Title
Recognizing Philadelphia’s own DJ Diamond Kutz for her selection as a co-host of the upcoming reboot of the seminal television program, “Yo! MTV Raps”.
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WHEREAS, In February 2022, it was announced that “Yo! MTV Raps” would be returning to television, co-hosted by Philadelphia native Tina Dunham, better known by her stage name, DJ Diamond Kuts; and
WHEREAS, In its early years, MTV rarely played music by Black artists and never played hip hop. Indeed, it took three years for MTV to play its first rap video, “Rock Box,” by Run DMC. However, hip hop quickly showed its staying power and, in 1988, Yo! MTV Raps premiered, MTV’s first show devoted to rap videos; and
WHEREAS, The genesis of the show also has a Philadelphia connection. It was greenlit by MTV executives after DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s “Parents Just Don’t Understand” became one of the most popular videos on the network in the summer of 1988. Fittingly, Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff made their first-ever on-air appearance on the pilot episode of “Yo! MTV Raps”; and
WHEREAS, “Yo! MTV Raps” was a massive ratings success. It was also the first national showcase for hip-hop videos and was pivotal in in pushing the genre and the culture into the mainstream. It heralded an era where hip-hop came to dominate the music charts. In the years that followed, “Yo! MTV Raps” was a launching pad for many hip-hop artists to international fame; and
WHEREAS, DJ Diamond Kuts, as an elite hip-hop artist, is a natural choice for the reboot of this pioneering televison program. She grew up steeped in the culture, as the daughter of emcee King Tone of the Philadelphia hip-hop group Korner Boyz, who themselves worked with DJ Jazzy Jeff. She is best known locally as the first female mixer to ever get a DJ slot on Power 99 and as the official DJ for the Eagles; and
WHEREAS, DJ Diamond Kutz is also credited with discovering Philly rapper Lil Uzi Vert and has produced music for and toured with top artists including Nicki Minaj. She has also had the honor of performing for former president Barack Obama on multiple occasions. On television, she has appeared frequently as a guest DJ on BET shows Rap City and The Deal; and
WHEREAS, Yo! MTV Raps allowed hip hop to be shared with masses, ultimately helping to cement hip hop as culturally significant for past, present, and future generations. This new reboot with DJ Diamond Kuts has the opportunity to be the equivalent for new generations of music fans; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, This Council hereby recognizes Philadelphia’s own DJ Diamond Kutz for her selection as a co-host of the upcoming reboot of the seminal television program, “Yo! MTV Raps.”
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented DJ Diamond Kutz as evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.
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