Tramar Lacel Dillard, professionally known as Flo Rida, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter born on September 16, 1979. Flo Rida gained widespread recognition with his 2007 breakout single “Low,” which held the number one spot on the US charts for an impressive 10 weeks and set a digital download sales record at the time of its release.
His debut studio album, “Mail on Sunday” in 2008, reached the fourth position on the US charts. This success was followed by “R.O.O.T.S.” the following year, and subsequent albums like “Only One Flo (Part 1)” in 2010 and “Wild Ones” in 2012, which also charted on the US Billboard 200. Flo Rida’s remarkable career has led to over 80 million records sold worldwide, solidifying his position as one of the best-selling music artists.
Some of his internationally acclaimed hit singles include “Right Round,” “Club Can’t Handle Me,” “Good Feeling,” “Wild Ones,” “Whistle,” “I Cry,” “G.D.F.R.,” and “My House.”
In a unique twist, Flo Rida represented San Marino in the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, alongside Senhit.
Life and Career (1979–2006):
Born on September 16, 1979, Flo Rida spent his early years in the Carol City neighborhood of Miami Gardens, Florida, with his parents and seven sisters, one of whom was his twin. He grew up in a musical family, with some of his sisters being part of a local gospel group. During his high school years, he joined an amateur rap group called the GroundHoggz. This group, initially a trio, lived in the same apartment complex as Flo Rida and together, they started recording at underground studios in Carver Ranches. The GroundHoggz expanded into a four-member group and remained together for eight years.
Tragically, during his early career, Flo Rida lost his sister, Julia, to bronchitis. Her passing had a profound impact on him, and he dedicated his career to her memory, telling MTV, “I was very close to her, and I told myself that I was going to do this for my sister.”
It was during a performance that rapper Fresh Kid Ice noticed Flo Rida and asked him to be his hype man. Shortly after, he joined Fresh Kid Ice for a show in Hawaii. Flo Rida considers this period as his musical education. While working with the GroundHoggz, they were featured guests on Fresh Kid Ice’s album “Freaky Chinese” in 2004.
Flo Rida’s collaboration with Fresh Kid Ice caught the attention of DeVante Swing, a member of the band Jodeci. Despite these early successes, Flo Rida faced rejections from several major labels. In response, he explored various non-music-related jobs. After completing high school in 1998, he briefly pursued studies in international business management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and later attended Barry University. However, his passion for music led him back to Florida when he received a call from a representative of the independent label Poe Boy Entertainment.
Flo Rida’s journey in the music industry also involved associations with The Eastside Boyz in 2000 and affiliations with other prominent Southern hip hop artists, including Rick Ross, Trina, T-Pain, and Trick Daddy, starting in 2004. One of his initial notable releases was a promotional single called “Birthday,” featuring Rick Ross. Flo Rida made his debut guest appearance with the track “Bitch I’m From Dade County” on DJ Khaled’s 2007 album “We the Best,” alongside Trick Daddy, Trina, Rick Ross, Brisco, C-Ride, and Dre.
