be" was featured in the 2006 dance film Step Up, released theatrically by Buena Vista Pictures. Gina's new single, "Be the Change" is a song that reflects on what isn't working on the planet only to then bring about a mentality of possibility to inspire the listener to take even the simplest actions that will bring Great change in these times of war and peace.
Having had her share of ups and downs and living as an artist in urban America, she sees all of the violence/misunderstanding on the streets & around the globe and feels the great need to speak on it especially for future generations. Recognizing the influence Hip-Hop music has on youth the world over, she feels a great need for positive role models and is especially concerned with the imbalance of the role women play in the music & entertainment world. Gina's new original recordings span and blend genre's of R&B, Hip-Hop, Soul, Rock-n-roll, and Pop all with a spiritual foundation spawned from her troubled life from homelessness to her spiritual awakening. Her music truly touches a chord of every walk of life. http://www.myspace.com/ginarene
DUWOP ROSE THE VINYLIST. One of the members of earthStonez. A collective of Queens who provides energy from Reggae, Spoken Word, Soul, R&B to Hip Hop and Turntablism. She is also currently in works with a very good friend and music partner Lord Q. Both combined forces in the year 2000. Together they form HIGH DEFINITION. Let's just say, if you dig the Beat Junkies, then you've got to keep up with these two. "No matter what the TEMPO is, we'll make you dance." -HIGH DEFINITION.
Keep your eyes and especially your ears open for this Empress. She has big things shootin' your way. Thoughts that are in progress of Manifestation. Her purpose is to touch base and reach out to the people all over the world, who wants to remember why they fell in love with Hip Hop in the first place. She's in works of developing her own radio show, that will include serious topics and guest appearances. So Stay Tuned, Duwop Rose has planted a seed and she waters it daily. She explains, "The Universe is my target and Hip Hop is the culture I chose to follow." Look out for her upcoming Mixtape:Hands Poetic, 2009 http://www. myspace. com/djduwopmusic
DJ MIXTINE. She's been a lover of music since childhood, getting her start creating cassette mixtapes. Surrounded by music all her life (her mother was a piano teacher), she first found her rhythm outlet as a dancer. Years later, she has acquired skills from from A-list DJs like Shortee and Faust, Mr. Choc, DJ Hideo and DJ Hapa. She has rocked venues from the Vanguard in Hollywood to Little Temple Bar in Silver Lake, and held residencies at Barcopa in Santa Monica and Crash Mansion in Downtown LA. She also teaches at Scratch Academy in Los Angeles.
Her specialty is in her range in music, and ability to seamlessly cross genres from hip-hop, R&B, old school and '80s to alternative and rock. Tirelessly honing her skills in mixing, scratching and beat-juggling, her love for music and its power to move people is what keeps her inspired. http://www.myspace.com/mixtine
DJ J-HEART. J-Heart was touched by music early in her childhood. Her father, an avid record collector in the '60's and '70s, opened her ears to the inspiring and adventurous sound of classic soul, funk, r&b, rock, jazz, and disco.These roots gave her the foundation on which she built her love for music – always conscious, always soulful.In this era of superstar DJs and fly-by-night, one-hit wonders, it is always refreshing to find a soul who's paid her dues and never wavered from her belief for the music, nothing more, nothing less.
"J-Heart" answered her calling to be a "DJ" and began to educate herself both on the art form of "Dj'ing" as well as the music itself. Having grown up in the era of shows like: "Yo! MTV Raps", "Pump It Up", "Rap City" and others, "J-Heart" knew Hip Hop, Reggae and R&B would be her weapons of choice. Once she got her own pair of turntables & the necessary vinyl needed, she attended various hip hop & reggae functions in as well as attending (on a yearly-basis) Jamaica's "Reggae SumFest" –giving her the well-rounded insight on the proper way to bring music to the people.
TIMOI. Being raised in Mid City Los Angeles since the age of ten, art has always been part of her life. Being very timid growing up, Timoi used art to get her point across, express feelings, and once introduced to Graffiti she used it to challenge fears and to communicate with a larger audience her views on the world. She kept to herself fame was not the game for Timoi, it was about challenging the fears and making political statements. To this day it remains the same, when you see her art in the street it's usually raw unless it's supposed to be there. You might not recognize Timoi in the streets but you will recognize her Killer Calo Characters with attitudes holding knives or machetes along with her sexy girlfriends. Whether you seen them on Galleries or on walls they are out there and you know they belong to her.
Timoi might have been timid once in her life, the same can no longer be said of this artist. Timoi has shown her art in various places, States, and cities and organizes one of the largest all female Annual Art Exhibit and Performance in LA called "WITHIN". In 2007 one of her characters was published in the book Graffiti Planet by Alan Ket whom she met through a great friend. Her work has also been featured in art and graffiti related magazines and websites. Although her early influence was cholo art and Mid City graffiti art, she has definitely developed her own style and it just keeps growing. Now days Timoi is in the process of organizing the next "WITHIN" show in Los Angeles and an art show on Femicide in Guatemala. When it comes down to politics women and children are Timoi's focus. Timoi has contributed time and art to organizations like "Time For Change", "All of Us or None", "MIA" (Mujeres Iniciando en las Americas), "YES I CAN" Autism Awareness, The October 22 Coalition, and various other organizations. Not to forget the communities that gets blessed with her art. Full of talent and ingenuity, Timoi is a small woman but she sees herself as a giant art monster. www. timoi. com http://www.myspace.com/trappedinmyownimagination
FREE MINI-MAKEOVERS COURTESTY OF: http://www.myspace.com/artformstudio
ADD US AS A FRIEND!!!! http://www.myspace.com/ladiesfirstfullerton http://www.myspace.com/dpsound
