For your after work cocktail: This week Babydaddylicious rapper Flo Rida wraps the production for the music video of "Sugar" on Miami Beach.
I'm looking forward to the video. In addition to enjoying the sights—and who doesn't enjoy seeing a man in white linen pants and ... Ralph Lauren boxer briefs?—there is new respect for Flo Rida after learning he literally "forced" the music video director to cast a black model/actress in the production. The story is blowing up on Facebook and the gossip blogs.
WHEN YOU JUMP, much more Flo Rida and the 411 on the music video shoot.
Atlanta-based gossip blogger Sandra Rose—who first posted these photos—has been following the rampant colorism in hip-hop and rap music videos. Rose published an email from the casting director who reported that although Flo Rida (born Tramar Dillard) personally selected this model, on the morning of the shoot, the director tried to replace her with another actress who was not black. Flo Rida intervened and had to "force" the director to use the sista.
The casting director writes on Facebook: "The producer and the video commissioner came up with the excuse oh we thought she couldn’t get her hair wet so we booked somebody else. Huh? Thank god for BlackBerry and emails. I have mail in my phone confirming that Natasha was ok with getting her hair wet. Its a damn shame that they would go to that extreme to not show a BLACK girl as a beauty object but quick to book them if its a part for a stripper or a whore."
A rapper who doesn't gay bash and stands up for black women. Very easy on the eyes. Who gives out his cell phone number to fans. That works for me.
While we're talking men and the beaches in South Florida ...
Real Story Behind Flo Rida Video Shoot [Sandra Rose]
Afternoon Wood: Flo Rida [Sandra Rose]
You May Enjoy ....
Fresh Squeezed (Orange) Juice From Flo Rida [R20]
Flo Rida Gives His Cell Phone Number to Fans [R20]
Yea. That one.
Keep 'em coming, I'll take me a big ole country man over those pretty boys ANY DAY.
Posted by: Sean B | 16 April 2009 at 18:07
i like this man reminds me of old skool prison trade from the 70s and 80s
even the tacky james brown and sammmy davis tattoos are kinda cute. kinda... lol
Posted by: Earl FF | 16 April 2009 at 18:12
yes, my goodness and u so right Earl FF... a Sugar Daddy, a Long Boy, a Mary Jane, a Chico Stick, and don't forget A Butternut... Land a Mercy... Just a pleathera of good things to place into my mouth. Sorry, I got a lil carried away. CALGON TAKE ME AWAYYYYYYyyyyyyyyyyy!!!
Posted by: tboi | 16 April 2009 at 18:53
Love him, love him, love him. Love these tall and thick MEN on here, Rod. Muah!
Posted by: Alfonse | 16 April 2009 at 23:53
LOL @ tboi.
Now, Calgon with Flo just might be a luxurious experience. And I know Calgon could sell a few boxes if they did a TV ad starring Flo. Unfortunately, if you think having a black woman opposite Flo is too much for a video director, then you know using Flo in a Calgon ad would be WAY outside of the box for Madison Avenue.
Posted by: Jim | 17 April 2009 at 00:38
such beautiful people. looks like they don't have a care in the world down there on SOBE.
Posted by: Chris | 17 April 2009 at 07:47
Thanks for this post Rod. Oh, if only more of our brothers in places of influence would speak up, and demand that our people be shown in a positive light, the industry would turn around. The worse part is how much we've come to accept the exclusion of dark skin sisters from any place considered places of beauty, be it in videos, movies, ads, TV, - where-ever!!! Again, I am moved by this post. peace.
Posted by: Brien | 17 April 2009 at 10:20
Wow I'm lovin' flo rida more and more everyday and to find out he WANTED a black model in his video makes me love him even more. Goes to show you if an artist wants to shake things up and change the status quo; than they can. Oh and the man is Phine!!!
Posted by: xavier | 17 April 2009 at 11:12
A few days ago i was watching Flo Rida on mtv with my housemate who isn't much of a fan and i wouldn't stop gushing about the guy. Not only is he hot(i appreciate a hot bod as much as the next guy) but with Flo Rida its more than that.There's just something about him thats so sweet. He seems like a genuinely nice guy whose really deep.I'd take him home to meet mom in a second.
btw, he came to Malaysia last year and i got to see him live - he's even hotter in person.(yea im african in malaysia..not many of us here)
Posted by: SouLKid | 17 April 2009 at 23:28
i love the song sugar
Posted by: lindsey moreland | 29 April 2009 at 07:07