Diana “Dynasty” Hardy was born and raised in New York City, but she relocated to Tampa seven years ago, drawn by the weather but planting roots for love. By the time that relationship came to an end, the music scene had taken hold and her career had taken off. “I couldn’t go back. I was doing better here than I was in New York.”
Establishing herself in the tight-knit local hip-hop scene, she went on to secure warm-up slots with the likes of Erykah Badu, Mos Def and Talib Kweli. After success with a mixtape and an EP, she released her full-length A Star in Life’s Clothing on German-based Jakarta Records in 2013, and in December, when we spoke, was about to leave for a month-long European tour. (Now back in town, she’s performing in the Black Heritage Music Fest this Saturday at 1:45 p.m. in Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Park.) Dynasty has also done her part to give back to the community, developing a youth advocate outreach program, the PUSH Project, to channel her passion for music and inspire young people to pursue their dreams.
Favorite place to get a drink: KALEISIA TEA LOUNGE. “Everything is always fresh, and they make these awesome smoothies in addition to the teas.”
Staple eats spot: THE STONE SOUP COMPANY. “They have this amazing seafood pasta, and a great lobster chowder, too.”
Where she caves in to her sweet tooth: KRISPY KREME. “I am really late to this, but I was just driving by one the other day and the light was on, so I was like, ‘What the heck, why not?’”
Favorite place to perform: CROWBAR. “It’s where I had my first big show, a show that changed my life, literally. I love the stage, the sound is awesome, Tom, the owner, is awesome…”
Favorite place to see live performances: NEW WORLD BREWERY. “There is no stage, you can literally be face to face with the performer. Which is really cool, if it’s somebody that you really love.”
Favorite St. Pete venue: JANNUS LIVE. “It’s magical rocking out there on that big ol’ stage.”
Best place to get stylish threads: REVOLVE CLOTHING EXCHANGE. “They had this yellow one-piece jumper two years ago that I can’t stop thinking about. I have a vintage suitcase with paisley print I got from there, too, that I’m about to take on tour.”
Where she gets her dance groove on: YBOR CITY JAZZ HOUSE. “I like to go on Saturday nights. Sandman spins there and he plays everything. You can hear ’90s music, some funk, soul, hip hop, reggae — even Top 40 stuff. But the mix is so good, you just want to stay on the dance floor the whole time.”
Favorite splurge: CINEBISTRO. “I’ll go to the CineBistro for a movie, sit in a cushy leather chair and eat a yummy Blackened Snapper Sandwich and sweet potato fries.”
Where she works out: MM FITNESS. “The owner trains us like athletes — he’s a former football training coach. Before I started there, I couldn’t run around the block.”
Spot she’d recommend to tourists: THE FLORIDA WINERY AT ST. JOHN’S PASS. “They serve wine ice cream. That is a must — it is so delicious.”
To see what other local notables are recommending, visit askthelocals.net.
