A Conversation with Flo Rida – HuffPost 12.24.10

Mike Ragogna: When you were making your latest album Only One Flo (Part 1), did you feel like you had a blockbuster with all these hits on it?

Flo Rida: Definitely. Going into the studio, if the vibe is right, the song gives me goosebumps. A lot of times, I get reactions from colleagues that are with me and they always tell me if I’ve done good or not, they give me their real opinions. I got a chance to perform the record at shows and just from the crowd reaction, I knew the record was going to be a big one.

MR: So far, you have like three hits on this project, and it looks like there’s more to come, right?

FR: Yeah, most definitely. It’s in two parts and part 2 will be out in the Spring. So, I hope fans are looking forward to that.

MR: Very cool. I wanted to go through a few more songs on Only One Flo (Part 1). You have “Club Can’t Handle Me,” “Turn Around (5,4,3,2,1),” and there’s “Who Dat Girl” featuring Akon. When you’re in the studio, what’s the experience like?

FR: For the most part, it’s real spontaneous. I find myself recording in hotel rooms because I’m on the road, busy traveling, I just come up with these ideas. That’s an experience you can never usually get being in places like London, Russia, Germany, and Belgium. I’m always inspired by the places that I’m at, going to clubs around the world and everything. I’m not the guy who needs purple Skittles or anything like that, it’s just me sitting in front of the console or me in the hotel room putting my thoughts down.

MR: In addition to being one of the world’s more popular artists, you have a charity called “Big Dreams For Kids.” Can you explain a little of what that’s about.

FR: It’s inspired by when I was a little boy. We would have these celebrities come around my project — I grew up in an environment where there was a lot of drug dealing and killing, but we still had the positive role models come down and tell us to dream big. You don’t have to be inspired by the negativity surrounding you, you can do things that are productive. For me, the outlet was music and playing basketball. That was the inspiration for where I’m at right now.

MR: Let’s catch people up. There’s your hit “Low” featuring T-Pain, and your hit “Right Round” with Kesha that was the biggest selling first week digital single ever. It had somewhere near 636,000 downloads in a week. And you’ve got a really solid fan base.

FR: The fans around the world are very supportive. Sometimes, it’s just about the timing. Coming off of a huge success of that record with great productions, great lyricism and great rhyme patterns that I put together all met up. For me to look back on that week was just amazing.

MR: Before this album, you were coming off the Step Up 3D soundtrack.

FR: I had a great relationship with them for Step Up 3D because I had worked with them for the “Low” record on Step Up 2: The Streets. We sat in the studio and we played a couple records and that one stood out. Shout out to David Guetta who did his thing on the production and everything. I got a chance to go out and do sit-downs to promote the movie. It was like I was one of the actors in the movie, because they felt this record was that strong, that I needed to be heard and seen.

MR: You’ve become a representative of the genre at this point.

FR: Yeah, most definitely, thanks to the fans, and thanks to all the people that help me put this together at Atlantic Records. I always try to make sure I’m working and staying busy, just giving music all I got and getting the connection with my fans. My music is love. When I see those things, it makes me appreciate them even more.

MR: When you look at the pop charts or even rap, what do you think is happening musically right now?

FR: More people are getting into it. Even kids can go online and make beats, use Def Jam Rapstar, and even get discovered. It’s pushing artists to become more creative and to make different things. You can cross genres and still be successful. For me, personally, just being able to travel internationally like none other, it’s definitely been a blessing, and I think that’s going to help the game go to a whole other level.

MR: One of your greatest videos was shot it in Rio de Janeiro.

FR: That was the “Turn Around” record I did in Rio. Most of my records, I shoot in the States but that was my first time going out of the country and shooting a video. It was just lovely — the beaches, the woman were just hot and sexy and just represented the record like the way I wanted to represent it. Some people would say it’s too raunchy, but you go to the beach and that’s what you see. But there’s no one taking their clothes off or nothing, the video and the song match each other very well.

MR: Are you conscious of that when you’re making your music and videos, that there may be a broader range of people that you’re performing to, so you have to be more conscious of all of them?

FR: Definitely, I’m trying to be conscious and not going further than my fans might allow me when it comes down to something that might come off wrong. So, for the most part, I just try to be as creative as possible and just try to open up new lanes for myself.

MR: You’re also doing MTV’s New Year’s Eve Bash. What’s that going to be like?

FR: It’s going to be amazing. I remember when I did it the first year, coming out as an artist. So, I’m looking forward to going out there and doing the New Year’s countdown.

MR: Any other tracks on the album you want to point us to besides the singles?

FR: We’re going to actually be shooting videos for every one of the songs on the album. So, I’m looking forward to each one of those records being a smash.

MR: Do you have any advice for new artists?

FR: If this is your passion, you definitely have to love it 200 percent. Dream big and never give up because there is always somebody out there working hard. If you do negative things in your life, you can always expect negative things to happen. So, if you’re doing positive things, positive stuff will happen in your life. It may not happen when you want it to happen, but it will happen right on time. Put faith in God and notice it’s what you want.

MR: It seems like you need a combination of everything — God, talent, luck…

FR: …I wouldn’t say luck, it’s definitely hard work. It’s all worth it in the end. No pain, no gain.

MR: What is the immediate future for Flo Rida?

FR: I’ve started my new label called I.M.G. International Music Group. I’ve got a female hip-hop artist named Brianna that you should look forward to. I’ve got an R&B act by the name of Git Fresh. I’m looking forward to getting into film, looking forward to the next album, and just touring the world. All the fans can hit me up at officialflo.com and that will take them to all my social sites. Hit me up on Twitter at official_flo. Holla at me any time.

MR: Thank you again.

FR: No problem man.

Transcribed by Theo Shier