​DJ Perly becomes the first woman to win the DMC annual DJ battle

New York City’s DJ Perly has become the first female to win the DMC US Finals, the annual DJ battle which has been running for 32 years.

She joins a host of legendary artists who have won the championship in the past, including A-Trak, DJ Craze, Mixmaster Mike, Q-Bert and more.

To become the champ, DJ Perly beat out fellow regional DMC champions like Dwells and Schmeeze. She described her emotions to HipHopDX when the historic outcome occurred: “When I heard my name as the USA champ, I was surprised and just overwhelmed with joy. I was so overwhelmed I kinda lost feeling in my legs and dropped to the floor [laughs]. That moment truly felt magical and gratifying that hard work was paying off.”

It’s a fitting outcome to crown her the champ, as she became the first female to become the DMC Vice Champ in 2016.

On earning accolades in a male-dominated field, DJ Perly says it’s an honor, but more work needs to be done to improve diversity and equality: “Women are so underrepresented in not just Hip hop, but other genres of music… I applaud all those women who fight day in and day out to show and prove that this world is not a man’s world, and women can succeed in male-dominated fields. Women have the power and strength to move the world in a positive direction. We all have that power.”

With the victory DJ Perly won the new Rane 72 mixer and earned a trip to compete at the DMC World DJ Championships in London where she will look to make history once again.

[photo credit: Jay Ritter]

Harrison is Mixmag's East Coast Editor. Follow him on Twitter here