Sample Moment: Anotha Level/Shyheim & Patrice Rushen (Audio)

I love this sample!

Maestro Fresh Wes - Nothing At All (Video)

Classic from 1991 where Maestro addresses issues of race in Canada that are still relevant today.

Skillz - '09 Rap-Up (Video)

Skillz does it again! 2009 was a very eventful year.

DFE definitely had a ton of great memories from last year including:
-CD release party for Redefine with Cadence Weapon and Kris Demeanor
-Getting nominated for Best Hip Hop Album at the 2009 WCMAs
-Performing at Rock the Bells in Calgary along with Slum Village, Nas, Damian Marley, Big Boi, RZA, Reflection Eternal, Cypress Hill, Slaughterhouse and others.
-Performing at the Calgary Folk Fest, including a workshop performance with Arrested Development, Mutabaruka and Kid Koala
-Performing in Yellowknife at the Folk on the Rocks Festival including a workshop with several aboriginal artists (rappers, bboys, traditional singers and dancers)
-Performing at Sled Island, Calgary International Spoken Word Festival, Parkland Solstice Festival, TransCanada Alberta Music Series and WorldSkills
-Opening up for Public Enemy, Mos Def, Jay Electronica, Talib Kweli, Gift of Gab (x2), Shad K, Sweatshop Union, Moka Only
-Hitting the road to Edmonton, Banff, Canmore, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Brandon, Winnipeg, Golden and Yellowknife.
-Performing with a live jazz band at the Centre for Positive Living
-Releasing the "Ride On EP" vinyl through Traveller Records (Finland)

Here's to 2010!

Tonight: Humanity for Haiti @ Distillery

Come down to the Distillery tonight and check out some of the city's hip hop talents. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross towards relief efforts for victims of the Haitian earthquake.

CJSW 25th Anniversary Bash on Saturday, January 23rd!

"I remember when the goal was just getting played on 90.9 across the city's airwaves..."

This quote from "Hi-Fli" helps put into perspective the impact that the University of Calgary's FM radio station CJSW has had on Dragon Fli Empire. When I was just getting into hip hop culture, DJ's like Joe Cool on Friday nights and Drew Atlas on Sunday nights helped me discover this incredible music. I would tape shows off of the radio and play them in my walkman over and over.

As I got more into rapping myself, it became my goal to have my music played on CJSW. When some mutual friends introduced me to Cosm, he provided that outlet. He had done a jazz show on CJSW for about a year but had his eyes set on a hip hop slot. Once he got it, my wish was granted as he played one of my first professionally recorded tracks on-air. Eventually DFE was created and our first slice of success was seeing our album Conquest charting on CJSW through the old magazine VOX.

So, with that being said, it definitely means a lot for DFE to be a part of the CJSW 25th Anniversary celebration this Saturday night at Macewan Hall. We'll be performing alongside some of the greatest musical talent Calgary has produced, including Chad Van Gaalen, Woodpigeon, Tariq, The Summerlad, and others. For more information on the event, click here.

Dragon Fli Empire mentioned in a large UK newspaper... but why?

This is a funny start to 2010... an article in the large UK newspaper "The Telegraph" mentions Dragon Fli Empire (very randomly). Click here to see the article.

It's a DFE weekend! Jan 14 - Jan 17, 2010

It's a DFE weekend with shows on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday! We haven't done something like this locally in my memory anyways. Come out and support!

THURSDAY JAN 14
Son Real & Dragon Fli Empire @ The Distillery (CGY)
FRIDAY JAN 15
Dragon Fli Empire & Shuga Shack @ Devil's Gap (BANFF)
SATURDAY JAN 16
Shuga Shack & Dragon Fli Empire @ HiFi (CGY)
SUNDAY JAN 17
Dragon Fli Empire + others @ Vicious Circle (CGY)

Dragon Fli Empire: Redefine - One of the best of '09...

...At least in the minds of some of our supporters including Earshot (#9 on their Top 20 Hip Hop of 2009), CKUA (#73 on their Top 100 albums of 2009) and CBC Radio 3 (#86 on their Top 103 tracks on 2009). Big ups to campus and independent radio for keepin' the funk alive.