- Flo Rida is launching his own energy drink, JettSet1.
- This is after the rapper successfully sued energy drink brand Celsius for $82.6 million.
Flo Rida is celebrating winning his lawsuit against the energy drink brand Celsius by popping open a can of his own rival drink.
In January, the "Right Round" rapper, whose real name is Tramar Dillard, was awarded $82.6 million after a South Florida jury found Celsius guilty of breaching the terms of an endorsement deal that ran between 2014 and 2018.
The jury found that the 43-year-old star was not compensated properly for helping introduce Celsius to "millions around the world."
Flo's drink, which is called JettSet1, is a lightly carbonated energy drink made with all-natural ingredients. It is expected to begin retailing in the first quarter of 2024.
"Coming from the success of Celsius, when they had no name and the marketing was very little, I took that product and I took it worldwide," Flo told Insider exclusively. "This is the thing that we wanna do with JettSet1."
"I already know the field," he added. "Celsius is great, but at the same time, we want to take something and make it even greater, even healthier."
To be launched through Flo's newly-founded JettSet1 Enterprises, the drink is, according to co-founder Dr. George Tabi, made with only "healthy, responsible ingredients" and is designed to help consumers "get the best out of their immune system."
"Everyone knows me as a guy who works out. You look at my music videos like 'Good Feeling' and they are a reflection of me and my healthy lifestyle," said Flo. "That's what we want JettSet1 to be."
"To see me go to trial and be very disruptive in that field, it's just really organic to my lifestyle. I mean, who would you believe in? Someone who lives the lifestyle but doesn't know anything about business? Or vice versa? I know the business and I live the lifestyle."
While JettSet1 promises to be healthy, JettSet1 Enterprises co-founder Erik Hicks told Insider the drink will "taste better than every energy drink on the market," including Logan Paul and KSI's Prime, and The Rock's Zoa Energy.
To create JettSet1's flavor, Flo and his team partnered with Dolce Foglia, a flavoring company led by Ed Vanderloo, who previously worked for PepsiCo. The drink will only be available in its "original" flavor to start, but further flavors are to follow.
"Essentially you want something that almost tastes like you're drinking your favorite soda, but with all healthy ingredients," Hicks told Insider. "So we have a really, really great blend."
"We put a lot of emphasis on the taste," he added. "People are going to be very surprised."
As well as launching JettSet1, Flo Rida is also back in the studio working on new music.
"Let me tell you something, I got some super amazing records coming out," the "Low" rapper, whose last studio album, "Wild Ones," released in 2012, said. "I'm one of those guys who always does nostalgia, just like the 'Right Round' record. I've got a new record coming called 'What a Night.' You know the Frankie Valli record? It samples that."
"During the pandemic, I got a chance to do a lot of music," Flo added. "So right now I'm gonna give you guys the best of the best. I've got some awesome collaborations coming."
Speaking of collaborations, Flo has previously worked with some of the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B, including T-Pain, Akon, and Ne-Yo.
Working with Timbaland, who produced and featured on his platinum-selling 2008 hit "Elevator," he said was the pick of the bunch.
"Working with Timbaland, just being such a huge fan of his and watching what he's done with the likes of Jay-Z and Missy Elliott and others, he just blew me away," he said. "Just to get in the studio and see his passion."
Collaborating with Lil Wayne on 2008's "Just Know Dat" and 2012's "Let It Roll (Part 2)" was also a highlight for Flo.
"His work ethic, you know, is crazy," he said. "Like, man, he's took everything that everybody else has done and just taken it to the moon."
Despite his praise for Wayne, however, Flo doesn't think the "A Milli" star is the greatest rapper of all time. Instead, he agrees with Billboard magazine that the title belongs to Jay-Z.
Jay was named No. 1 by Billboard in its recently published 50 greatest rappers of all time list. Lil Wayne came in at No. 7.
"I think at this point, and what Jay-Z has done, if you're talking musically, he's a phenomenon. If you're talking about business, he's a phenomenon," Flo said.
"Myself, I'm a big fan of Tupac and Biggie. Those guys, even Jay-Z, I'm pretty sure he's been inspired by them. But I think with what Jay-Z and his team have accomplished, you know, I'd give it to him from that aspect."