Dubbed “the Freestyle King” by DJ Screw, Houston rapper Lil’ Flip was among the artists who helped to popularize Southern hip-hop in the early ’00s. • Lil’ Flip gained prominence in Houston’s underground freestyle and battle-rap scene before signing his first record deal with Suckafree Records in 1999. He released his debut album, The Leprechaun, in 2000. • The rapper caught the attention of Houston’s DJ Screw, who made him a member of his Screwed Up Click collective. • In 2002, Lil’ Flip landed a deal with Columbia Records and released his major label debut, Undaground Legend, which cracked the Top 5 of Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. • His third album, 2004’s U Gotta Feel Me, includes the hits “Game Over (Flip)” and “Sunshine,” featuring singer Lea. The latter peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains the biggest hit of his career. • He’s released a series of independent albums since leaving Columbia in 2007. In 2014, he authored a book titled Don't Let The Music Industry Fool You!