Draft:Top Flite Empire
Top Flite Empire is an American hip hop duo from Denver, Colorado, consisting of Hypnautic (Brian Godeaux) and King Tef (Sean Garris). The group gained national recognition in 2016 when their debut album, Bad Decisions, debuted at #1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart, establishing them as a prominent independent act.[1]
Career
[edit]Early years (2009–2015)
[edit]Top Flite Empire was formed in 2009 by Hypnautic and King Tef, both active in Denver’s local hip hop scene. They began building a regional following through live performances and independent releases. Their 2014 single "OTFTM (Over Time For The Money)" received airplay on Sirius XM radio, contributing to early exposure.[1]
Bad Decisions and national exposure (2016)
[edit]In 2016, the group released their debut album, Bad Decisions, which featured production from Grammy-winning producer Dem Jointz and collaborations with King Los, Futuristic, and Nef the Pharaoh.[1] The album debuted at number one on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, a ranking that tracks emerging artists across the U.S.
The album was covered by several national outlets. The Source described Top Flite Empire as “Denver’s leading hip-hop act” and highlighted their growing influence.[2] Later that year, The Source featured the group’s music video for its creative direction and narrative themes.[3]
BandWagon Magazine praised the album for its production and energy, writing that the group had “all the ingredients for superstardom.”[4]
Performances and television placements
[edit]Top Flite Empire has performed at major Colorado events including KS 107.5’s Summer Jam, sharing the stage with artists such as Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.[1] They also performed at Denver’s annual 4/20 rally, reportedly in front of over 80,000 attendees.
Their music has been featured on national television, including the Netflix series Never Have I Ever and VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: Family Reunion.[5]
In 2023, the duo headlined the Qoncert Fest at the Gothic Theater in Denver. In 2024, they became one of the first local hip hop acts to sell out a show at Meow Wolf Denver.
Entrepreneurial ventures
[edit]In 2024, Top Flite Empire launched the Qoncert app, a digital platform designed to help independent artists book shows, manage tours, and grow their careers.[6]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- Bad Decisions (2016)
Selected singles
[edit]- "OTFTM (Over Time For The Money)" (2014)
- "#Lit" (featuring Nef the Pharaoh) (2016)
- "Outside" (featuring NaPalm) (2024)
- "Alotta" (2024)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Hernandez, Victoria (June 7, 2016). "Top Flite Empire Releases Bad Decisions Album". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
- ^ "Top Flite Empire Drops New Album Bad Decisions". The Source. June 2016. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
- ^ "Top Flite Empire Returns in New Video With a Twist". The Source. November 23, 2016. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
- ^ "Album Review: Top Flite Empire - Bad Decisions". BandWagon Magazine. September 2016. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
- ^ "Daybreak Soundtrack: Every Song From Season 1". Capital FM. October 2019. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
- ^ "Hip-Hop Duo Launches Qoncert App to Help Independent Artists". KKTV News. October 6, 2024. Retrieved 2025-02-15.