Dynasty

The world hasn’t seen an emcee like Dynasty before. It’s rare when an artist combines heartfelt storytelling, commanding stage presence, and a deep and palpable audience connection. The soul of Lauryn Hill, and the ruff neck swagger of MC Lyte, all appropriate descriptions for the femcee, D.Y. It’s easy to make comparisons when you start talking about female emcees. D.Y. herself says “I’m complimented by comparisons to Lauryn” but one look at her live and you’ll see that she truly holds her own in this game.

Born and raised in Queens, Dynasty (Diana Hardy) has always found herself at the center of attention. She was the kid that was always doing something to entertain the family. Whether making up a dance to BBD’s “Poison” in the front yard or playing “the song that grandma liked” on the piano for guests, life often seemed like a stage. She attended a small performing arts college on Long Island, Five Towns College. After graduating with her Associate degree in Theatre Arts, she wasn’t sure how she would pay to continue on for her Bachelor’s degree. The grants had run out and financial aid wasn’t offering much. Believing in her dream, the president of the school offered to waive the balance on her tuition. Because of this, you will often hear her say “I’m the first rap chic with a rap scholarship.”

The soul of a dreamer, and the fearless determination to follow that dream wherever it might lead, her presence on stage is a guaranteed, take no prisoners, always leave them wanting more, show stealer. D.Y. has lit up shows opening for Erykah Badu, The Wu-Tang Clan, Mos Def, Fantasia, Redman and Method Man, Talib Kweli, KRS One and more. A Wu-Tang Clan crowd will not stand for anything less than ruff, rugged, and raw, so you know she has skills. She also did the Florida leg of the Duck Down 15th Anniversary tour along with the entire roster including Sean Price and Pharoahe Monch. But it’s her performance on records that truly sets Dynasty in a class all her own. While she has an affinity for hard beats and raw hip hop artists such as MOP and Slaughterhouse, she often finds inspiration from artists on the opposite side of the spectrum like the soulful Erykah Badu and the timeless, Ella Fitzgerald.

Never caught up in writing “formula rap” as she calls it, Dynasty writes from the heart and only makes music that’s good for the soul and at the same time, remains a beast on the mic. Rhyming ever since she was a kid, it wasn’t until she moved to Tampa, FL and opened for Little Brother that she really got the push that she needed to take her career to the next level. At that show, she linked with her dj, DJ Sandman. From that point on, she’s been pushin’ even harder for her dream and it appears that it is within reach. Dynasty has been slowly making a name for herself, turning heads locally and all over the world thanks to a co-sign from DJ Premier who put her last single “Femcee” on his “On Tha Road Again” mixtape. The following year, he gave her the ultimate cosign by producing a song for her. “Epic Dynasty” was placed on his compilation album, Get Used to Us. The legendary DJ even appears alongside DY in the video for the song. Dynasty started 2013 on a career high by collaborating with one her favorite emcees, world renowned, Talib Kweli, for the song "Stay Shinin'".

Her passion transcends the stage; her mass appeal transcends all boundaries. There is no “set demographic” for D.Y., no gimmick, no crafted agenda aside from making beautiful music. She rocks for the grown folks, the kids and people from all walks of life. Rightfully so, soul music touches the world.

“Inside there’s a flame that is untamed/ I stand strong in the rain, I am unchanged/ til the earth takes me in & I’m reclaimed/ when the sound stops still make the ground hot.. and I don’t do it for the fame/ I got nothin’ to lose but have everything to gain/ and when its all said and done..I will remain, pushin’ my dream forever your girl, D.Y. remember the name..” – Dynasty.