ATLANTA — Before DJ Princess Cut became a globe-trotting performer, touring with the likes of Oprah, CeeLo Green, Goodie Mob and The-Dream, she was a curious Georgia State psychology major who stumbled across the DJing profession by happenstance.
While enjoying summer break before her junior year, DJ Princess Cut (B.A. ’04) went to a sports bar in Atlanta where a live DJ was performing.
She asked the DJ if she could try her hand at spinning records. From there, she never looked back.
“As soon as I touched the turntables, it was love at first scratch,” she said. “I started going up there once a week to practice and before I knew it, I was a DJ.”
Through her years of practice, she perfected her style, receiving her big break when she was asked to tour with Tupac Shakur’s group, Outlawz.
“I was in the right room at the right time, and they told me they needed a DJ to travel and tour overseas,” she said. “Next thing I know, I’m out of the country touring with them in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Ireland.
“That was a big moment for me. It let me know there were endless possibilities for me if I put the work in.”
Since then, she has made playlists for Neiman Marcus Atlanta as their resident DJ and appears weekly on Hot 107.9 FM radio. In 2018, she had the opportunity to serve as a music ambassador with the U.S. government by teaching turntablism to students in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with Next Level USA, an initiative that uses hip-hop music, dance and art to foster cross-cultural creative exchange in diverse communities.
Back in Atlanta, she still finds time to give back to her community.
She recently spoke to a room full of Georgia State students as part of the “Women in Hip-Hop: Atlanta's DJs” panel discussion organized by Georgia State’s Creative Media Industries Institute. She discussed opportunities in the music industry, the changes in hip-hop culture and the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry.
“When I started, there were very few female DJs. So, we had to work harder to prove ourselves and to be taken seriously.”
She also continues to help other aspiring DJs through her DJing school, Scratch Out Loud. The school, created with her business partner Eric Hall, offers students private, one-on-one training sessions, a six-week training course that covers the history, art and foundation of DJing, and other programs.
“I’ve always wanted to give back and work with kids,” DJ Princess Cut said. “With Scratch Out Loud, I can give back to the culture and community.”
The Atlanta native said she’s thankful for the opportunities she received at Georgia State and hopes other students embrace the networking possibilities available in Atlanta. “Being at Georgia State was very impactful,” she said. “I had a great college experience. There’s so much you can learn. Get out, network and follow your instincts and your passion.”
— Photo courtesy of Ale Sharpton.