When so many people were speculating over who would be making record breaking Hip-Hop music, many may have counted the sunny state’s Flo Rida out, and guess what, they would have been all the way incorrect.

Flo Rida isn’t just a chart topper, he’s a self-topper always striving to satisfy his own urge to make hot music and serve the masses his own unique brand of Rap.

Flo Rida has been working his new music strongly in the States and building an even more powerful musically fan base overseas. He’s thrown on his executive threads and plans to also sew the game up by releasing his own artists through his new label.

Flo tells Yo! Raps the secrets to his repeated success so try and keep up if you can.

So you were raised in the Carol City projects. How did those notorious surroundings shape you as a young man?

It was a lot of negativity in my hood, you could simply step outside of your front door and a mishap might occur. For the most part I always had my mom. Even though I grew up in a single parent household, she always showed me how to be a leader and how to focus. With all the circumstances around me like drug dealing and killing, I was always either doing my music or playing basketball so that I had a positive outlet.

Now you had sisters that were in a Gospel-singing group when you were a kid. How did witnessing that, influence your own musical inspirations?

For the most part just being around music in general helped to shape me. Having the Gospel around me influenced my melody. When I went to create my music I wanted to feel that same type of Soul that my sisters use to make me feel. My dad was also musical; he played the guitar and harmonica. Being around different types of music helped me be able to understand and produce quality.

When you first began your music career, you were also in a group called The Groundhoggz. What made you leave the group and go solo?

I mean The Groundhoggz and me were going at it for a while, and we finally just got to the point where we wanted to spread out and do other things. We all decided to do something solo so that we could one day get out and help each other. I would always get singled out whenever we all performed because I would always do something different in my set. It even got to the point where on of the guys in the group left the group so he could manage me full time.

Once you began to pursue your career you rejected by all the majors so you stopped the music and went to college eventually working a 9 to 5. What compelled you to give it one more shot and leave behind your security of a regular job to chase your dream?

As far as going to school and working a regular 9 to 5, everything was just at a stand still. I felt like nothing was really happening and I knew that if I wanted to be financially secure one day plus find something that will feel right in my heart than I would have to go after my dream. It just felt like the right time to go hard with my music. With me still being young guys I knew I could always go back to school but with the music you only have such a small window to pursue a career so I had to just take a chance.

When you recorded the song “Low“ from “Mail On Sunday“, did you ever think it would be a groundbreaking chart topper?

I remember sitting and just listening to the production for like a week. We were listening to find that one single to catapult me as an artist and launch my career. That song was the most that spoke out to me the most. I knew from the baseline and the way T-Pain was singing the melody on the hook that it was a hit. Everything came together; it really was a great combination. It started off building buzz in the strip clubs and just took off. I never knew it would grow to the magnitude that it did but I definitely was happy with the outcome.

You were able to do a song with Madonna. Not too many Hip-Hop acts have made it to that level. What was that experience like for you?

I remember getting a phone call that Timbaland was doing a record with Madonna and they wanted me to do the remix on it. I just kept thinking, “Wow I have records taking off all around the world” and it just seemed like my career was really taking off in a big way, it was like a snowball affect. Me doing the record with Madonna just made me realize there was endless potential. I was always a fan of hers and how she was always able to command the attention of the world so I knew I would be able to also command that same attention one day.

Your music definitely crosses over so how do you feel about the term Hip-Pop and, do you identify yourself as such?

For the most part I definitely agree that there’s no way of getting around that term because my music is popular music. I went from being nationally known to internationally known so I definitely have to make sure that my music connects with the masses. I love being able to travel the world and still be able to come back and do a song with Ludacris or Gucci Mane because that’s still my roots.

The single “Right Round“ off of your sophomore album broke digital records as well. Everybody wants to go digital with their music, but what extra things did you do to strengthen your viral campaign to help you break those records?

Every little bit counts at this point in Rap music, you don’t want to be left out of no category. You want to remain visible and always present star like qualities. Because of the current structure of the music industry it helps to utilize all of the various social networks. You can’t really point your finger to one particular website and think that it’s going to be able to change your life by itself.

You announced via Twitter that you would release your third album “Only One Flo“ in two parts. Why did you decide to construct the album in two separate stages vs. one full album or a double album?

I mean the concept was created from the break down of my name. Of course my name represents my state and then it comes in two parts with the “Flo” and “Rida.” I basically decided to put out a double disc. The first one is “Only One Flo“ and the second album will be “Only One Rida“ which will drop in the spring.

Tell me about whom you worked with on the album?

On the new album I had the chance to work with a lot of people like Ludacris, Gucci Mane, and my artist Get Fresh signed to my new label and Akon just to name a few.

Most of your songs have had an up-tempo production, can fans expect for you to change that formula for the new project?

For the most part I’m still trying to figure out which way I want to lean with it but I want to be able to go in all directions each time I work on an album. When you go to perform, even if you’re the headliner you’re still going to have other artist on the bill with you so you want to be able to provide people with variety. I want to be able to break it down with an R&B vibe, something romantic, thugged out, or give the people a club banger all from the same project.

You have a serious international following, what do you think is the primary source of that fanfare?

For the most part I would have people walk up to me and tell me that the reason that I’m so successful is because even if the fans don’t know the language they understand the melody of the music. Even when it comes down to my production, I feel that my sound is compatible with the taste of people worldwide.

You’ve been doing a lot of international touring, how has that inspired your creative and even advanced your performance level?

Being here in the States you might have to perform maybe 45 minutes, but when you’re overseas they want you too perform then leave the stage and come back and perform some more. You have to really be in shape and build up your endurance to do it live over there. Being over there provides you with a whole different outlook on people and how they operate in other continents.

Now you have a singing group right, so can we expect you to start running a full fledge label soon?

I always wanted to have my own label and give back to the musical community by giving someone else to chance that I was given. I have an R&B group and a female rap artist. They each travel with me and have learned a lot from seeing how the industry works and how to develop an international appeal. I think that both of my groups are well rounded and have what it takes to make it.