Flo Rida lit up New York City last night at Windows’ and HP’s ARTIST #TALK alongside famed blogger and music expert, Arjan Writes.
Relaxing on set overlooking lower Manhattan, Flo Rida opened up to the audience about his upbringing in Miami’s Carol City, and the importance of charity in his life, which was inspired by What’s Happening’s Fred “Re-Run” Berry.
“My charity, “Big Dreams” for Kids, was inspired by those who came to my neighborhood,” he said to the audience. “I wanted to show the kids if I can do it and I’m from here, you can too.”
Flo also made time to run through each of the nine tracks on his fourth studio album Wild Ones, offering commentary and unique tidbits. The rapper cited Michael Jackson’s Thiller as key influence this time around for limiting the album to under ten tracks. Wrapping up the conversation, he shared exclusively with the audience that 50 Cent is set to appear on the official single of the Rico Love-produced track, “Thinking of You.” The collaboration wasn’t completed in time to make final album cut.
Ending the night the best way he knows how, Flo Rida slipped into his party animal mood, popping bottles with all in attendance. With champagne in hand, he sent a few suds over the penthouse balcony so all could share in the luxuriant fun down below.
VIBE had the opportunity to catch up with Flo Rida before the night’s festivities began to discuss the success of Wild Ones, feel good music, and the wildest thing he’s ever done.
VIBE: Your latest album, Wild Ones is debuting at No. 14 this week, with 31, 000 units sold. Do you expect the album to continue to rise up the charts?
FLO RIDA:Most definitely. The records on the album, so far with the couple of singles we put out, it’s definitely been a mega success. As get the chance to get more into the rest of the singles, I’m definitely looking forward to the album moving up the charts even more.
What do you feel you did differently on this album this time around that you haven’t done before?
Just with the experience alone, being influenced by all the different club scenes, the people I’ve worked with, as far as producers and everything. They’re at the top of the Richter scale when it comes down to being hot producers, alongside my A&R staff and everything. It was a lot of sleepless nights, but we came up with an album I really appreciate with a lot of people who’d give me their true opinion.
You make a lot of feel good records (Wild Ones, Good Feeling, etc.). Would you say that’s a reflection on your life right now?
Definitely. It’s definitely wild. Just to be able to go out and perform in front of crowds of 50 thousand to 100 thousand people and you definitely want to leave them with a memory they’ll never forget, so I do of wild things on stage.
Check out page 2 for the rest of the interview.
So, I’ve heard you’re a wild one, what’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done for fun?
Go sky diving. Actually in the last video for “Wild Ones,” I go sky diving in Dubai. It was something I told myself I’d never do, but I did it and it was amazing.
Were you scared?
I was definitely scared, but once you get up there, there’s no turning around.
While a majority of your music frequents in the pop/dance medium, are you concerned with losing your core hip-hop audience who’s been rocking with you since “Low”?
Not at all. For the most part, my thing is to make music that I love. At the time, majority of the people—I get calls from little kids to older adults who definitely appreciate my music. They tell me how positive it is. I go on Twitter and I get a lot of positive feedback. I love music so I’m always willing to go outside of the branding. I don’t stick myself in one box.
For those who have yet to pick up Wild Ones, what are they missing out on?
Well, if you’re talking about how you’re the life of the party. I’m definitely your match. This album has definitely been energetic, but at the same time, it has its transitions with “Thinking of You” which is more slow paced. It’s definitely well-rounded, and thought about. I’m a really big fan of the Thiller album which had nine records on there. Completing this album I made sure that every record gets you going in some way.
What’s next for Flo Rida in the near future?
Touring, inside and out of the country. I have my record label, I.M.G., International Music Group, where I have an artist by the name of Tyler Medeiros, who’s from Canada. I’m looking forward to kicking his career soon, as well as a hip-hop act by the same of Wild Child.
If you could look back to the moment when your career kicked off, would be able to say you knew you’d be where you are now?
Not at all, but I definitely knew it’d be a success, just because anything I attach myself to. I work hard.
Photo Credit: ArjanWrites