Nikki Shamdasani, best known by her stage name, DJ Lady Tribe, is a retired DJ, graffiti artist, actress, reality television star and model, of Hispanic, Indian and Japanese descent.[1][2][3] She is best known for her graffiti work across the West Coast of the United States, and for her infamous appearance on VH1's hit celeb-reality series; Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels.[4][5]
DJ Lady Tribe graffiti tag in Oakland, California.
Graffiti career
Shamdasani began her graffiti career at the age of 13.[1] In 1995, she was featured in the documentary Graffiti Verité. She quickly became one of the most notable graffiti artists in the California area, she was member of the controversial "TKO" graffiti gang, featuring in their WAR 4, DVD.[6] In 1999, she was arrested alongside her then boyfriend Roberto Franklin Ramirez in Las Vegas, Nevada over two separate suspected gang-related murders.[7] She was arrested again in 2000, for vandalizing public property, for tagging a public bus, after her family home was raided by the Los Angeles Police Department.[1][8][9]
In 2006, her work was featured in a five minute segment on Fox 11 News, alongside her DJing career.[citation needed] Her work was celebrated in the 2006 book, Graffiti Women - Street Art from Five Continents.[10][11]Maisto released a limited edition diecast toy range of her work in 2006, which included a DJ Lady Tribe graffiti freight train, a figurine of Shamdasani and a custom convertible car.[12] In 2007, she was one of the highlighted graffiti artists in the independent documentary film, Bomb It.[2][13][14][15] She was the cover model of the documentary. Her work eventually caught the eye of graffiti artist, Seen, who is regarded as one of the worlds most famous graffiti artists of all time, they collaborated on a piece together in 2008.[16]
In 2004, she released her debut single titled Murder Mommy, which was featured on the Cholo Super Mix CD, which she was the cover model for and provided the albums introduction,[32] the single was also featured on the Hi-Power 2005, CD.[33][34] In 2005, she co-produced Knowa Lazarus' album; How The Q-West Was One, and was the featured artist on his single, Higga Hey.[35] In 2007, she was credited on Pitbull's liner notes for his third studio album, The Boatlift.[36][bettersourceneeded] In 2011, she collaborated with Pitbull on a Bojangles remix, which was set for her planned debut EP.[37] She released a second single in 2011, titled Extreme Ways, which featured Twista.[38] She released a third and final single in 2011, titled 24/7, featuring Ms. Sancha.[39] This was a cover of Shamdasani's friend and Sancha's sister, Adore Delano's song, which was originally released in 2009.[40] Tribe’s version of the song was covered by hyperpop artist, Ayesha Erotica, in 2017 for her web series, Loose Teens.
Modeling career
Shamdasani began modeling as her name began growing in the L.A scene, she posed for Bench Warmer, trading cards in the 2004-2006 trading sets.[41] She was on the cover of multiple different magazines including; Access, D Sport,[42]FIXE,Lowrider,[43]LUX G, RIX, Smooth and various others. She was also featured in centerfold spreads for KING and Open Your Eyes magazines.[1][44] She appeared in music videos for, 50 Cent, Miss Lady Pinks and RZA.[citation needed]
Her likeness was used in the iconic 2004, video game; Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and later remastered in the 2021, enhanced rerelease of the game.[3][45][46]
Television career
Shamdasani appeared in many graffiti based documentaries, beginning in 1995, she was a featured artist in the 2007, independent documentary film Bomb It,[2] and in the 2009 TKO gang DVD, WAR 4.[6] She was a regular on the 2004, DJ based show, The Drop.[citation needed] Between the years of 2005-2006, she was the entertainment correspondent on LATV's, L.A Onda' TV, interviewing celebrities and reviewing cars.[47] In 2006, she had a guest appearance on the DJ based show, The Roof[31] and had a five minute feature on Fox 11 News, focusing on her DJ and graffiti career.[citation needed]
In 2009, she was a contestant on the hit VH1 celebreality series; Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels.[5][4] Despite being eliminated in the first episode, her time on the show became infamous, stemming from an array of different scenes. Including a controversial moment where Shamdasani took a shot of alcohol out of fellow contestant Gia Lynn's, vagina, after Lynn inserted the shot in to herself at a bar.[49][50] She also famously read out a rap she'd written for Bret Michaels, off the back of a genital herpes and gonorrhea results sheet. She later claimed to take no illegal drugs, and that every drug she took was legal, before hiccupping and apologizing for being too drunk, later during the elimination ceremony, she couldn't stand straight, eventually stumbling down and having to sit on the floor.[51] During the reunion special, she revealed she had entered rehab and had become sober.[52]
In 2010, she was the resident DJ for the, Cholo Comedy Slam: Stand Up and Lean Back, special.[citation needed] In 2013, a never before seen TV reel was uploaded to YouTube for an MTV reality show based around Shamdasani's life.
Personal life
In 2020, Shamdasani came away from her social media pages, citing she was taking a break, it was revealed in 2021, that she had suffered a mini stroke.[53][bettersourceneeded] In 2025, she deleted all her official social media pages.
↑Ganz, Nicholas (2026-01-08). Graffiti Women - Street Art From Five Continents. New York: New York: Abrams (published 2006-11-01). p.126. ISBN9780810957473.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
↑"Maisto Latest News". Maisto.com. 2006-11-01. Archived from the original on 2006-12-31. Retrieved 2026-01-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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