Fresh from reigning supreme with his US number 1 and UK number 2 smash hit, ‘Low’, Hip Hop’s freshest sensation Flo Rida releases his follow up single, ‘Elevator’ through Atlantic Records on June 23rd.  The Timbaland produced track is the second offering to be lifted from his debut album Mail On Sunday.

‘Elevator’ has all the ingredients for being this summer’s hottest dancefloor filler.  Already play listed at Choice FM and 1Xtra, the track has enjoyed support from the likes of Trevor Nelson and Tim Westwood, whilst the accompanying video is on rotation at MTV Base and Channel U.

The mammoth success of ‘Low’ has seen Flo gatecrash the charts on both sides of the Atlantic and rack up more accolades than most artists see in their entire career.

The track has remained firmly lodged in the UK Top 10 for more than seven weeks and counting, and has hit the number one spot in the UK Club Chart and almost every US chart, - Billboard’s Hot 100, iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, MySpace, MTV’s TRL and BET’s to name a few.

The road to success has not always been an easy one for Flo Rida - born the youngest boy amongst seven girls, the 28-year-old Carol City, FL native was born Tramar Dillard.

Although his parents split when he was young, Flo’s father, a multi-talented musician, inspired his son to express himself through music. Several of his sisters also formed a local gospel group but tragedy struck when one of his sisters died from complications from bronchitis. 'When my sister passed away, I woke up and realised what I had to do,' he says.

By ninth grade, he had began rapping with a group called the Groundhoggz and found local success in the late ’90s, selling mix tapes and opening shows for more established acts. 

But one day, Flo Rida received an offer he could not turn down.  Aged 18, he embarked on a nationwide tour as the hype man for Fresh Kid Ice of 2 Live Crew. 

Whilst gaining significant exposure across the country, he caught the attention of DeVante Swing, formerly of the famed R&B group Jodeci. 'I got the chance to pass my demo to DeVante,' says Flo Rida. 'He heard it and wanted to fly me out to Los Angeles that day. I ended up flying out the next day, and stayed in L.A. for three years.'

But even under DeVante’s wing, Flo Rida struggled to make his mark in Los Angeles. 'I was literally on the streets, at times promoting myself by myself,' he says. 

In early 2006, hesitant to leave L.A until he had successfully landed a record deal, he returned to Miami.  Continuing his grind, working hard to self promote and with the help of CEO of Poe Entertainment’s E-Class, he signed first to Poe Entertainment and then to Atlantic Records.

'That was the greatest moment of my life,' Flo Rida recalls. 'I had been working so hard for so long. I had jobs in construction, I worked in warehouses, and I’m talking about some of the bummiest jobs. But those were all the sacrifices I made by putting my money towards my music, and it finally paid off.'

If Flo’s success so far is anything to go by, the hard work just keeps on paying off...