I first heard of DJ Elle 3-4 years ago when I was in NY visiting over the holidays. At the time, I was running Cybelle, my first clothing line, and I was looking for dope lady djs to sponsor. I went in to Fat Beats in the West Village and asked if they knew of any good lady hip hop djs and they recommended Elle. I got in touch with her about sponsorship and since then, she’s been my girl. I’m excited to announce the drop of DJ Elle’s Mama Mix 3 and I thought you may all want to get to know this lovely lady on deck.

Name, City, Introduction
DJ Elle. I’m from New York City where there ain’t shit pretty. Nah I love my city.

Word on the street is that you started out as a b-girl. What was that like & how did you make the transition from b-girl to DJ?
Haha the word on the street is correct for once, I did start out as a bgirl. I used to go out all the time and be breakin in the circle. Shout out to Kola, he was in the circle breakin wit me haha. I’m not really sure how I made the transition I was goin out a lot and all about music. And wanted to hear what I wanted to hear, so it kinda came from that.

How did you start off getting gigs?
From record shoppin, to having friends that were djs, goin out. U just meet peeps and in the beginning you will play anywhere of course after a lot of practice people! (It’s wack buying turntables and be expecting to dj out right away) Get ur skills up!! I was doin a lot of house parties for friends and little spots around the city and Brooklyn, clothing stores, etc when I first started.

Where can we hear you spin?
I have been doing a Monthly at Sway on Monday Nights for 2 years. I also do some Friday Nights at 6s & 8s. I’m starting 2 new weeklys in the LES. I mostly play at all different clubs in NYC and MIAMI but I love those Corporate EVENT$

You have been going to Miami a lot lately – how does it compare to playin’ parties in NY?
Well, in Miami people are all about having fun, the partying is nonstop. In NYC, I think it can be more reserved.

Any ongoing or upcoming projects we should know about?
Well, on the DJing tip, I have Weeklys starting on Thursday nights at KINGSIZE and Wednesday nights at REWIND both in the (LES) and I got some other things that im keeping under wraps for now. I’m also involved in this real dope, indie film called “WE INDEPENDENT” its all about the indie hiphop underground movement-Its Coming to a film festival near you this fall!!!

Any people you’d like to work with?
As for MC’s-definitely alot of NYC cats–DIPSET, CNN, GHOSTFACE, MF DOOM, SAIGON, then from the south i would say-36 MAFIA, YOUNG JEEZY, LIL JON, LUDACRIS. Since i’m on my producer thing nowadays I have always been influenced by people such as DR DRE, JUST BLAZE, RAPHAEL SAADIQ-they’ve all made dope music. Oh, and i can’t forget AMANDA BLANK–lookout for her, she’s on the come up.

How did you get into producing and what kind of stuff are you working on?
I’ve always been all about the beats, so I’ve just been working on making hot beats.

Now, the FUN STUFF!

Favorite Fast Food:
Taco Bell & Wendys

Favorite Borough:
BK/QU

Coffee or Tea?
I love coffee but drink more tean/green/white

Sneakers or Stilettos?
I love kicks, but got to pull out the stilettos every now and then

Top 5 Tracks this week? (Week of May 2, 2006)
JR Writer – Grill Em
T.I. Feat UGK – Front Back
Gnarles Barkley – Crazy
Lupe Fiasco – Kick Push Remix w/ Pharrell
Clipse – Me Too

What are you listening to right now?
T.I., Seu Jeorge, Ghostface, J.R.Writer, Clipse and anything in my New Shit Playlist

Shout outs?
All the peeps that have been supportive and shown love over the years, the label peeps that keep me laced wit the records – Mazzi! Dee, Morsey, Kato, Footlose, Copa, Sean Rock. Some extra shouts to Cinematic Music Group, Diamonds & Gold, MAMA Crew, Turntable Lab Crew, Murphy, Rika, Mike B, AC, Kareem Black, Dre, Michelle, Charlie @ Nike, Sarach C, Oxy, Anything, Ricky Powell, Millard, Chris Love, Deezy, Lush Life, MOB Crew, Still Life, Risk, Ceoah, Frank 151, Rival, DJ’s Ava, Ant Lyve, A.Vee, Egg Foo Young, IXL, Kech, Neil Nice, Spae, Soul, The Rub. Check out updates, new shit etc. @ www.DJElle.net