Patrick Decker, better known to German gangsta rap fans as Fler, was born on the western outskirts of Berlin. Decker's hip-hop dreams came late: he didn't rap at all before the age of 20. Pursuing hip-hop rather than criminal activity, Decker was first heard as a guest artist on Bushido recordings, under the name Franc White in 2002. A year later, he signed to Aggro Berlin, Germany's premier gangsta rap record label. Under the name Fler, the artist released his first single in 2004, called "Aggroberlina," which debuted in the Top 100 on national charts. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez