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