Flii Stylz

Flii Stylz has been a multitalented entertainer all his life. Born Anwar Burton in Oakland, CA, Flii started dancing at the age of four with no particular influence or idol. Living his youngest years in the ghettos of East Oakland at 92nd and Sunnyside, opportunity was rare. At the age of five, he competed in his first dance competition taking 3rd place against competitors three to four times his age. After winning that competition and earning his first check from entertaining ($75.00), he gained even more of his family's support. He continued to polish his talent and nurture his love for hip-hop. Suffering from the effects of a broken home, he and his mother moved in with his oldest sister in Richmond, CA. Richmond is a rough small town in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area (known for Coach Carter and Master P). Flii was raised in the central area of Richmond, the place he calls "home". His career as a rap artist started at the age of twelve when he and his best friend, Larry "Lil Larry" Olden, were placed in a 24-track recording studio by Michael "Dap" Daniel. Michael was the first to recognize the talent in Flii and generated his first opportunity. Soon after, he met Walt Liquor of Liquor Barrel Management. Walt put Flii into the studio to record more songs and introduced him to the Bay Area indie rap scene where he began to develop his skills as a world-class artist alongside groups like Hieroglyphics and Mystic Journeymen. It was not until his 8th grade year at Helms Junior High that he met Anthony Talauega. They became good friends through lunchtime talks, their common love for hip-hop music, and junior high freestyle ciphers. Anthony's older brother "Rich" was attending Richmond High at the time. Richmond Talauega is one the founders of the hip-hop crew Housing Authority. They asked Flii to come to Shields-Reid Community Center in north Richmond and bust out for the crew. They loved his style and made him one of the last to be accepted. By his freshman year in high school he was touring the school district with Housing Authority. During Flii's 9th grade year, three of the ten members left the crew, two by choice and one murdered. The seven that were left went on to create a legacy in the Bay Area that has never been duplicated. Flii and his crew wrecked shop in premier Bay Area nightclubs like: Zanzabar, Va Mamas Kitchen, The Upper Room, Toons and more. Fast forward to today's Flii Stylz is still counting beats and turning heads. He was recently awarded the American Choreography Award for pop-star Usher's hit "You Don't Have to Call" and Missy Elliot's "Pass That Dutch". Flii also co-wrote, and co-starred in Usher's "Rhythm City Vol. 1: Caught Up". Never one to slouch on the mic, Flii also keeps his bars up by pumping out tracks. Collaborations with Will.I.Am from multi-platinum supergroup The Black Eyed Peas, soul singer Martin Luther, and Grammy nominated rapper Planet Asia have kept him sharp and on the minds of the hip-hop community. His most recent work as the lyrical voice of the Krump movement in David LaChapelle"s breakthrough documentary "Rize" is sure to push him to the forefront of the rap game. In the meantime, Flii Stylz's star continues to Rize. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.