Diamond Kuts
Encyclopedia
Diamond Kuts is a DJ, producer
and television personality. The Philadelphia native not only has her own radio show in the #8 national radio market in the country but she is also one of the fresh faces of BET's
national syndicated show, The Deal.
. It wasn’t until her father The late Great MC (Grand Tone) gave her a DJ
starter kit for Christmas
, though, that she knew just how she was going to leave her mark on the entertainment industry. With influences like Cosmic Kev, Cocoa Chanelle
, Jazzy Joyce
and Beverly Bond, DJ Diamond Kuts decided to perfect her craft and make it her life’s work. Before her radio
career took off, she put out a series of mix tapes that caused the streets of Philadelphia to take notice. “I started to get my buzz by dropping mix tapes when I was in school. I felt that the only way to keep my name out there was to drop a new one every month.” People would line up to get one of her mix tapes and she turned that hustle into a career. After practicing in her basement and hanging out at Armand's Records with DJ Fat Cat, Diamond Kuts started DJing at a local sneaker store in Philadelphia, Sneaker Villa, and spinning in 21 and over clubs at the age of 18.
Many say DJ Diamond Kuts’ love for DJing is equal to her father’s love for Hip Hop. Her father, legendary Philly MC and hip-hop pioneer, Grand Tone, was a member of the Grand Masters of Funk
Which included Cosmic Kev, Parry P and Gary O. When asked about her career as a female DJ, she simply replies, "I want to be respected as a good DJ, period. A lot of female DJs are satisfied with just being called a female DJ, but I’m doing the same things that the guys are.” DJ Diamond Kuts has conquered the Philadelphia music scene, is taking on national stage, and next the world … one mix at a time.
Mix Master Weekend. Her Saturday night show on Power 99 FM (WUSL) from 9 PM to 2 AM caters specifically to the crowd headed to the clubs. She also gets the people of Philly moving in the mornings on the #1 morning show, and can be heard on Friday nights.
and styles in hip hop. She has appeared on BET’s Rap City, 106 & Park
, and MTV
’s Total Request Live
.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and television personality. The Philadelphia native not only has her own radio show in the #8 national radio market in the country but she is also one of the fresh faces of BET's
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
national syndicated show, The Deal.
Early life
DJ Diamond Kuts born Tina Dunham, a Philadelphia native, has always had an affinity for musicMusic
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. It wasn’t until her father The late Great MC (Grand Tone) gave her a DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
starter kit for Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, though, that she knew just how she was going to leave her mark on the entertainment industry. With influences like Cosmic Kev, Cocoa Chanelle
DJ Cocoa Chanelle
DJ Cocoa Chanelle is an American hip hop DJ, rapper and producer on New York City's radio station Kiss FM.-Early life:Chanelle was born in Brooklyn, New York but raised in Bluefield, West Virginia by her grandmother after the death of both of her parents...
, Jazzy Joyce
DJ Jazzy Joyce
DJ Jazzy Joyce is an American hip hop DJ and producer on New York City's radio station Hot 97. She is best known for her collaboration with rapper Sweet Tee on the 1986 single "It's My Beat". In 1994, she was featured on "9th Wonder ", the first single from "Blowout Comb", the second album from...
and Beverly Bond, DJ Diamond Kuts decided to perfect her craft and make it her life’s work. Before her radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
career took off, she put out a series of mix tapes that caused the streets of Philadelphia to take notice. “I started to get my buzz by dropping mix tapes when I was in school. I felt that the only way to keep my name out there was to drop a new one every month.” People would line up to get one of her mix tapes and she turned that hustle into a career. After practicing in her basement and hanging out at Armand's Records with DJ Fat Cat, Diamond Kuts started DJing at a local sneaker store in Philadelphia, Sneaker Villa, and spinning in 21 and over clubs at the age of 18.
Many say DJ Diamond Kuts’ love for DJing is equal to her father’s love for Hip Hop. Her father, legendary Philly MC and hip-hop pioneer, Grand Tone, was a member of the Grand Masters of Funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
Which included Cosmic Kev, Parry P and Gary O. When asked about her career as a female DJ, she simply replies, "I want to be respected as a good DJ, period. A lot of female DJs are satisfied with just being called a female DJ, but I’m doing the same things that the guys are.” DJ Diamond Kuts has conquered the Philadelphia music scene, is taking on national stage, and next the world … one mix at a time.
Radio
In July 2005, DJ Diamond Kuts got her big radio break spinning on Power 99 FM’sWUSL
WUSL, known as "Power 99 FM", is a mainstream urban radio station, owned by Clear Channel Communications and licensed to Philadelphia...
Mix Master Weekend. Her Saturday night show on Power 99 FM (WUSL) from 9 PM to 2 AM caters specifically to the crowd headed to the clubs. She also gets the people of Philly moving in the mornings on the #1 morning show, and can be heard on Friday nights.
Television
DJ Diamond Kuts is currently in her second season as co-host and resident DJ of BET’s ‘The Deal’, where she co-hosts alongside MemphHitz, a new show featuring the hottest artists, videosMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
and styles in hip hop. She has appeared on BET’s Rap City, 106 & Park
106 & Park
106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
, and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
’s Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
.
External links
- Official Website
- Diamond Kuts on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...