It was a song in 2002 about a bus route that brought Calgary hip hop duo Dragon Fli Empire out of the basement and into the limelight. Now a decade post-“Mount Pleasant”, they have become a leading force in the city’s hip hop scene, from opening for names like De La Soul, The Roots, Public Enemy and Mos Def to performing at festivals like the Calgary Folk Fest, Sled Island, Warped Tour, Shambhala and Rock the Bells.
They were nominated for Best Hip Hop Album at the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards and have toured through Canada, the United States, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway and Switzerland. The DFE have released music independently as well as through labels in Canada, Japan, France and Finland. The crew most recently released a 7″ vinyl ‘Hold Down the Fort’ via Beats House Records (France) in Spring 2018 that reached #2 on the CBC Radio 3 Top 30 chart.
Name: Teekay of Dragon Fli Empire
Genre: Hip Hop
Founded: 2002
# of Albums:
4 full length albums, plus a few EPs
Latest Release:
“Hold Down The Fort” / “Right On Time” vinyl 45 (2018)
Latest Single:
“Hold Down The Fort” vinyl 45 (2018)
Latest Video:
Favourite Local Restaurant: Palomino
Favourite band as a teenager: A Tribe Called Quest
Favourite band now: Oddisee
Guilty Pleasure Song:
Seal – Kiss From A Rose
Live Show Ritual:
Get 2 glasses of water from the bar.
Favourite local artist:
Freak Motif and many others.
Nose Hill or Fish Creek?
Have to say Nose Hill because I am northside.
EP or LP? LP.
Early bird or night owl? Night Owl.
Road or studio? Road.
Where can we follow you?
Dragon Fli Empire: Instagram | Website | Facebook
Any shows or albums coming up?
Chali 2na with The Gaff, AYE, Dragon Fli Empire on Feb 21st at the SAIT Gateway.
Teekay & Jay Ross EP: Str8 6 Shoota now available on all music platforms.
New DFE & Teekay solo projects on the way in 2019!
