Tramar Lacel Dillard, better known by his stage name Flo Rida, is a highly successful American rapper, songwriter, and singer. With his debut single ‘Low’, he quickly rose to fame and has since released numerous chart-topping singles and albums, solidifying his position as one of the best-selling music artists. From a young age, Flo Rida developed a passion for music and honed his skills by joining an amateur rap group called ‘GroundHoggz’. His connection to his brother-in-law, a member of the local rap group ‘2 Live Crew’, further fueled his love for music. After signing with ‘Poe Boy Entertainment’, Flo Rida’s breakthrough came with the release of ‘Low’, which topped charts worldwide and earned him multiple platinum certifications. This hit single was featured in his first studio album ‘Mail on Sunday’ and the movie soundtrack for ‘Step Up 2: The Streets’. Flo Rida continued to produce hit after hit with songs like ‘Wild Ones’, ‘Right Round’, and ‘Whistle’, and albums like ‘Wild Ones’ and ‘R.O.O.T.S’.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Tramar Lacel Dillard
- Age: 44 Years, 44 Year Old Males
- Family: siblings: Julia Dillard
- Rappers
- Lyricists & Songwriters
- Height: 6’3″ (190 cm), 6’3″ Males
- U.S. State: Florida
Childhood & Early Life
Flo Rida, whose real name is Tramar Lacel Dillard, was born on September 16, 1979, in Carol City, Florida, US. He was the only son among eight children. From a young age, he had a passion for music and was introduced to it by his brother-in-law, who was a hype man for the local rap group ‘2 Live Crew’.
In ninth grade, Flo Rida became a member of the amateur rap group ‘GroundHoggz’, along with three friends from his apartment complex. They worked together for eight years. After completing high school in 1998, he briefly attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to study international business management but dropped out after two months. He also had a short stint at Barry University before deciding to pursue his passion for music.
Career
Flo Rida’s association with his brother-in-law led him to work as a hype man and back-up rapper for Fresh Kid Ice, a member of ‘2 Live Crew’. He toured with Ice and even featured in many tracks on his album ‘Freaky Chinese’ in 2004. This caught the attention of Jodeci member DeVante Swing, but Flo Rida faced rejections from major record labels.
In 2000, he signed with the American hip hop group ‘Hot Boyz’. During his struggling days, he did odd jobs to support his music career and even found himself staying in motels or on the streets at times. Eventually, he received a call from a representative of American record label ‘Poe Boy Entertainment’ and signed with them in 2004.
Flo Rida’s first major release was the track ‘Birthday’ featuring Rick Ross, which was included in his debut album ‘Mail on Sunday’. The song gained international success and marked the beginning of his career. He went on to release several successful albums, including ‘R.O.O.T.S’ and ‘Wild Ones’. He is currently working on his upcoming fifth studio album ‘The Perfect 10’.
Major Works
One of Flo Rida’s most successful songs is ‘Low’, which became the longest-running chart-topping single in the US in 2008. It held the top spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 for ten consecutive weeks and was ranked #3 on the list of US Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade. The song also received multiple certifications, including 8× Platinum from RIAA.
Another notable hit for Flo Rida is ‘Right Round’, which broke his own record set with ‘Low’ for the most digital downloads in its first week. It became his best-selling single with over twelve million certified downloads and was the fastest million-selling download in the history of the digital era in the US.
Personal Life
Over the years, Flo Rida has been in several relationships. He has dated Melyssa Ford, Eva Marcille, Brandy Norwood, Brenda Song, and Phoenix White.