ABOUT CHOCOLATE KITTY III:

For the third post-Katrina year in a row, New Orleans’ premier female turntablists and DJ artists will get together for Chocolate Kitty III, the third annual party featuring mix-tresses spinning "true hip hop, supernatural funk & rare groove." It will take place Friday, March 28, at the Dragon’s Den (2 floors), 435 Esplanade Ave from 10pm-4am.

Presented by DJ Soul Sister, the event's featured artists include DJ Lady Fingaz, DJ Soul Sister, DJ Beverly Skillz, DJ Bomshell Boogie, Beatgrrl, DJ Lingerie, DJ Kristen and DJ Robyn Steel. This event also marks the one-night-only return of Lady Fingaz, who made a successful post-Katrina move to San Francisco. She hasn’t performed in New Orleans since Chocolate Kitty II in 2007.

The first annual event, which took place during Mardi Gras 2006 at Shiloh, was first organized by the "queen of rare groove" and one of New Orleans’ preeminent underground DJs, Soul Sister, simply as a fun way for her and DJ Lady Fingaz to play together before L.F. moved to San Francisco. This party became a historic, sold-out event, as the first time that women hip hop (and related style) DJs in New Orleans were featured together.

With the first annual event, Soul Sister could only find 2 other women djs (specializing in underground hip hop & funk), other than herself, in New Orleans. Since then, that number has grown to 7, which shows how much women have empowered themselves behind the turntable decks in the male-dominated dj culture scene. Because of the increased number of artists, the event will be held on both the first and second floor of Dragon's Den.

"This party is so much fun, but it’s about more than just throwing an amazing party," says event organizer DJ Soul Sister. "We’re setting out to represent for women DJs in New Orleans, and for women period. Plus we all believe in underground forms of good music and want to give an alternative to some of the mainstream, top 40 events that people might associate with DJ nightlife in New Orleans. Last year’s event was massive, beyond my wildest dreams, and this third version will be even more special."

The name Chocolate Kitty was selected by Lady Fingaz out of several titles that Soul Sister came up with. It was meant to be an irreverent nod to Mayor Ray Nagin’s infamous "Chocolate City" comments that he made in January 2006. Today, the Chocolate Kitty title remains for tradition’s sake and because people love it so much.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

DJ LADY FINGAZ (www.djladyfingaz.com / www.myspace.com/djladyfingaz)
As the child of a musician, some of Lady Fingaz’ earliest memories revolve around the stage, taking in her father’s gigs, and often sitting in to sing with the band. From this musical beginning she began studying piano, and it wasn’t until her teenage years Lady Fingaz would discover and immerse herself in her first true love: hip-hop.

Soon the Texas native soon emerged as turntablist, producer, and vocalist DJ Lady Fingaz in 2001. And New Orleans is where she would quickly make a name for herself as a rising female talent in an all too often male dominated genre. In 2004, Lady Fingaz joined forces with local indie hip-hop label Media Darling Records, and went on her first U.S. tour alongside the label's artists. Later that year, Lady Fingaz was honored at OffBeat’s Best of the Beat awards for "Best Emerging Hip-Hop Artist".

She has opened for legendary underground hip hop artists such as Floetry, Faust and Shortee and Saul Williams, and in 2005 her Essence Music Festival superlounge performance was a surprise favorite among festgoers.

Lady Fingaz is one of the country's preeminent turntablists but, since Katrina, she no longer calls New Orleans her home. Her "Chocolate Kitty III" performance will be her second major local performance since she relocated to San Francisco.

DJ SOUL SISTER (www.djsoulsister.com / www.myspace.com/djsoulsis)
The host of the 13+year-running Soul Power show on WWOZ FM in New Orleans and a live DJ who has taken the local nightlife by storm, Soul Sister was one of the first US radio DJs to highlight the rare groove format and is one of the few female DJs to spin and mix 100% funk (on 100% vinyl) and related original styles in her live club performances.

In addition to her popular weekly parties, including "HUSTLE! Saturdays" at Mimi’s in the Marigny and "Free Spirit" Wednesdays at the Hookah Cafe, she is regularly invited to open and perform alongside local and national musicians such as Galactic, Jurassic 5, George Clinton and The Roots. Recently profiled in Wax Poetics magazine, she was recently voted "Best DJ" in New Orleans (Gambit Reader's Poll 2007) and has also performed in New York, Los Angeles and London.

DJ BEVERLY SKILLZ (www.myspace.com/beverlyskillz)
Beverly Skillz, who recently moved to New Orleans by way of Layfayette, is at the forefront of female battle DJs in the south. She's been scratching and beat juggling since 2004. In 2005 she battled in Guitar Center in New Orleans, and in the prelim she beat out five other men to take first and move on to the finals. She placed third in the finals. She also competed in the DMC American Battleground in Birmingham, Alabama against 13 other DJs to tie for 3rd.

She and her crew, the Mad Cajunz Turntablists, have performed with underground hip hop artists Inspectah Deck, Afru-Ra, and PlanetAsia. She currently holds down two weeklies in New Orleans at Handsome Willy’s and the Pop Bar. Along with Lady Fingaz, Beverly Skillz is a featured member of "Females with Funk," placing her alongside the most respected international women in turntablism.

BEATGRRL (http://www.myspace.com/beatgrrl)
DJ Beatgrrl, aka Pink Chalk, is well known around Louisiana’s drum’n’bass and electronic music circles, but her love of hip hop is no less. And she’s combined her blend of musical loves and "booty beats" to create a new style that she terms "ghettro."

DJ BOMSHELL BOOGIE (www.myspace.com/djbomshell)
Whenever a new lady joins the local DJ scene, everyone takes notice. This new lady is Bomshell Boogie, whose Bombshelter Thursdays at the Dragon’s Den are quickly becoming a true NOLA nightlife hot spot. Bomshell is an English college student by day and a vinyl mixmaster by night, specializing in a varied set that features everything from New Orleans bounce, to underground hip hop to old school R&B.

DJ KRISTEN (http://www.myspace.com/protist)
One of the founders of the popular Mod Dance Party, Kristen is one of New Orleans' beloved selectors, and an avid 60s Southern soul fan who loves digging for her vinyl at thrift stores and junk shops.

DJ LINGERIE (http://www.myspace.com/jeajea)
Also a rock'n'roll vocalist and art restorer, the eclectic DJ Lingerie is the newest selector on the local dj scene. Her Circle Bar parties have attracted a huge following of hipsters and varied music lovers.