DJ Spanish Fly is a Memphis rap DJ and MC from Memphis, Tennessee, born in 1970. He is known as one of the early figures in Memphis hip-hop and as a pioneer of the city’s rap culture.

Early career

DJ Spanish Fly starts out DJing and rapping in South Memphis, in the Clementine area off Elvis Presley Boulevard, with a group called the True Blue Cru, which includes Chicago-based rapper Mighty Rappin Fishbone. The group performs local shows for free while also building material for a rap and DJ contest at Club No Name, a Memphis nightclub connected with Bud Chittom.

When Mighty Rappin Fishbone is jailed, the group breaks up and Spanish Fly enters the competition alone. He wins the rap contest and then the DJ contest, which leads to work at Club No Name and his first radio exposure.

Radio work and mixtapes

In early 1984, Magic 101.1 FM broadcasts his sets live from Club No Name for the Budweiser-sponsored Club No Name Hotmix. In those sets, he blends, scratches and breaks records by artists including Run-DMC, Cold Crush Brothers, The Show Boys, Dana Dane, Geto Boys, World Class Wreckin' Cru, Ice-T, N.W.A., Rodney-O and Joe Cooley, alongside many other then-unknown acts.

He also makes his own tracks and distributes music on his own terms, putting out mixtapes and club records outside standard music industry channels. His tapes circulate beyond Memphis as fans carry them to other cities and copy them, helping his name spread through places such as Atlanta, New Orleans, Nashville, St. Louis and Little Rock.

Role in Memphis hip-hop

Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia names DJ Spanish Fly, along with Sonny D, as a Memphis rap pioneer and a mentor figure. Spanish Fly continues to be associated with the development of the region’s hip-hop scene and is described as one of its founding figures.

Awards and later activity

In 2006, he receives the Pioneer of Memphis Hip-Hop award from the Unified Memphis Artist Association (UMAA). He continues to record, broadcast, appear on mixtapes and perform at private parties and clubs.

Labels and releases

His releases are associated with Fly Records and Fly Word Music. He also features on Three 6 Mafia’s album Last 2 Walk on the track “First 48,” alongside a large group of other artists including DJ UNK, UGK, Chamillionaire, Lil’ Jon, Akon, Project Pat, Lil Wyte, Good Charlotte, Lyfe Jennings, Eightball & MJG, Al Kapone, Frayser Boy, Yung D and Superpower.

Broadcasting and live appearances

DJ Spanish Fly hosts a live radio show on KXHT Hot 107.1 FM and also appears at club nights in Memphis, including Ol’ Skool Sundays at Club Sense’s.