Kuttin Kandi

I'd like to meet:

someone strong, loving, giving, soulful, beautiful, open and willing to teach me and to learn from me. someone REAL. someone who loves themselves and loves me without ever having to give up who they are....

i am on a journey. through this journey i seek the experience that will teach me to be the better person i can be. i am in constant reflection everyday, progressing, growing and waiting for you to walk with me...

anyone with like minds. people with like minds. worldly. passionate. giving. loving. soulful. thoughtful. humble. conscious. aware. mindful. people who love themselves, their history, their roots, kindred spirits. true hip hop heads. true skool legends. revolutionaries and freedom fighters. indigenous people. believers. dreamers. poets. mcs. djs. turntablists. graffiti writers. bboys. bgirls. students. teachers. musicians. painters. producers. singers. dancers. artists in general. soulful. filipinos. asians. latinos. black. all people of color. white people in the movement who understand what it is to be privileged and what inherent racism is. allies. community organizers. leaders. youth workers. chanters. fist throwers. ghandi. mlk. malcolm. bonifacio. bulosan. gabriela. mother theresa. audre lorde. angela davis. assata shakur. hugo chavez. ceaser chavez. che guevara. fidel castro. paulo freire. tupac. yuri kuchiyama. fred hampton. fred hampton jr... and on and on and on and on.... and YOU.

SOME PEOPLE WHO I HAVE MET, WHO ARE IN MY LIFE, WHO HAVE CHANGED ME, TOUCHED ME, INSPIRED ME, MOVED ME AND SHAPED ME TO BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY...

I AM IN lOVE WITH MY HUSBAND BECAUSE HE BELIEVES IN ME:

MY BEST FRIENDS KEEP ME IN CHECK:

MY FAMILY KEEPS ME GROUNDED:

HIP HOP, MY CREWS, MY STUDENTS, MY FRIENDS, MY PEOPLE, MY COMMUNITY, MY COUNTRY, MY ACTIVISM, MY MUSIC ARE MY LIFE AND WHO I AM:

Candice L. Custodio-Tan known as DJ Kuttin Kandi is 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. 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. Kandi has performed all around the world with artists such as Bob James, Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Jay-Z, Gangstar, LL Cool J, Mya, MC Lyte, the Roots, Young Gunz, Dead Prez and BlackStar; just to name a few. Kandi has also deejayed at venues such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Lincoln Center and at Madison Square Garden for WNBA’s NY Liberty. She also appears in Busta Rhymes Much Music Special Edition video and other notable documentaries such as “Scratch”, the soon to be released female DJ documentary called “Mixxtress X” and a PBS special on Filipino’s in New York called “Kababayan”. In addition to her DJ career, she has worked as a performance consultant in various theatre productions such as Hip Hop Theatre Festival’s production of Will Power’s “Flow” and “Seven”, and has also directed various independent theatre plays, youth performing musicals, including in directing Gabriela Network's production of "Export Quality" in San Diego. 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. For 3 years Kandi taught a Hip Hop/DJ Activism class and Poetry Classes at El Puente’s Leadership Center in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, as well as DJ courses at Jam Master Jay’s world famous DJ school the DJ Scratch Academy. 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. Presently, Kuttin Kandi has a new stage show combining her turntable wizardry and spoken word/poetry, accompanied by a newly formed female band. She is also writing a theatre play of her life story which is to be expected to be toured nationwide. By Fall 2008, Kuttin Kandi will release a mixtape album of her selected poetry and rhyme over mixed beats by various producers. She is also in the midst of writing an autobiography, a series of Hip Hop short stories and other writing projects. She is also working on several documentaries such as her recent trip back to the Philippines where she stayed in the Moro/Muslim communities in Davao. 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.

Kuttin Kandi is available for keynote speaking, workshops, dj clinics, conferences, panel discussions, hosting, battle dj/turntablist showcases, party rocking, dj fills, judging, concert dj, radio slots, mixtapes, recording sessions, spoken word/poetry performances, teaching, mentoring, educating, rallying and promotions/event coordination.

For all NY bookings pls. contact EQ Management at [email protected] or 646-641-7183. For all west coast bookings, please contact Be Real Management at 619-246-6714 or email [email protected].

Music:

Hip-Hop, Reggae, Dancehall, Soul, Funk, Jazz, Alternative, Rock, Classical, etc... A list of some favorites - Stevie, Aretha, Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Roy Ayers, Sly Stone, Bob Marley, Buju, Depeche Mode, The Cure, ColdPlay, Norah Jones, Mary J Blije, Nas, Kool G Rap, Rakim, MC Lyte, True Skool Legends, Kweli, Common, Immortal Technique, Dead Prez, Anomolies, 5th Platoon, Guerrilla Words, Knowa Lazarus, Native Guns, Blue Scholars, the Philistines, Deep Foundation, Koba, DJ Boo, StrongHold, Jean Grae, Supernatural and myself....

Movies:

Other Movies I like

Television:

the revolution will not be televised

Books:

America Is In The Heart by Carlos Bulosan, Bomb The Suburbs, The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo, Pablo Neruda, A People's History by Howard Zinn, The Death of Rhythm and Blues by Nelson George, White Like Me by Tim Wise, Everyone Was Kung-Fu Fighting by Vijay Prashad - anything soul-releasing, heart-shaping and mind-freeing

Heroes:

Carlos Bulosan, Gabriela Silang, Che Guevara, Jose Sison, Andre Bonifacio, Carlos Bulosan, Ceaser Chavez, Audre Lordes, Angela Davis, Tupac, Ninotchka Rosca, Castro, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Ghandi, Filiberto and all other freedom fighters.... oh and Batman and Spiderman!
HEY EVERYONE ATTEND THIS SHOW!!!