Flo Rida AKA as Tramar Dillard, is following the lead of breakout artist and fellow Poe Boy Entertainment/Atlantic Records labelmate Rick Ross to further the credibility and star power filtering out of Florida.

Flo Rida debut single, “Low” featuring T-Pain, sold a reported 470,000 digital units, surpassing the previous record-holder, Fergie’s “Fergalicious,” which last year peaked at 294,000. In addition, “Low” was the hit #1 as the most downloaded song on iTunes in November 2007, as well as reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

He chose the name "Flo Rida" because he is from Florida and in reference to his rap styles. The name “Flo Rida” come from "Flo" represents the different types of flows I have and the "Rida" part sometimes I tend to rap fast.

Flo Rida might be new to the hip hop game for most, but has been in the hip hop game since he was 15. At 15, Flo Rida started hanging around the 2 Live Crew aspiring MC to experience the behind-the-scenes of the music business.

Flo Rida then went on to formed a hip hop group called Groundhoggz with two childhood friends and started to land gigs opening up for local artists. However, Flo Rida moved on from the group by becoming a solo artist.

After touring with the 2 Live Crew, Flo Rida hooked up with Devante of Jodeci. Flo Rida was groomed by Devante, label A&Rs and others influencers in hip-hop like Flava Flav and producer Rich Harrison. However, Flo Rida does admit he went through some trying times during that period. Aside from being shut down by a few labels like Capitol Records and Deathrow whilst shopping around for a deal, Rida found himself sleeping in random motels and even in the streets at times.

Flo Rida returned to the East Coast and later hooked up with E-Class, founder of Florida-based indie label Poe Boy (Rick Ross, Jacki-O), who had a demo of his work and was started to create a buzz for him down South.

He made his mainstream debut in the song "Bitch I'm from Dade County" on DJ Khaled's album We the Best. He started appearing in mixtapes in 2006, and began affiliating himself with other known Florida rappers such as Rick Ross and Trick Daddy. Way before We the Best, Flo Rida has released a street single entitled "Birthday", featuring Rick Ross. He then released a club based single entitled "Low" featuring T-Pain Flo Rida’s upcoming album, “Mail On Sunday,” inspired by a lot of people including LL Cool J, Outkast, Jimi Hendrix and even Aretha Franklin has up-tempo tracks to melodic, and soulful songs is scheduled to hit stores next month, and features cameos by Sean Kingston, Trina, and Rick Ross.

Though a follow-up single hasn't been selected yet, Flo Rida says the album does cover more than just fresh photos and corpulent rear-ends. "I cover everything from hardships to struggle to the good times at the club. I got a song called 'Freaky,' I got party music, I got something for the car. I got all different types of music," he says. In addition, Flo Rida's song "Jealous" is featured on the soundtrack to the HBO series "Entourage".

-R. Thomas