Title
Adding DJ Diamond Kuts to the street signs on the 7100 block of Georgian Road in honor of her trailblazing work to represent women in the hip hop industry, advance local artists, and serve the people of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, DJ Diamond Kuts, whose real name is Tina Dunham, was born in Philadelphia and grew up in the West Oak Lane section of the City, and discovered her musical talent as a young teen; and
WHEREAS, Her father, Tony "Grand Tone" Dunham - one half of the old-school hip hop duo Korner Boyz - bought her first set of turntables when she was 16. After her father's sudden passing, the nationally-recognized artist Cosmic Kev, a family friend and neighbor, took her under his wing to teach her how to scratch, mix, and blend. She felt empowered to create her own stage moniker and came up with the name Diamond Kuts because the cuts in her sets have the precision of a gemstone; and
WHEREAS, DJ Diamond Kuts was inspired by female DJs Beverly Bond, Cocoa Chanelle, and Jazzy Joyce, and she worked tirelessly and strategically to establish her professional career in Philadelphia, earning her spot as the DJ at the Sneaker Villa near Broad Street and Girard Avenue, and as a recurring DJ at the Chrome Night Club in Northern Liberties; and
WHEREAS, Within a just a few years, DJ Diamond Kuts had taken over the turntables on Power 99's The Rise & Grind Morning Show, where she still spins weekday mornings from 6 to 9 a.m. as hosts Mikey Dredd, Roxy Romeo, and Mutha Knows chop it up. DJ Diamond Kuts was the only female DJ on the radio in Philadelphia, and she was the first woman to work as a live radio DJ, scratching, mixing, and blending records in real time on air; and
WHEREAS, Her presence on radio launched her national and international career as she served as the DJ for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and the White House. After providing music for his visits to the Philadelphia region from 2008 through 2...
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