“My pops was a DJ, so I was always around it,” Floyd begins, while explaining his whole inception into music. “I really became interested when I first heard The Sugar Hill Gang — I was like four or five.”
Hailing from Fitzgerald, Georgia, Floyd grew up on the 1960s and 70s era Jazz, Soul, and Funk sounds that were emitting from his father’s record crates. Even from a very tender age, it was only inevitable that he, too, would one day follow in his dad’s footsteps. “Yeah, that was always in the plans,” he says very matter-of-factly. “Around 1992, 1993 [is when I started to pursue music professionally].”
“I would call it [my style] traditional Hip-Hop music,” Floyd answers, when asked to describe his overall sound and style. “As far as production, I was inspired by cats like Marley Marl, definitely DJ Premier, Pete Rock, DJ Magic Mike, DJ Smurf [today, “Mr. Collipark”], (and) all the DJ [producers].”
On the derivation of his unique monicker, the Locsmif had this offer, “When I first started growing dreads, being from South Georgia you have to have an off beat, down South name.” Reiterating, “Like I had to be a locksmith, and kinda open up the minds of some of these cats from around my area.”
In 2004, Floyd the Locsmif entered the mixtape game with his critically acclaimed, “Outskirts: The Unofficial Lost OutKast Remixes,” which helped set the stage for his anticipated recent follow-up, the instrumental driven, Divine Dezignz #1: Discovery. This well received project garnered the attention of several of his industry friends and peers, thus enabling him the opportunity to work with many of these great MC’s. His impressive clientele already includes Dungeon Family alum, Cee-Lo Green, veteran D.I.T.C. member, O.C., underground fave, J-Live, and up’n’comers, Swamp Headz, Stahhr tha FEMCEE, Sol Uprising, 4IZE, of Disturbing the Peace fame, John Robinson, a.k.a. Lil? Sci, as well as Platinum Pied Pipers? Waajeed, and Mellotone Recordings artist, Fantab, & CYNE. This pletherora of talent has given Floyd resonance in the candy-painted Caddy’s of Georgia, as well as the stereos of the Five Burroughs in New York. The diverse resume reflects the versatility in Floyd’s technique, and perhaps his mass appeal.
His latest release, Divine Dezignz #1.2: Re-Discovered, is in stores now, and his greatest achievement to date has just recently occured. “I had a chance to work with 50 Cent on video game [Bulletproof],” Floyd announces loudly in his usually soft spoken voice. “The song that I did was nominated for a Spike TV video game award, and it won. So, that’s the highlight for this year.” Locsmif’s contribution to Fiddy, “Maybe We Crazy”, took home best original song at this year’s gala. Though not yet a Grammy, the accomplishment serves as a token to Floyd’s hard work, and a momentum of his collaboration with one of Hip-Hop’s biggest names.
“I definitely want to get into writing some movie scores,” Floyd foresees, when asked what’s next for the young aspiring ingenue. Expounding, “I got a label, In The Loop Recordings, so I definitely got a lot of artists around my area that I’m gonna bring to the game. I might even get into the acting thing.” Clearly, Floyd is somebody who constantly challenges himself, and tests a seemingly formidable work-ethic. For 2006, a year that follows such a definitive twelve-months in Floyd Da Locsmif’s life, the Georgian professes, “I see myself becoming a mogul.” With a label, an album, and an award-winning collaboration with the G-Unit mogul, anything’s possible.
