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. Several years 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, France, Germany and Switzerland. The DFE have released music independently as well as through labels in Canada, Japan and Finland.
2012 marks the tenth anniversary of DFE. They will be releasing at least two new projects: a digital EP collaboration with Saskatoon-based produced Def Chap entitled DFE vs DEF in February, followed in Spring or Summer with the fourth full length album from Dragon Fli Empire, still untitled. The crew will also be embarking on their second European Tour in February 2012.
Common, Jurassic 5, Mos Def, The Roots, Little Brother, J Dilla, Gang Starr, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Brand Nubian, Dream Warriors, Hieroglyphics, Blackalicious, The Pharcyde, Nas, People Under the Stairs, Masta Ace, Crown City Rockers, Madlib, Count Bass-D, MF Doom, Ghostface, Jay-Z, The Beatnuts, James Brown
