Flo Milli
Tamia Monique Carter (born January 9, 2000), known professionally as Flo Milli, is an American rapper and songwriter from Mobile, Alabama.[1][2] She began her music career in 2015, initially writing songs as a child, and rose to prominence in 2019 with the viral TikTok hit "Beef FloMix," a remix of K CAMP's "Lottery (Renegade)."[3][4] This breakthrough led to her signing with RCA Records and recognition as part of the 2020 XXL Freshman Class.[1] Flo Milli released her debut mixtape Ho, Why Is You Here? in 2019, followed by her first studio album In the Party in 2021, showcasing her confident, braggadocious style in hip-hop and trap genres.[5] Her second studio album, Fine Ho, Stay, arrived in 2024, featuring the lead single "Never Lose Me," which marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking in the top 40, and reached the top 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[6][7] Remixes of the track with SZA and Cardi B further boosted its streams beyond 900 million worldwide.[8] In 2025, she faced a $1 million copyright infringement lawsuit alleging unauthorized sampling in "Never Lose Me," though the song remained a commercial success.[9] Other notable tracks include "Conceited," "In the Party," and "May I," which highlight her versatile flow and sassy lyricism, earning features from artists like EST Gee and BabyFace Ray.[8] Flo Milli's career has also involved minor public disputes, such as defending a postpartum performance against fan criticism and addressing colorism narratives in media commentary.[10][11]Early life
Childhood and family background
Tamia Monique Carter, known professionally as Flo Milli, was born on January 9, 2000, in Mobile, Alabama, where she spent her early years.[2][12] She was raised primarily by her mother, Monique Danielle, in a household marked by her father's departure when Carter was seven years old.[2] Carter's upbringing involved significant socioeconomic challenges, including poverty, as she has described her family's circumstances in Mobile.[13] This environment, characterized by limited resources and family struggles, contributed to a foundation of self-reliance, with support from her mother and grandmother playing key roles in her early development.[14] The dynamics of being raised by a single mother amid these hardships exposed Carter to the realities of Southern life in Alabama, fostering independence from a young age, though she received limited familial encouragement for creative pursuits initially.[15]Entry into music
Flo Milli began writing songs at the age of nine, developing an early interest in music composition.[16] By age 11, she started rapping and formed an all-female amateur rap group initially named Real & Beautiful with school peers, which later rebranded as Pink Mafia before dissolving around age 14.[1] [17] The group performed informally, including at high school events after persuading administrators, reflecting her initial grassroots approach without professional backing.[1] In 2015, at age 16, she independently released her debut solo single "No Hook" on SoundCloud, self-producing the track amid limited resources and no industry connections.[18] [16] This effort marked her shift from group activities to solo pursuits, emphasizing a do-it-yourself ethos honed through personal experimentation rather than external support or familial ties in entertainment.[19] By 2017, she began accessing professional studios for recordings while continuing to upload tracks to SoundCloud and YouTube, sustaining her independent output prior to any widespread recognition.[2] These early steps underscored a self-reliant trajectory, free from nepotistic advantages, as she built skills through persistent, low-budget creation in Mobile, Alabama.[20]Career
Breakthrough and early releases (2018–2019)
Flo Milli's breakthrough began with the independent release of "Beef FloMix" on SoundCloud in late 2018, a confident freestyle over a beat originally produced for addressing rap conflicts, which showcased her brash lyricism and delivery.[21] The track gained initial traction through organic sharing but exploded in popularity in April 2019 after users on TikTok incorporated it into dance challenges and lip-sync videos, propelling it to millions of streams and views via platform algorithms favoring user-generated content over traditional promotion.[22] An official music video followed on July 24, 2019, further amplifying its reach and establishing Milli as an emerging voice in hip-hop through raw, unpolished authenticity rather than label-backed marketing.[23] Building on this momentum, Milli released the single "In the Party" on October 28, 2019, independently before formal partnerships, which similarly leveraged TikTok virality with its assertive themes of self-assurance and social dominance, amassing over 35 million YouTube views in subsequent years.[24] The song's success highlighted her ability to capitalize on short-form video trends, where snippets of her freestyling drew engagement from audiences responding to her unfiltered persona and merit-driven online interactions, including responses to critics that fueled early buzz without manufactured feuds.[22] These pre-label efforts in 2018–2019 underscored a rise rooted in digital platforms' algorithmic amplification of compelling, independent content, distinguishing her path from established industry pipelines.2019–2021: Ho, Why Is You Here? and rising fame
In early 2019, Flo Milli's single "In the Party," released independently via SoundCloud, gained traction through TikTok virality, amassing nearly 200 million combined streams and views across platforms by mid-year, building on the momentum from her 2018 track "Beef FloMix."[21][25] This grassroots success, driven by user-generated content rather than traditional promotion, underscored her self-directed approach, as she had been honing her craft since age 14 in Mobile, Alabama, including forming a duo with a high school friend and refining skills amid a local scene dominated by male rappers.[26][27] By late 2019, the viral response to her singles led to a recording contract with '94 Sounds, an imprint of RCA Records, marking her transition from independent uploads to label support without prior major industry connections.[21] In July 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, she released her debut mixtape Ho, Why Is You Here? through '94 Sounds and RCA, featuring 12 tracks produced with Southern trap beats emphasizing heavy bass and minimalistic instrumentation, paired with her brash, double-time flows on songs like "Conceited" and "Roaring 20s."[28][29] The project drew praise from outlets for its unapologetic confidence and regional flavor, reflecting years of uncredited "grinding" in college and local freestyles rather than an abrupt breakout narrative.[30] The mixtape's rollout coincided with pandemic restrictions, limiting physical tours after initial 2020 dates were curtailed, yet she maintained visibility through features and digital releases, contributing to sustained streaming growth—Ho, Why Is You Here? surpassing 500 million Spotify plays by 2025, indicative of organic fan accumulation via platforms like TikTok and YouTube.[31][32] In August 2020, she secured an exclusive global publishing deal with Pulse Music Group, further integrating her into industry infrastructure while preserving her independent ethos, as evidenced by her completion of the mixtape through self-motivated productivity during lockdowns.[33] This period solidified her rising profile, with empirical metrics showing consistent monthly listener gains on streaming services despite limited live engagements.[1]2022–2023: You Still Here, Ho? and industry consolidation
Flo Milli released her debut studio album, You Still Here, Ho?, on July 20, 2022, through '94 Sounds and RCA Records, marking a shift toward more structured production compared to her prior mixtape.[34] The 17-track project surprise-dropped two days early, incorporating homages to pop culture moments in its visuals and expanding her sound with fusions of rap, R&B, and pop elements while retaining aggressive, bar-heavy verses rooted in her Southern hip-hop origins.[35] [21] Key single "Conceited," issued on June 16, 2022, exemplifies the album's emphasis on unapologetic self-assurance and realism, with lyrics declaring "Feelin' myself, I'm conceited" over trap-influenced beats that underscore personal empowerment without reliance on external validation.[36] The album features guest appearances from Rico Nasty on the track "Money"—a carryover collaboration from prior work—and Babyface Ray, alongside a spoken intro from Tiffany Pollard, adding layers of interpersonal dynamics and cultural nods to its narrative of persistence in a competitive field.[35] [37] In March 2023, an extended edition expanded the original with four additional tracks, including early-year singles like "Nasty," reinforcing Milli's output momentum amid fluctuating rap trends.[38] Commercially, while the album did not achieve top-tier Billboard 200 placement akin to her 2020 mixtape's No. 46 peak on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, it sustained her visibility through streaming and live engagements.[39] To consolidate her industry standing, Milli toured in support, culminating in the "Thanks for Coming Here, Ho" headline run, with a November 9, 2023, performance at The Masquerade in Atlanta highlighting sustained fan engagement as she navigated label-backed releases over viral hype dependency.[40] This period positioned her as a viable mid-tier act, prioritizing lyrical consistency and brand expansion into fashion intersections for long-term viability in a landscape favoring transient sounds.[41]2024–2025: Fine Ho, Stay, motherhood, and recent singles
In March 2024, Flo Milli released her third studio album, Fine Ho, Stay, through RCA Records, marking a shift toward a more expansive pop-rap sound incorporating trap elements and high-profile collaborations.[42] The project debuted with the lead single "Never Lose Me" on November 30, 2023, which achieved viral success on TikTok and amassed over 100 million streams on Spotify by mid-2024, bolstered by remixes featuring SZA and Cardi B released in March 2024.[43][44] Album tracks like "Fine Ho, Stay" and features from artists such as Bryson Tiller expanded her lyrical focus on self-assurance and relational dynamics, contributing to sustained chart performance amid her evolving personal circumstances.[45] Flo Milli announced her pregnancy in late November 2024 via Instagram posts showcasing a visible baby bump, captioned with references to embracing "Flo Mommy" status, following earlier rumors sparked by a viral clip in mid-November.[46] She gave birth to her first child, a boy named Sixx, on April 25, 2025, with boyfriend and rapper G6reddot, sharing the news alongside photos emphasizing family priorities while signaling no career pause.[47][48] Despite medical advice against it, she performed live shows up to nine months pregnant, including a March 13, 2025, concert she described as her final pre-labor appearance, and resumed touring days after delivery, directly countering expectations of extended maternity leave in the industry.[49][50] Post-birth, Flo Milli maintained output with the single "Perfect Person" featuring Coop on August 22, 2025, which interpolated Hoobastank's "The Reason" and peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, driven by 15 million initial streams reflecting unbroken fan loyalty.[51][52] This release, alongside persistent Fine Ho, Stay streams exceeding 200 million album equivalents by October 2025, demonstrated how her choice to integrate motherhood without halting promotions—via social media updates and selective engagements—sustained momentum, as evidenced by a 20% uptick in monthly listeners on platforms like Spotify during the pregnancy period.[53] Her approach prioritized professional continuity, yielding data points like sold-out postpartum shows and collaborative singles that outperformed industry averages for artists in similar life stages.[54]Musical style and influences
Artistic influences
Flo Milli has cited neo-soul artists Jill Scott and Erykah Badu as foundational influences from her childhood in Mobile, Alabama, where she also absorbed Southern rap elements through local exposure and figures like Young Thug.[1] [55] Her earliest rap inspirations included Young Thug as her first favorite rapper, followed closely by Nicki Minaj, whose performances on BET's 106 & Park prompted Milli to begin rapping at age 11 after forming a short-lived girl group.[18] [20] This blend of soulful roots and hip-hop drive shaped her self-taught approach, learned primarily by studying music videos from BET and MTV programming during her formative years.[55] Additional rap influences encompass Trina, Lil Kim, Missy Elliott, Lil Wayne, and MC Lyte, whom she regards as icons for their commanding presence and stylistic innovation in female-led hip-hop.[1] [56] [57] Milli has highlighted Missy Elliott's pervasive impact, noting in a 2022 interview that she perceives Elliott's influence "everywhere" and continues to study her work.[58] Tracks like Keri Hilson's "Pretty Girl Rock" (2010) and Missy Elliott's "Work It" (2002) directly informed her early creative process, as shared in a 2022 Red Bull feature.[59] Broader pop elements from artists like Shakira and Kesha also factored into her versatile sound, reflecting a rejection of genre silos in favor of adaptive, authentic emulation drawn from these diverse sources.[60]Lyrical themes and production style
Flo Milli's lyrics recurrently feature female bravado and self-assured dominance, portraying the artist as commanding authority over romantic partners, critics, and rivals through combative declarations that reject subservience or apology.[61][62] In tracks like "Bed Time," she dismisses detractors with direct challenges, emphasizing unshakable confidence derived from personal agency rather than external validation.[63] Materialism emerges as a core motif, with references to wealth accumulation and luxury as markers of success and independence, aligning with an entrepreneurial ethos that frames financial self-sufficiency as empowerment.[64] Relationship dynamics often highlight transactional elements and selective vulnerability, critiquing dependency through explicit warnings against emotional investment without reciprocity, which underscores an anti-victimhood stance by promoting resilience and strategic detachment over narratives of perpetual grievance.[4][65] Her production style draws heavily from trap conventions, characterized by punchy 808 bass lines, sparse hi-hat patterns, and minimalistic synths that prioritize rhythmic drive over orchestral complexity, fostering a raw, confrontational energy suited to her delivery.[66] Early SoundCloud releases exhibited unpolished aesthetics—DIY mixing with lo-fi elements and amateur beats—reflecting grassroots origins before her 2019 RCA signing elevated sessions to professional standards, incorporating cleaner layering and melodic trap flourishes for broader commercial appeal. This evolution is evident in refined track structures that maintain trap's propulsive minimalism while adding subtle vocal effects and polished drops, as heard in post-label output.[21] Empirical streaming data supports the causal link between her unfiltered, direct lyrical approach and audience retention: "Never Lose Me" amassed over 536 million Spotify streams by October 2025, with sustained weekly figures exceeding 17 million U.S. streams during peak chart runs, correlating to its repetitive hooks and bravado-driven replayability.[53][67] Similarly, the "Rodeo" remix surpassed 344 million streams, driven by explicit relational critiques that resonated via TikTok virality, achieving multi-week No. 1 status on platform charts and indicating listener preference for content eschewing softened platitudes in favor of candid realism.[53][68] These metrics, tracked via Luminate and Spotify analytics, highlight how her rejection of dependency-themed euphemisms sustains engagement over formulaic empowerment tropes.[69]Personal life
Relationships and family
Flo Milli, born Tamia Monique Carter on January 9, 2000, in Mobile, Alabama, was raised primarily by her mother, Monique Danielle, following her parents' divorce when she was four years old and her father's departure from the family when she was seven.[2] Limited public information exists regarding siblings or extended family members, as Milli has maintained a low profile on these aspects of her personal life, consistent with her emphasis on self-reliance shaped by her upbringing.[1] In her public statements, Milli has credited her mother's hard work as a single parent with instilling values of independence and resilience, influencing her approach to personal and professional challenges.[70] Prior to 2025, details of Milli's romantic history remained unconfirmed beyond industry speculation, with no verified long-term relationships disclosed.[71] On March 17, 2025, Milli revealed her relationship with Florida-based rapper G6 Reddot (born Joshua Baker), confirming him as her boyfriend and the father of her forthcoming child during a baby shower event.[72] [48] This marked the first public acknowledgment of a committed partnership, though specifics on the relationship's duration or origins were not elaborated upon in contemporaneous reports.[73]Pregnancy and postpartum decisions
Flo Milli announced her pregnancy on November 25, 2024, via Instagram posts featuring selfies that displayed her baby bump, following earlier rumors sparked by a viral clip in mid-November.[46][74] Throughout her pregnancy, she maintained an active performance schedule, including a concert in March 2025 at nine months gestation, which she later described as her final show before labor despite medical advice to the contrary.[49] The father was identified as rapper G6reddot during a baby shower event on March 18, 2025.[75] She gave birth to their son, named Sixx, on April 25, 2025, and shared photos of the newborn on social media shortly thereafter.[54][76] Eight days postpartum, on May 3, 2025, Milli performed at the RiverBeat Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee, delivering a set that included hits from her catalog amid her ongoing release of singles.[77][50] She publicly affirmed this decision as an exercise of personal choice, emphasizing her physical readiness and commitment to professional obligations without reported complications or health setbacks in subsequent accounts.[78] In later reflections, Milli described motherhood as exceeding expectations and motivating a heightened focus on her music career, crediting it with enhancing her productivity and lyrical depth during 2025 releases.[79][80] No empirical evidence from medical or professional records indicated adverse outcomes from her rapid postpartum return to work, aligning with her stated prioritization of individual circumstances over generalized norms.[81]Public image and reception
Critical and commercial reception
Flo Milli's single "Never Lose Me," released on November 30, 2023, marked her commercial breakthrough, debuting at number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually peaking at number 15 after 14 weeks on the chart.[82] The track's virality on TikTok propelled it to number 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart, driven by organic user-generated content rather than paid promotion.[83] It achieved RIAA Platinum certification for 1,000,000 units in the United States by March 25, 2024, following an initial Gold certification in February after just two months.[84] By October 2025, the song had amassed over 536 million streams on Spotify alone.[53] Her debut studio album Fine Ho, Stay, released in March 2024, debuted at number 54 on the Billboard 200 with 16,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, marking her highest-charting full-length project and peaking at the same position while reaching number 20 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[85] The album's streaming performance was stronger, accumulating over 643 million Spotify streams by late 2025, though traditional sales remained modest compared to digital metrics.[31] Earlier releases like the 2020 mixtape Ho, Why Is You Here? built foundational buzz through viral singles but did not achieve comparable chart peaks, highlighting a trajectory reliant on streaming and social platforms over physical or pure sales dominance.[39] Critics have praised Flo Milli's authenticity, confident flow, and evolving lyrical vulnerability, with Fine Ho, Stay described by Rolling Stone as her "rawest yet," maintaining a self-assured stride while delving into romantic themes, and positioned as the strongest in her trilogy of projects.[86] Billboard highlighted her "fully-realized style and unforgettable bars" from early work like Ho, Why Is You Here?, crediting her rapid rise to distinctive rap delivery.[29] The mixtape earned placement on Rolling Stone's list of the 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time in 2022 for its bold execution. However, some reviewers noted limitations, such as Vulture's assessment of Ho, Why Is You Here? as an "imperfect debut" where certain tracks over-relied on "naïve brags," potentially limiting depth amid its explicit, confrontational style.[87] Pitchfork observed her no-holds-barred bravado but implied a stylistic consistency that borders on formulaic in boast-heavy content.[88] These critiques contrast with broader acclaim for her unapologetic persona, which RapReviews framed as empowering through themes of sexual agency, though potentially polarizing due to its explicitness.[89]Controversies and defenses
In May 2025, Flo Milli faced backlash for performing at the RiverBeat Music Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, approximately one week after announcing the birth of her son, Sixx, on April 28, 2025.[90][50] Critics on social media accused her of neglecting motherhood responsibilities, with some questioning her postpartum recovery and implying the performance prioritized career over family bonding.[91][92] In response, Milli posted on X (formerly Twitter) defending her autonomy, stating, "God forbid a girl just wanna feel like herself," and rejecting external dictates on women's timelines for returning to work after childbirth.[93][10] She emphasized that her decisions involved family support and personal agency, countering the criticism as unwarranted guilt-tripping rather than genuine concern, with no evidence of harm to her child reported.[94] Earlier in her career, Milli engaged in rap feuds typical of the genre's competitive dynamics, such as diss tracks and public spats, which she framed as standard assertions of dominance rather than personal vendettas. Her 2019 track "Beef FloMix" directly addressed perceived rivals and detractors, establishing a brash style that dismisses critics as irrelevant to her success.[95] In a 2022 Vulture interview, she candidly admitted to past fistfights from her Alabama upbringing, recounting them as youthful conflicts resolved without escalation into legal issues, positioning such experiences as formative rather than indicative of ongoing pathology.[96] These admissions drew minimal sustained outrage, aligning with rap's tradition of raw storytelling, where Milli maintained that audience reception—evidenced by streaming metrics and sold-out shows—validates her approach over stylistic purism.[96] Critiques of Milli's lyrics as "problematic" for their explicit themes of confrontation, sexuality, and materialism have surfaced periodically, often from outlets imposing external moral frameworks on hip-hop expression. Milli has rebutted such views by highlighting listener agency, arguing in interviews that fans engage voluntarily and that her unfiltered content reflects lived realities without coercing behavior.[62] No legal repercussions have arisen from these feuds or admissions, with her career trajectory—bolstered by hits like "Never Lose Me" peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023—demonstrating empirical fan endorsement over adversarial noise.[97] A June 2025 copyright infringement lawsuit alleging unauthorized use of a 2019 beat in "Never Lose Me" remains unresolved, seeking $1 million from Milli and collaborators, but lacks prior adjudication of infringement.[9][98]Discography
Studio albums and mixtapes
Flo Milli's early releases were distributed independently via SoundCloud, where she uploaded freestyles and singles like "Beef FloMix" in 2018 and "In the Party" in 2019, building viral momentum prior to label affiliation.[99] She signed with '94 Sounds and RCA Records thereafter, transitioning to formal projects. Her debut mixtape, Ho, Why Is You Here?, compiling prior SoundCloud material into a 12-track collection, was released commercially on July 24, 2020.[100] It debuted and peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[39] You Still Here, Ho?, her first studio album, was issued on July 20, 2022, via the same imprints, consisting of 14 tracks in standard edition.[21] This marked her initial foray into full-length studio production under major-label distribution. Her sophomore studio album, Fine Ho, Stay, followed on March 15, 2024, with 14 tracks emphasizing polished rap delivery.[101] It debuted at number 54 on the Billboard 200, selling 16,000 equivalent units in its first week, and number 20 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[85]| Title | Type | Release date | Label(s) | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ho, Why Is You Here? | Mixtape | July 24, 2020 | '94 Sounds, RCA | US R&B/HH: 46[39] |
| You Still Here, Ho? | Studio album | July 20, 2022 | '94 Sounds, RCA | — |
| Fine Ho, Stay | Studio album | March 15, 2024 | '94 Sounds, RCA | US: 54, US R&B/HH: 20[85] |
Notable singles and collaborations
"Beef FloMix," Flo Milli's 2019 remix of Ethereal's "Beef" featuring Playboi Carti, emerged as her initial viral hit, amassing millions of streams and video views through organic social media dissemination.[102] "Never Lose Me," released November 30, 2023, marked Flo Milli's chart debut on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 37 and achieved top 10 status on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, driven by TikTok virality that propelled it to number one on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 for four consecutive weeks as of February 2024.[6][67] The single secured RIAA Gold certification within two months of release in February 2024 and later Platinum, supported by over 536 million Spotify streams and 41.7 million YouTube visualizer views.[103][53][104] Subsequent remixes featuring SZA and Cardi B amplified its streaming gains.[105] In August 2025, Flo Milli released "Perfect Person" featuring Coop on August 22, a single characterized by its witty lyrics and prominent sample integration, accompanied by an official music video.[106] Notable collaborations include Flo Milli's feature on Tate McRae's "bloodonmyhands" from the album So Close to What, released February 21, 2025, which accumulated 86 million Spotify streams.[107] She also appeared on tracks with artists like Gunna in shared playlists highlighting crossover appeal, though specific joint releases emphasize platform-driven exposure.[108]Awards and nominations
Major accolades
Flo Milli was named to the 2021 XXL Freshman Class, an annual list highlighting promising hip-hop artists based on their rising influence and output.[109] This recognition positioned her alongside contemporaries such as 42 Dugg, Pooh Shiesty, and Coi Leray, affirming her breakthrough via viral singles and mixtapes. Her commercial success is evidenced by multiple Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certifications, which denote verified units sold or streamed in the U.S. market. Key certifications include:| Single | Certification | Date Certified | Units (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "In the Party" | Gold | January 2021 | 0.5 |
| "Beef FloMix" (remix) | Gold | 2021 | 0.5 |
| "Conceited" | Gold | 2022 | 0.5 |
| "Never Lose Me" | Platinum | March 2024 | 1.0 |