Des Moines, Iowa. A city musically dominated by country and rock. A city where hip-hop never had a voice. Until now.
J-FLo is a 19 year old rapper coming from Des Moines' south side neighborhood, known as, "The Bottoms." He first emerged into the local hip-hop scene when he dropped his first full length mixtape, "Tha Iowa Takeover Vol. 1" on May 13th of 2009. This, though, was not the beginning of, what is now becoming, a full forced movement in the capital city of Iowa.
J-FLo was born Jordan Rand on October 1st, 1992. As a toddler and in his early years, he was introduced to many different styles of music, dominantly, rock/metal. When he was 9 years old, he formed his first musical interest after trying to start a rock band, being the lead singer, after his idol, local Des Moines' metal legend, Corey Taylor.
He didn't first take his interest into hip-hop music until he was introduced to Bizzy Bone's "The Gift" album from his older brother, and later, musical mentor, Solo. It wasn't until he heard Nas' 2002 song, "One Mic" that back then, "Jordan Da Man" began to write rhymes on paper and began his first bold steps into the hip-hop world in which he lives in today.
J-FLo first released music was a possibility after Solo and his best friend, D-Lo purchased recording equipment and began recording songs out of their home build studio in J-FLo & Solo's parents garage. He would listen all night to them recording and would watch Solo mix the music on Pro Tools LE 7.
In 2006, after dropping the name "Jordan Da Man," and "JT Da Truth," he released his first EP entitled "Project 1" under the name "J-FLo." He shortly after, began working on "Project 2" in the winter of 2007 while on vacation to Houston, Tx. The project was never finished.
Then, in winter of 2008, something happened that would mark a change in J-FLo's musical career forever. He and best friend, Kody Hawbaker started a rap group, later known as Dem FLo Boys. Dem FLo Boys began recording tracks in early 2008 on a Logitech USB headset in J-FLo's bedroom closet. Releasing only 5 songs, the group later broke up, only to re-emerge later.
With J-FLo continuing his path in music, he then began working on his mixtape, Tha Iowa Takeover. Followed by short length, "ReiNCaRNaTeD." With ambitions fading, and help from longtime friend John Gillard, he recorded the project that would change his career forever and make him a force known in local hip-hop... He released The Leak on October 13th, 2009.
With great success from The Leak, he moved quickly into his next EP, The Leak V2, containing many of his best work to-date.
Announcing that he was going to begin working on his first official album, "N.A.S.A. : Prepare For Flight" he began composing the mixtape that would long go down in Iowa's history. He proved that like the name of this mixtape, that he would make it. He proved that Anything Is Possible.
Now, in 2012, J-FLo has his eyes set where it all started.. put Des Moines, Iowa on the map for good. Founding InKredibleENT, he plans to do just that. Expect great things from this young star in the future.
