Ramdasha Bikceem Riot Grrrl Collection
Call Number
Dates
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Ramdasha Bikceem is a New York City DJ and vintage clothing store owner, and was a zine writer while she was a teenager, in the early 1990s. In her zine GUNK, Bikceem wrote about her girl skater gang and band of the same name, as well as on topics of race, feminism, youth angst, and the lack of diversity in the Riot Grrrl movement. The Ramdasha Bikceem Riot Grrrl Collection includes zines, zine masters, flyers, comics, correspondence, photos, media stills, and audiovisual material associated with Bikceem's participation in the punk and Riot Grrrl movements as both a writer and zine collector.
Biographical Note
Ramdasha Bikceem grew up in New Jersey, where she started writing a fanzine in 1990, when she was 15 years old. She was inspired by an older friend who had lived next door to Tobi Vail of Bikini Kill, who brought her copies of Girl Germs and Bikini Kill zines. These fanzines inspired her to start her own zine named GUNK. It mostly focused on her skater girl gang and band of the same name. Through this zine she connected with Kathleen Hanna, Johanna Fateman, and other seminal figures in the Riot Grrrl scene. She travelled to Olympia, Washington, and later her band performed at the first Riot Grrrrl convention in 1992 in Washington D.C.
Bikceem completed five issues of her zine, which focused on topics of race, feminism and general youth angst. Particularly in the last few issues of Gunk, Ramdasha wrote about the lack of diversity within the scene, and expressed her opinions around racial dilemmas and class conflicts within the Riot Grrrl movement.
In 1993 she moved to Brooklyn, where she attended Pratt University. She currently lives in New York City where she DJs and makes music. She also runs a online vintage clothing store called Klub Kid Vintage.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into three series:
1. Series I: Zines
2. Series II: Ephemera and Correspondence
3. Series III: Video
The subseries within Series I represent Bikceem's own arrangement and categorizations. Materials within series and subseries are arranged alphabetically.
Scope and Content
The Ramdasha Bikceem Riot Grrrl Collection consists of zines, zine masters, comics, ephemera, flyers, catalogues, photos, media stills, correspondence, and media.The collection documents Bikceem's participation in the Riot Grrrl movement. A majority of the collection is comprised of Bikceem's personal collection of zines (bulk 1992-1996) and materials from her own zine, GUNK.
This collection is divided into 3 series:
Series I: Zines: This series comprises Bikceem's collection of zines related to punk and the Riot Grrrl Movement. It also includes materials pertaining to Bikceem's own zine, GUNK. It is further divided into seven subseries that were designated by Bikceem:
Subseries A: General Zines
Subseries B: Feminist Zines
Subseries C: Larger Zines
Subseries D: Dude Zines
Subseries E: Mini Zines
Subseries F: Unidentified Zines
Subseries G: GUNK
Series II: Ephemera and Correspondence: This series contains flyers, comics, catalogues, and correspondence (bulk 1992-1995). It is further divided into two subseries:
Subseries A: Ephemera
Subseries B: Correspondence
Series III: Video: This series contains 2 VHS casettes, "A Cinezine by K8 Hardy" and "[Frenchified lifestyle]."
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open to researchers. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Ramdasha Bikceem Riot Grrrl Collection; MSS 354; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); collection name; MSS number; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.
Provenance
The Ramdasha Bikceem Riot Grrrl Collection was donated to NYU's Fales Library by Ramdasha Bikceem in 2012.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Audiovisual materials have not been preserved and may not be available to researchers.
About this Guide
Repository
Series I: Zines
Scope and Content
Series I: Zines: This series comprises Bikceem's collection of zines related to punk and the Riot Grrrl Movement. It also includes materials pertaining to Bikceem's own zine, GUNK.
Subseries A: General Zines
AAHDD, [1994]
Artaud-Mania, 1996-1997, inclusive
Bagel Quest, [1996]
Bantha Fodder, 1995, inclusive
Blow Your Mind, [1994]
Catherine's hair, [1995], undated
Channel Seven, undated
Chatterbox, 1994, inclusive
Chocolate Impulse, undated
The Colour of Shadow, 1994, inclusive
Copper Beech, undated
D.A.M., [1992]
Daggy Madeline, undated
Double Bill, undated
Drum Core, 1993, inclusive
Ea, 1993, inclusive
Erreakzoia-reaccion, 1994-1995, inclusive
Eureka/Arcata Riot Grrrls, [1994]
Fists of Fury, undated
Freak Mama, [1994]
G is for Girl, 1994, inclusive
Holy titclamps, 1994, inclusive
I wake up cuz I have stopped breathing, undated
I'm Not Having Garbonzo Beans, 1994, inclusive
Jank, 1995, inclusive
The Jigsaw, undated
Abstract
Bikini Kill drummer Tobi Vail's riot grrrl fanzine issue number 5 1/2 opens with frustration surrounding the ennui and repetitiveness of small town life, which is a motivation for the zine itself. Local news includes an anecdote about violence against women in music. Plans for Bikini Kill and a piece on the band's meaning follows. The bulk of the zine is dedicated to extensive live and recorded music and zine news and reviews, excerpted song lyrics, and addresses for inquiry and distribution. Also contains an original cartoon.
Jing Bang So, undated
Kingfish, undated
Kissy Kissy (the Creep Issue), undated
Little Girl, [1994]
Molasses Soulkiss, undated
MTM, 1994, inclusive
My need to speak on the subject of Jackson Pollock, 1996, inclusive
Nerd Girl, [1994]
Never Revere, 1998, inclusive
Pixie Girl, 1994, inclusive
Plain Jane, [1994]
Pretty Shield, [1996]
Private Catholic, undated
Prone to Fall, undated
Purge, undated
Recess Records, 1993, inclusive
Reticence and Anxiety, undated
Riot Geeek!, 1993, inclusive
[riot Pro-Teen], undated
Risk, 1994-1995, inclusive
Salsa Amoeba, 1995, inclusive
Sandbox Brats, undated
Satan Wears a Bra, 1993, inclusive
Silly, [1993]
Size 9 1/2, 1995, inclusive
Skagboy, [1994]
Smile for Me, 1993, inclusive
Starfucker, undated
...sometimes i'm a pretty girl, [1994]
Southern Hysteria, 1993, inclusive
Square One, undated
Subterranean Mailorder, 1994, inclusive
Such is Life, undated
Tease, 1994, undated, inclusive
Too Far, undated
Ultramodern, undated
Winkypinky, undated
words and smiles, undated
Wow Cool, 1994, inclusive
Y(our) Ass + My Face, undated
Subseries B: Feminist Zines
Crusade, 1993-1994, inclusive
HAPPYLAND, [1991, 1992]
Knotwork, undated
Live Beat, undated
Rocktober, undated
TRUSTKILL, 1993, inclusive
Weird City, 1993, inclusive
Subseries C: Larger Zines
Agra, undated
All Hail the Nuns, undated
Attitude Problem, 1993-1994, inclusive
Bruce On A Stick, 1993, inclusive
Chainletter, undated
Eat Me!, [1994]
Evacuation Day, [1993]
Feminine Napkins, [1994]
Fenceclimber, 1993, inclusive
Fiat Lux, 1993, inclusive
Grit, undated
Grot Grrrl, [1993]
I Hate Valentine's Day!, undated
K Records, undated
Modern Shaman, undated
Monsters Unleashed!, 1974, inclusive
Mousie, 1994, inclusive
Plunger, 1993, inclusive
Rock Fight, [1994]
Rock 'N Roll High School Newsletter, 1992, inclusive
Shrill, undated
Skunk, 1995, inclusive
Slug and Lettuce, 1992, inclusive
Super Star Forever, undated
Switch Hitter, undated
Teenage Gang Debs, undated
Teenage Suicide, undated
Tooth Fairy, undated
Toxic Shock, 1993, inclusive
TWB, undated
Virus, undated
Wiglet, 1993, inclusive
Subseries D: Dude Zines
The Adventures of Absolutely Zippo!, 1993, inclusive
annoyance, undated
bobby is fred, undated
Boredom, undated
Boy Does High School Ever Suck, 1991, inclusive
COMETBUS, 1994, undated, inclusive
Dishwasher, undated
The dissonant accost, undated
Fuck Tooth, undated
Gizzard Gazette, 1995, inclusive
I HATE YOU, 1993, inclusive
LA COSTRA, undated
Pants that Don't Fit, [1993], [1995], undated
PHLOX, 1993, inclusive
Pocho, 1994, inclusive
Pook, undated
Reasonably Martian's, [1994]
SILVULLINEN, 1993, inclusive
Sticks and Stones, 1993, inclusive
Subseries E: Mini Zines
BLEMISH, undated
Christy Sprite, [1993]
Cow/boy Love, 1993, inclusive
Cubbyhole, undated
The Diane Files, undated
Graham Cracker Cereal, undated
Guilt, undated
half-life, 1994, inclusive
Impress Your Friends, undated
It Grosses Her Out, 1994, inclusive
The Jimmy Saga, 1992, inclusive
Mickey Rourke, 1993, inclusive
SOURPUSS, undated
Subseries F: Unidentified Zines
Unidentified Zines, undated
Subseries G: GUNK
GUNK Masters, 1993, inclusive
GUNK #4 Original Master, 1993, inclusive
GUNK #4 Complete Copy, 1993, inclusive
GUNK #4 Incomplete Copies, 1993, inclusive
GUNK #5 [Incomplete], 1994, inclusive
GUNK Ephemera, 1992, undated, inclusive
Photos and Media Stills, undated
Series II: Ephemera and Correspondence
Scope and Content
Series II: Ephemera and Correspondence: This series contains flyers, comics, catalogues, and correspondence (bulk 1992-1995).
Subseries A: Ephemera
Activism (Flyers, etc), 1993-1997, undated, inclusive
Dirty Plotte [comic], 1992, inclusive
Hate [comic], 1990-1993, inclusive
Mail Order Catalogs, 1993, undated, inclusive
Mini Flyers, undated
Naughty Bits [comic], 1991-1992, inclusive
Tank Girl 2 [comic], 1993, inclusive
Subseries B: Correspondence
Scope and Content
Series II: Suberies B inlcudes correspondence sent to Bikceem from people asking for zines, responding to the contents of GUNK, or sending their own zines.
Andrew, undated
Badger, 1993, inclusive
Bean, Chris, 1992, undated, inclusive
Brat, Allison, 1992, undated, inclusive
Christina, 1995, inclusive
D, 1993, inclusive
Difference, Sam, undated
Droogas, Adrienne, 1994, inclusive
Emcee, undated
Enriquez, Denise, undated
Grace, 1995, inclusive
Greenwood, Wynne, 1993-1994, inclusive
Griff, 1993, inclusive
Habe-Evans, Mito, 1997, inclusive
Hanna, Kathleen, undated
Harris, Selwyn, 1993, inclusive
Ian, undated
Jane, undated
Janelle/Olga, 1993, 1994, undated, inclusive
Joaquin, undated
John, 1994, inclusive
Josh, 1993, inclusive
Khourey, undated
Kim, 1993, inclusive
Mike, 1993, inclusive
Mindy, 1994, inclusive
Morris, Maggie, 1996, undated, inclusive
Murphy, Lori, 1993, inclusive
Nick, undated
Padrino, Laura, 1993, undated, inclusive
Pariah, 1995, inclusive
Rivera, Mabel, 1993, inclusive
Robert, 1995, inclusive
Sandra, 1992, inclusive
Theo, 1992, inclusive
Vail, Tobi, 1995, inclusive
Unknown Correspondence, 1995, undated, inclusive
Series III: Video
Conditions Governing Access
Audiovisual materials have not been preserved and may not be available to researchers.
A Cinezine by K8 Hardy, [1997-1998]
Language of Materials
Scope and Content
3 videos made by K8 Hardy: [1]--"This Red Envelope" [2]--"Believe Me" [3]--"A Little Off"
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 15 min.
[Frenchified lifestyle], undated
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
VHS, 29 min.
