Flo Rida
Flo Rida | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Tramar Lacel Dillard |
Born | Carol City, Florida, United States | September 16, 1979
Genres | |
Occupations | |
Years active | 2007–present |
Labels |
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Website | officialflo |
Tramar Lacel Dillard (born September 16, 1979),[1][2][3] better known by his stage name Flo Rida (pronounced /floʊ ˈraɪdə/,) is an American hip hop recording artist from Carol City, Florida.[4][5] He is known for releasing a string of hits, such as his 2008 breakout single "Low", which was number one for 10 weeks in the United States and broke the record for digital download sales at the time of its release. "Low" was followed by the Top 40 hits, "Elevator" and "In the Ayer".
As of 2016, Flo Rida has released four studio albums. His first album, 2008's Mail on Sunday, debuted at number four in the US. The album was succeeded by R.O.O.T.S., the next year. His subsequent albums, 2010's Only One Flo (Part 1) and 2012's Wild Ones, also charted on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Flo Rida has sold over 80 million records worldwide.[6] His catalog includes the international hit singles "Right Round", "Club Can't Handle Me", "Good Feeling", "Wild Ones", "Whistle", "I Cry" "G.D.F.R." and "My House", among others.
Life and career
1979–2006: Early life and career beginnings
Flo Rida was born Tramar Lacel Dillard in Carol City, Florida, on September 16, 1979.[7] His parents raised him and his seven sisters together, some of whom sang in a local gospel group.[8] His brother-in-law was a hype man for local rap group 2 Live Crew, and while in ninth grade, Flo Rida joined an amateur rap group called the GroundHoggz.[9] The GroundHoggz had been a three-man group, with members who lived in the same apartment complex as Flo Rida. They started recording at underground studios in Carver Ranches.[10] The GroundHoggz, in this four-man incarnation, remained together for eight years.
Flo Rida's work with 2 Live Crew member Fresh Kid Ice, attracted the attention of DeVante Swing, a member of the band Jodeci. However, he was rejected by several of the major labels, so he sought many other jobs outside of music.[11] After graduating from high school in 1998, he studied international business management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for two months and attended Barry University for two months.[11][12] He returned to Florida to continue pursuing his music career after receiving a phone call from a representative of the independent label Poe Boy Entertainment.[11]
Flo Rida signed with Hot Boyz, in 2000 and with Poe Boy, in 2004 and began affiliating himself for Cash Money with other Southern hip hop artists, such as Rick Ross, Trina, T-Pain, and Trick Daddy. A promotional single entitled "Birthday", featuring Rick Ross, was his first significant release. He made his debut guest appearance with the song "Bitch I'm From Dade County" on DJ Khaled's album We the Best (2007), which also features Trick Daddy, Trina, Rick Ross, Brisco, C-Ride, and Dre.[13]
2007–2008: Mail on Sunday
Flo Rida's debut album, Mail on Sunday, was released in March 2008. The first single was "Low", featuring T-Pain, which was also included in the soundtrack to the movie Step Up 2: The Streets. "Low" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[13] "Elevator", featuring Timbaland, "In the Ayer" featuring will.i.am, and "Roll" featuring Sean Kingston followed, and both charted on the Hot 100 and other charts.[14]
Other than T-Pain, there were many featured guests throughout Mail on Sunday. Timbaland, who produced the second single "Elevator", is also featured on the track. Rick Ross, and Trey Songz made appearances as well.[15] Lil Wayne[15] appeared on the track "American Superstar", while Sean Kingston appeared on the J. R. Rotem-produced "Roll", which was co-written by Compton rapper Spitfiya. Various other guests include Birdman, Brisco, and Yung Joc.
"Money Right", featuring Brisco and Rick Ross, was scheduled to be the fourth single, but this was canceled due to the upcoming release of Flo Rida's second studio album, R.O.O.T.S. His second collaboration with T-Pain, "I Bet", as well as his collaboration with Trina, named "Bout It", both did not make the final tracklist, but were recorded.
After the success of Mail on Sunday, Flo Rida made guest performances on other R&B, rap, and pop singles, including "Move Shake Drop" by DJ Laz, "We Break the Dawn" by Michelle Williams, the remix of "4 Minutes" by Madonna, "Running Back" by Australian R&B singer Jessica Mauboy, "Feel It" by DJ Felli Fel, and the remix of "Speedin'" by Rick Ross. During the summer of 2008, he did live performances on the Fox dance competition program So You Think You Can Dance in the US[16] and 2008 MuchMusic Video Awards in Canada.[17] He appeared on the albums We Global by DJ Khaled, Gutta by Ace Hood, and The Fame by Lady Gaga, among others.
2009–2010: R.O.O.T.S.
Flo Rida began recording his second album, R.O.O.T.S., 9 months after Mail On Sunday. The album was released on March 31, 2009.[18] The first single, "Right Round" featuring Ke$ha, was released for airplay in January 2009. "Right Round" jumped from number 58 to the top spot in one week in late February. The song broke a record for the most digital one week sales in the U.S., with 636,000, beating the previous record he had set himself with "Low".[19] "Right Round" sampled "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)", a 1985 hit by Dead or Alive.[20] The second official single was "Sugar", which featured R&B singer Wynter Gordon. The song reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Jump", featuring singer Nelly Furtado, was the third official single and was released on July 27, 2009 in the UK, and July 28, 2009 worldwide.[21] "Be on You", featuring features singer Ne-Yo, was the album's fourth official single, released on October 6, 2009. Both songs charted in the top 100 in various countries. "Available", featuring Akon, was going to be released on iTunes but was cancelled. It charted at number 120 in Ireland. A music video was also shot in mid-2009.[22] R.O.O.T.S. debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 55,000 copies in its first week.[23] As of August, 2009, the album has sold 223,000 copies in the United States, and 536,000 worldwide. By the end of 2009, the album sold 247,000 copies in the US, becoming the eighth best selling rap album of 2009.[24]
Flo Rida made guest performances on "Feel It" by DJ Felli Fel, "Starstruck" by Lady Gaga, and "Feel It" by Three 6 Mafia. "Bad Boys", the first single by winner of British reality show The X Factor Alexandra Burke that featured Flo Rida, debuted at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in October.[25]
2010–2011: Only One Flo (Part 1)
Flo Rida's third album Only One Flo (Part 1) was released on November 24, 2010. In March 2010, Flo Rida announced on Twitter that the album would be titled The Only One.[26] Billboard reported that The Only One was to be a double album.[27] A promo single, titled "Zoosk Girl", which features T-Pain, was released on the internet, though the song is not featured on the album, the single does have its own music video. On June 28, 2010, Flo Rida released the song "Club Can't Handle Me" featuring David Guetta, which was stated to be the official first single for the album. The song was also featured in the Step Up 3D soundtrack.[28] On November 2, 2010, "Come with Me" was released as the first promo single for the album, along with "Puzzle", produced, and featuring by Electrixx, which is not featured on the album. On November 16, 2010, "Turn Around (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)" was released as the second official promo single for the album via the iTunes Store.[29] It debuted on the Australian Singles Chart at number thirty-four on November 29, 2010.[30] After the release of the album in the UK, "Who Dat Girl" started to receive a strong amount of downloads, thus causing it to debut at number 136[31] on the UK Singles Chart and chart at a current peak of number thirty-one on the UK R&B Chart.[32] "Why You Up In Here" was released as the fourth single, and third promo single, on May 11, 2011. The song features Ludacris, Gucci Mane, and Git Fresh.
Flo Rida also made guest appearances on "iYiYi", a song by Australian teen singer Cody Simpson, and on the song "Out My Video" by Bulgarian singer LiLana. Flo Rida collaborated with UK girl group The Saturdays, recording a new version of their single, "Higher".[33]
In December 2010, Flo Rida created his own label, International Music Group, inspired by Nicki Minaj's signing with Lil Wayne's. He has signed an 18-year-old rapper, Brianna[34] and Git Fresh[35] to International.
2011–2013: Wild Ones
Flo Rida's fourth album, Wild Ones (originally titled Only One Rida (Part 2)) was released in July 2012. Its debut single was "Good Feeling", released on August 29, 2011.[36] The song samples "Levels" by Avicii, which in turn samples Etta James' 1962 song, "Something's Got a Hold on Me". Following the death of Etta James on January 20, 2012, Flo Rida dedicated the song in her memory.[37] The song peaked at No. 3 in the United States,[38] and topped the charts in Austria,[39] Germany,[40] Scotland,[41] and the UK. It reached the top five in nine other countries.
The next two singles from the album were the title track, "Wild Ones", released in December 2011, and "Whistle", released April 2012. "Wild Ones" reached #1 in various countries, and hit #5 in the US, while "Whistle" reached #1 in 20 countries, including the United States.
On April 1, 2012, Flo Rida appeared at WWE's WrestleMania XXVIII in a segment with Heath Slater, Curt Hawkins, and Tyler Reks, in which Slater called Flo Rida "Florida" and the rapper shoved him into a wall. Later that night, he performed "Wild Ones" and "Good Feeling" before Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson came out for his match against John Cena.[citation needed] An exclusive Australian EP entitled Good Feeling was released in Australia on April 6, which contains six of his biggest hits and two remixes.[42] It debuted at No. 21 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart[43] On May 22, 2012, Flo Rida performed and closed the show at the first Q102 Springle Ball Concert, and the following day he performed "Goin' In" with Jennifer Lopez on the America Idol finale.
On September 13, Flo Rida performed his new single "I Cry" on America's Got Talent.[44] In an interview with New York Music News, Flo Rida said he is currently recording his next album and that he has finished shooting the music video for "Let It Roll".[45] On December 9, he performed "Let it Roll" and "Wild Ones" at the 2012 edition of WWE's Tribute to the Troops. In November 2012, he collaborated with Olly Murs for his song "Troublemaker".
In June 2013, Flo Rida collaborated with Marc Mysterio on the song "Booty on the Floor" to benefit the families and victims of the Boston Marathon Bombings via One Fund Boston.[46]
2014–present: My House
On September 29, 2014 (October 21 in the U.S) Flo Rida released the lead single from his EP My House (2015) titled "G.D.F.R." featuring Sage the Gemini.[47] The track became his first top ten hit since 2012's "I Cry". My House will be succeeded by the release of his fifth studio album.
Discography
- Mail on Sunday (2008)
- R.O.O.T.S. (2009)
- Only One Flo (Part 1) (2010)
- Wild Ones (2012)
Awards and nominations
Year | Type | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | American Music Awards | Breakthrough Performer[48] | Nominated |
Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist | Nominated | ||
BET Awards | Best New Artist[49] | Nominated | |
Best Collaboration ("Low" with T-Pain)[50] | Nominated | ||
BET Hip Hop Awards | Ringtone of the Year ("Low" with T-Pain)[51] | Nominated | |
Rookie of the Year[52] | Nominated | ||
Best Hip-Hop Collabo ("Low" with T-Pain)[53] | Nominated | ||
MuchMusic Video Awards | Best International Video ("Low" with T-Pain)[54] | Nominated | |
People's Choice Favorite International Video ("Low" with T-Pain) | Nominated | ||
MTV Video Music Awards | Best Hip-Hop Video ("Low" with T-Pain) | Nominated | |
Best Male Video ("Low" with T-Pain)[55] | Nominated | ||
Ozone Awards | Breakthrough Artist[56] | Nominated | |
Club Banger of the Year ("Low" with T-Pain) | Nominated | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Breakout Artist[57] | Nominated | |
Choice Rap Artist | Nominated | ||
Choice Hook-Up ("Low" with T-Pain) | Won | ||
2009 | ARIA Music Awards | Breakthrough Artist Single ("Running Back" with Jessica Mauboy)[58] | Nominated |
Highest Selling Single ("Running Back" with Jessica Mauboy) | Won | ||
APRA Awards | Urban Work of the Year ("Running Back" with Jessica Mauboy)[59] | Won | |
Grammy Awards | Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ("Low" with T-Pain) | Nominated | |
MTV Australia Awards | Best Video ("Low" with T-Pain) | Nominated | |
Best Collaboration ("Running Back" with Jessica Mauboy)[60] | Nominated | ||
MTV Video Music Awards | Best Hip-Hop Video ("Right Round")[61] | Nominated | |
NT Indigenous Music Awards | Single Release of the Year ("Running Back" with Jessica Mauboy)[62] | Won | |
People's Choice Awards | Favorite Hip-Hop Song ("Low" with T-Pain)[63] | Won | |
Teen Choice Awards | Best Hip-Hop Rap Track ("Right Round") | Nominated | |
2010 | APRA Awards | Urban Work of the Year ("Running Back" with Jessica Mauboy) | Nominated |
Grammy Awards | Best Rap Album (R.O.O.T.S.)[64] | Nominated | |
Album of the Year (The Fame as featured artist) | Nominated | ||
Latin Billboard Music Awards | Crossover Artist Of The Year | Nominated | |
Crossover Artist of the Year, Solo | Nominated | ||
People's Choice Awards | Hip-Hop Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
2012 | Premios 40 Principales | Mejor Artista Internacional en Lengua No Española[65] | Nominated |
Mejor Álbum Internacional en Lengua No Española[65] | Nominated | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Single by Male Artist ("Good Feeling") | Nominated | |
R&B/Hip-Hop Artist [66] | Nominated | ||
R&B/Hip-Hop Song ("Wild Ones" with Sia) | Nominated | ||
Music Star Male | Nominated | ||
Billboard Music Award | Top Rap Song ("Good Feeling")[67] | Nominated | |
International Dance Music Award | Best R & B/Urban Dance Track ("Good Feeling")[68] | Nominated | |
Best Rap/Hip Hop Dance Track ("Good Feeling")[68] | Nominated | ||
MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Male[69] | Nominated | |
Best World Stage Performance[69] | Nominated | ||
American Music Awards | Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist[70] | Nominated | |
2013 | Peoples Choice Awards | Favorite Hip-Hop Artist | Nominated |
Grammy Awards | Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ("Wild Ones with Sia") | Nominated | |
NRJ Music Awards | International Male Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
International Dance Music Awards | Best Rap/Hip-Hop Dance Track ("Wild Ones") | Won | |
Billboard Latin Music Awards | Crossover Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
2013 Billboard Music Awards | Top 100 Artist | Nominated | |
Top Male Artist | Nominated | ||
Top Digital Songs Artist | Nominated | ||
Top Rap Artist | Nominated | ||
Top Rap Song ("Wild Ones") | Nominated | ||
Top Rap Song ("Whistle") | Nominated |
References
- ^ "Tonight". Flo Rida Official Instagram account. September 16, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
- ^ "Birthday Recap". Flo Rida Official Twitter account. September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
- ^ Flo Rida | Music Biography, Streaming Radio and Discography. Allmusic.
- ^ "Another Wild Hip House Ride, from Flo Rida | Noisevox: Music Rebooted". Noisevox. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
- ^ "Hip-House Is Back, Whether You Like It or Not". Turnstylenews.com. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
- ^ Petrillo, Lisa (June 13, 2014). "Getting To Know Music Star & Local 'Flo Rida'". WFOR-TV. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
- ^ Hillary, Crosley (January 19, 2008). "Rapper Flo Rida puts on "Sunday" best". Yahoo!. Reuters. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
- ^ "Bio". Officialflo.com. Poe Boy Entertainment. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
- ^ "GroundHoggz". GroundHoggz.
- ^ "Flo Rida interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' April 2009". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ^ a b c Concepcion, Mariel (November 28, 2007). "Flo Rida". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
- ^ Garland, Maurice G. (February 2008), "Flo Rida: Sunshine All Day", Vibe, vol. 16, no. 2, p. 86
- ^ a b Kellman, And (2007). "Flo Rida: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
- ^ Flo Rida > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
- ^ a b Danica Dow (February 23, 2008). SOHH Exclusive: Flo Rida Goes "Postal" on Debut, Collaborates w/ Will.i.am, Lil' Wayne. SOHH. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
- ^ Sample, Kristin (June 20, 2008). "So You Think You Can Dance: Top 16 Revealed". TV Squad.
- ^ "2008 MMVA Guests". MuchMusic. Retrieved June 14, 2008.
- ^ Cohen, Jonathan (January 9, 2009). "Flo Rida Gets 'Round' To Second Album". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
- ^ "Flo Rida Makes History Again, New Single Breaks Digital Record". XXL. February 18, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (February 20, 2009). "Flo Rida Talks About Record-Breaking Single 'Right Round'". MTV News. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
- ^ "Radio1 – UK Forthcoming Singles". Radio1.gr. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
- ^ "Flo Rida feat Akon Available". youtube.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ^ "Keith Urban Soars To No. 1 On Billboard 200". Billboard. September 14, 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
- ^ Douglas, DeVaughn (December 30, 2009). "AllHipHop ChartWatch: 2009's Top Selling Hip-Hop Acts". allhiphop.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ^ Griffiths, Peter (October 18, 2009). "Alexandra Burke beats Robbie Williams to top charts". Reuters. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
- ^ "Twitter update 10892447100". Twitter. March 22, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
- ^ Graff, Gary (August 17, 2010). "Flo Rida to Show Range of Skills on Double Album, 'The Only One'". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ Popular right now: (August 20, 2010). "Flo Rida Talks Collaborations And New Album..." TaleTela. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ "Turn Around (5,4,3,2,1) – Deluxe Single by Flo Rida – Download Turn Around (5,4,3,2,1) – Deluxe Single on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. November 16, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart: 29/11/2010". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
- ^ Only One Flo (Part 1) Chart Log UK. Retrieved August 2011
- ^ "R&B Singles Chart". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
- ^ "The Saturdays Announce New Single + Flo Rida Collaboration!". thesaturdays.co.uk. September 2, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
- ^ "Flo Rida talks music, preps female rapper protege". Associated Press. December 15, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- ^ Vasquez, Annie (February 5, 2011). "The lowdown on Flo". Miamiherald.com. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
- ^ "iTunes".
- ^ "Etta James Tribute (Flo Rida - Good Feeling)". youtube.com.
- ^ "Good Feeling - Flo Rida". www.billboard.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ^ "FLO RIDA - GOOD FEELING (SONG)". austriancharts. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ^ "Flo Rida".
- ^ "Scottish Singles Top 40 - 4th August 2012". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ^ [1] iTunes EP. Retrieved 2012-04-15
- ^ [2] Chart Watch. Retrieved 2012-04-15
- ^ "FLO RIDA PERFORMS ON AMERICA'S GOT TALENT TONIGHT!". Retrieved 6 October 2012.
- ^ "FLO RIDA Interview Atop The Empire State Building". New York Music News. 2012-11-20. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
- ^ "Guestlisted with Jed Gottlieb". Boston Herald. 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ^ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gdfr-feat.-sage-gemini-lookas/id923466096
- ^ Harris, Chris. "Lil Wayne, Coldplay, Alicia Keys Lead 2008 American Music Award Nominees". MTV News. Retrieved October 14, 2008.
- ^ Best New Artist. BET Awards 2008.
- ^ Best Collaboration BET Awards. 2008
- ^ Ringtone of the Year Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ Rookie of the Year. BET Hip Hop Awards 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ Best Hip Hop Collabo BET Awards 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ Best International Video – Artist. MuchMusic Video Awards 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ Best Male Video, Best Hip Hop Video. MTV Video Music Awards 2008.
- ^ "Ozone Awards 2008 Nominees". Retrieved July 15, 2008.
- ^ "2008 Teen Choice Awards winners and nominees". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
- ^ 2009 ARIA Awards details announced Retrieved August 20, 2010
- ^ APRA Award winners announced Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "List of nominees". Sydney Morning Herald. February 19, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
- ^ Jayson Rodriguez. "Flo Rida Says He 'Looks Up To' His VMA Rivals". MTV News. Retrieved August 14, 2009.
- ^ "NT music awards". Blogs.abc.net.au. 2007-08-26. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ^ People's Choice Awards Nominations 2009 Retrieved 2008-11-10
- ^ Robinson, Dantrel (January 13, 2009). "It's A Rap! — A Look At Rap In 2009". Grammy.com. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
- ^ a b "Premios 40 princiaples 2012".
- ^ "Teen Choice Awards 2012". teenchoiceawards.com.
- ^ "Billboard Music Awards 2012". Billboard.com.
- ^ a b "International Dance Music Award 2012". dancemusic.about.com.
- ^ a b "MTV EMA FLO RIDA". la.mtvema.com.
- ^ "VOTE FOR FLO RIDA TO WIN A 2012 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARD!". Retrieved 14 November 2012.