Flo Rida was born in Carol City, Florida, and raised in Opa-locka, Florida. His parents are Melvin and Mary Dillard. He has two older brothers, Kelvin and Jason, and a younger sister, Ashley. Flo Rida began rapping at the age of 12 and started writing his own songs at the age of 15. He graduated from Carol City High School in 1995 and then attended Florida Community College.
Flo Rida's first major label album, Mail on Sunday, was released in 2008 and debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album included the hit singles "Low" and "Right Round", which both reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Flo Rida's second album, R.O.O.T.S. (Route of Overcoming the Struggle), was released in 2009 and debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album included the hit singles "Club Can't Handle Me" and "Whistle", which both reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Flo Rida's third album, Only One Flo (Part 1), was released in 2010 and debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album included the hit singles "Good Feeling" and "Wild Ones", which both reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Flo Rida's fourth album, Wild Ones, was released in 2012 and debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album included the hit singles "Whistle" and "Wild Ones", which both reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Flo Rida's fifth album, The Perfect 10, was released in 2015 and debuted at number 21 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album included the hit singles "I Cry" and "My House", which both reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Flo Rida's sixth album, American Superstar, was released in 2017 and debuted at number 112 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album included the hit single "Zillionaire", which reached number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Flo Rida has also collaborated with other artists on numerous hit singles, including "Sugar" with Maroon 5, "Hey Mama" with David Guetta, "Get Low" with DJ Chuckie, "I'm the One" with DJ Khaled, and "Swish Swish" with Katy Perry. He has also appeared in films such as Step Up 2: The Streets, Fast & Furious 8, and The Star.