DJ Spanish Fly

DJ Spanish Fly (born Antonio D. Kimbrough January 16, 1970) is an American DJ, rapper, writer, and music producer from Memphis, Tennessee. Known as the "Godfather of Memphis Rap," he is credited with pioneering the Memphis rap scene and influencing the development of the phonk genre. DJ Spanish Fly also introduced the "jooking" dance style.

Early life DJ Spanish Fly was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, in the South Memphis neighborhood of Clementine, located near Elvis Presley Blvd. Growing up in a city with a rich musical heritage, he was exposed to blues, soul, and funk, which significantly influenced his musical development.

Career Spanish Fly began his career in the mid-1980s, DJing at local parties and clubs. He was part of the "True Blue Cru," a group known for its dedication to hip-hop and unique promotional methods. His early performances were marked by beatboxing, rapping, and mixing, which led to his residency at Club No Name, a key venue in Memphis. He was, according to Jean-Pierre Labarthe, one of the first to introduce hip hop in Memphis nightclubs. He also made regular appearances on local station 101.1 FM's Hotmix Hour between 1984 and 1985. His mixtapes, distributed across the South, played a crucial role in establishing the Memphis rap sound.

In 2021, he continued to DJ at parties, and played on the Fly by Night radio show on WYXR 91.7 FM.

His song Smokin' Onion has been particularly influential, being the first song to introduce the Triggerman beat, which was later used in many Southern hip hop songs. The song is built around a gangsta rap narrative and evokes the use of cannabis. His song Gangsta Walk would also give birth to an eponymous dance, which is often considered as an ancestor of Memphis jookin.

During the 2000s and the 2010s, his songs enjoyed a revival thanks to music sharing on the Internet. In 2022, part of Lil Buck's dance show Memphis Jookin': The Show is dedicated to representing DJ Spanish Fly's influence on the Memphis hip hop scene.

DJ Spanish Fly's contributions to hip-hop have been acknowledged locally and nationally. In 2006, he received the Pioneer of Memphis Hip-Hop award from the Unified Memphis Artist Association (UMAA). His influence is recognized by artists such as Three 6 Mafia, Project Pat, and Yo Gotti.

Partial discography Unfinished Business (1986) Triggaman Break (1988) Smokin’ Onion (1989) Get Buck Motherf**a* (1990) DJ Spanish Fly: The Mixtape (1991)