FLO RIDA: MR. BIRTHDAY MAN

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 24: The first time we interviewed you it was before you signed to Atlantic Records so Congratulations on that and could you tell me a little about the deal and how it came about?
Flo Rida: Thank you man appreciate it. Basically, a long time friend, Freezy which is E-Class’ (CEO of Poe-Boy Entertainment) brother, asked me to let him hear some of the music I was doing because I was in LA at the time and this was when Ross had first signed and was buzzing and Freezy let E-Class hear it and he was like you need to get down here because we have different A&R’s and stuff around and I’m sure they will love the music but there just going to want to meet him. So I came down from LA just to visit and I was going to go back but that turned into me staying. The first label we took my project to was TVT and thank GOD that did not go through because of their whole Law Suit situation right now, it would not have been a good look. We also took it to Atlantic and every one from the A&R department to the CEO’s loved the music and they took me around the whole building. I got to meet everyone in the promotions department and perform for everyone in the building and they all gave it a Yeah! And a couple of days later we signed.

24: What do you feel you bring to the table as an artist because I think its your style that’s different to any other artist I can think of right now?
Flo Rida: We’ll basically I don’t listen to one type of music, I listen to gospel, Jazz, R&B. You know I just love music so when I make a song I do it from the aspect of I want everyone to relate to it and when you hear my songs you might notice it has a catchy melody to it.

24: You have your single out “Birthday” which was produced by The Runners. Tell about the making of that record from when you first heard the beat and said to yourself I’m going to ride with this one?
Flo Rida: Basically, it was just a regular day in the studio and the President of Poe Boy Entertainment, Big Chuck, was playing Madden up stairs and he was joking about the type of songs I be making and was saying E-Class loves when you be coming up with those crazy songs and he probably wants you to make a song like I don’t want no cake on my birthday………..and I was like okay, y’all laughing. I went in the studio and made a song out of that and everyone loved it.

24: I also know that you have been doing a lot of shows recently so tell what type of response you have been getting from the people with “Birthday?”
Flo Rida: As soon as I do the beginning of the song with out the beat the whole crowd start singing automatically and everywhere I go they show me love. I might be in the streets and they may see me and say that the boy that sing the birthday song or they were times where people just have walk by me singing it and I’ll just join in with them so its been great.

24: Describe a Flo Rida performance because from what I have seen from video, you bring a lot of energy to your shows?
Flo Rida: From day one I use to watch artist like LL Cool J and Big Daddy Kane perform and I wanted to bring that type of energy to a show.

24: Will there be a video coming for “Birthday” any time soon?
Flo Rida: Maybe in a month or so the fans will be able to get the video for that so stay tuned.

24: I recently saw you in the new XXL magazine in the show & prove section. How did that feel to finally see yourself in there?
Flo Rida: That was crazy. I wasn’t home, I was in Atlanta and I went to the newsstand and picked it up and when I saw myself I was like wow! I remembered the Juicy song B.I.G. had when he mentioned being in the Source and I though to myself, a year ago it wasn’t like this.

24: What should the fans expect from a Flo Rida album because sometimes people hear the first single and assume the whole album will be the same way and I think you try a lot of different things on your album?
Flo Rida: I decided to put out a mixtape “Mr. Birthday Man” to give the people a better vibe of what they will hear from my album. I put a lot of real songs on the mixtape instead of putting lot stuff on other artist instrumentals, so with that you will get a chance to feel what Flo Rida is about.

24: I notice that you and DJ Khaled seem to have a good relationship and he always co-signs you so tell a little about that and will you be on his new album “We The Best”(In Stores June.12)?
Flo Rida: Yeah, I’m on there. It’s a song called “Dade County” and when I did the verse I was in Atlanta so when I recently saw him he was telling me how much he liked the verse.

24: Anything outside of music you would like to get into?
Flo Rida: I have some jeans I’m working on now I’m trying to put out called “Birthday Cakes” for women and showing love to my hood and start up some programs to help the kids in my community in the making.

24: Who are some other producers you have been working with for the album?
Flo Rida: I got The Runners, Trae Pierce, Cool & Dre, Beat Novacane (DJ Khaled), Shawty Redd, J Rock, and Jazze Pha to name a couple.

24: Is there any artist that you really want to be on your album that really inspired you in your own career?
Flo Rida: I would like to get Juvenile on the album and he is on Atlantic, so maybe that will happen. Maybe someone like 50 Cent and Keyshia Cole. I actually knew her for a while when I was grinding in LA and I’m going there this week so maybe I can set that up because that will be a good look.

24: What should the people expect next from Flo Rida?
Flo Rida: I would say the outcome of the album because a lot of people feel like this is an overnight thing for me and they’re wondering how I came from nowhere and just got a deal, so they will get to hear why and how on the album.

24: Anything you want to say to the fans out there reading this interview?
Flo Rida: Much love and support the mixtapes that’s out “Mr. Birthday Man” look out for Rick Ross album “Trilla”, Brisco “Street Medicine” and shout out to Tripple C’s and my group The Groundhoggz. It’s Poe Boy Entertainment!