The Dragon Sisters
Ebru Yildiz
Brooklyn-based rap duo The Dragon Sisters recently made their debut with The Fine Print EP, a slinky six-track vibe fest that’s relaxed yet impassioned, chill but fierce. Sometimes whispery, sometimes sinuous but always confident on the mic, there’s a laid-back but quietly unstoppable force to their artistry and hip-hop.
The multi-disciplinary duo, made up of Issa and Odessa Dragon, gamely agreed to fill out Billboard’s new LGBTQuestionnaire — a series of questions, fill-in-the-blanks, multiple choice answers and so forth — so we can get to know them better as they spread their magic.
From their gayest moment to the music inspires them to two truths and a lie, here’s what the Dragon Sisters had to say.
Multiple Choice (answers are in italics)
I look at my phone:
Rarely
Occasionally
Constantly
I’m looking at it right now
How important is social media to your music career?
Not remotely important
I do it but I don’t love it
Important, but I have mixed feelings about it
Essential and I mostly love it
Would you rather be:
At home
On the town
In nature
Asleep
Rate how strongly you agree/disagree with the following statements (answers are in italics).
2021 is going to be way better than 2020.
No way
I guess
Who can tell?
Yeah, probably
Absolutely 100%
LGBTQ representation is improving in the music industry.
No way
I guess
Who can tell?
Yeah, probably
Absolutely 100%
Coming out was easy.
Hell no.
It was complicated
It wasn’t terrible
Thankfully, yes.
Fill in the blank: (Answers are in bold font)
Growing up LGBTQ was scary and confusing but also we knew it would get better!
Janelle Monáe is an LGBTQ artist whose music really inspires us.
The last thing we purchased online was Adobe Premium Rush.
One word to describe our music is Deadass.
Open answer:
What inspired The Fine Print?
Issa: The Fine Print was inspired by a few things.
Odessa: Our cosmic friendship, our lives as young black NYC nightlife queens…The ups and down, the hopes and the dreams, and everything in between.
What was the hardest song to get right on The Fine Print?
Odessa: “Hollywood” but it was so worth it.
Issa: We wanted it to be prophetic, while paying homage to our personal pasts and ancestries.
Odessa: We are both very proud of how it turned out and it seems to be a favorite among our listeners.
What LGBTQ anthem do you keep going back to.
Odessa: “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” by Sylvester is absolutely my number one go to gay anthem.
Issa: For sure, that song truly embodies what we feel for our friends, family and lovers supporting our dreams. Also, “It’s Raining Men” by The Weather Girls! Like us, they are a duo, but also the song just reminds me of Pride 2018, on the Smirnoff Vodka float. Odessa and I were hired to choreograph for the parade. Probably my gayest moment and such a mood!
Odessa: bitch!!! we were HANGIN off the side of that float! With little to nothing on! It was one for the books!
What was the first song you ever wrote together? What was it about?
Issa: It was a song called “Quick Flight” about our dreams of touring the world as musicians and spreading love to every city we hit. Of course, with everything that’s been going on, we cannot wait to make that dream a reality soon.
You’re trapped on a desert island — what three albums did you bring with you?
Odessa: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Roman Reloaded by Nicki Minaj and Dangerously in Love by Beyonce.
Issa: Mine are Baduizm by the queen Erykah Badu, Blond by Frank Ocean, and Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper
Odessa: Yeah! bring those too!
Name a Twitter/Instagram/TikTok account you’re obsessed with.
Odessa: @blackppldancing curated by @shernitasofly
Issa: I love @ballroomreacts
What are your astrological signs? Do you care about astrology?
Odessa: Virgo and Gemini, can you tell who’s what?
What’s something that you’ve always wanted to learn how to do, but still haven’t gotten around to?
Odessa: Skateboard but it’s never too late!
Issa: I still need to learn how to drive a car.
What accomplishment in your career are you proudest of?
Odessa: That we took the leap of faith and just did it!
Issa: This moment! Through all adversity and pandemonium. We’ve really impressed ourselves and proved that together we are resilient, of purpose, and an undeniable force as entertainers.
Tell us two truths and a lie about yourselves, but don’t tell us which is the lie.
– There are more than two Dragon Sisters
– We have the same Mother
– We both went to SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance