Current:Home > MyRapper Flo Rida uses fortune, fame to boost Miami Gardens residents, area where he was raised -TradeSphere
Rapper Flo Rida uses fortune, fame to boost Miami Gardens residents, area where he was raised
View
Date:2025-04-13 13:20:01
MIAMI -- Rapper Flo Rida is pouring millions of dollars back into the Miami Gardens neighborhood he grew up in.
"I get goose bumps thinking about it," said the 43-year-old hip hop star whose given name is Tramar Lacel Dillard. "I mean it feels like I'm dreaming."
When Flo Rida sang 'Welcome to My House" no one could have guessed that he would ultimately be talking about a $10 million complex that includes the Studio 183 night club, the old Tony's restaurant nearby which will be a comedy club with a roof top lounge and the entire shopping center in the area of NW 2nd Avenue and 183rd Street.
The shopping center is called Cloverleaf, and Flo Rida wears a medallion around his neck as it's symbol.
Most are familiar with the area because of a former bowling alley. For Flo Rida it is located about five miles from where he grew up and is in the same location where he and his mom would run errands.
"Growing up in a less fortunate neighborhood will make you sometimes think that you can't do great things," he said. "But my mom, she always instilled in me that, you know, to God through purpose, you know, to have in faith, you can do anything."
That includes owning a street-corner business and then setting up its executive board to include children who are from the neighborhood so they can learn from his experience.
"We don't want to go too far without giving back," he said. "You know, we have the YFL, which is a football league, where we have over 10,000 kids, and to build a community of faith and community of trust, loyalty, and just giving back. You know, with all due respect, we wanted to do something in our neighborhood versus you know, take it to LA or New York."
Miami Gardens City Councilman Reggie Leon says this also helps future small business owners.
"So, when it comes to now providing leases for these up and coming businesses, this gives them an extra opportunity to be able to work with the community."
The rapper isn't doing this alone.
He now has the help of friends who also grew up on these same streets
Freezy Prince is one of those friends.
"Sixty seconds," he said. "We grew up 60 seconds from here. And we are purchasing plazas, the thing that I never even thought, what 100 years it'd be possible."
Eric 'E-Class' Prince is another partner.
"When we come down 7th Avenue or 441, and 183rd, we want to make our contribution to where we grew up at in Carol City."
Freezy Prince said: "Hip hop 50th anniversary, and we celebrated hip hop 50th anniversary by purchasing this nice plaza in our community."
Speaking of music, Flo Rida is still in the studio. He has a couple of hits out right now and more music on the way.
- In:
- Flo Rida
Tania Francois returned to CBS News Miami in November 2022 as the Executive Producer Impacting Communities or EPIC.
Twitter FacebookveryGood! (75584)
Related
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- 'Cabrini' film tells origin of first US citizen saint: What to know about Mother Cabrini
- What do you get when you cross rodeo with skiing? The wild and wacky Skijoring
- Maple syrup season came weeks early in the Midwest. Producers are doing their best to adapt
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- Special counsel urges judge to reject Trump's efforts to dismiss documents case
- Stephen Colbert skewers 'thirsty' George Santos for attending Biden's State of the Union
- Women’s mini-tour in Florida changes to female-at-birth policy
- 'Most Whopper
- Pentagon study finds no sign of alien life in reported UFO sightings going back decades
Ranking
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- US jobs report for February is likely to show that hiring remains solid but slower
- Biden visiting battleground states and expanding staff as his campaign tries to seize the offensive
- Walmart to expand same-day delivery options to include early morning hours
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- At Northwestern, students watch climate change through maple trees
- Shawn Mendes Announces Return to Stage After Canceling Tour to Prioritize Mental Health
- Trump attorneys post bond to support $83.3 million award to writer in defamation case
Recommendation
San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
In rights landmark, Greek novelist and lawyer are the first same-sex couple wed at Athens city hall
Houston police chief apologizes for department not investigating 264K incident reports
Former US Rep. George Santos, expelled from Congress, says he is running again
The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
Houston police chief apologizes for department not investigating 264K incident reports
Duke-North Carolina clash leads games to watch on final weekend of college basketball season
Who is attending the State of the Union? Here are notable guests for Biden's 2024 address