Rodney Toole (born June 25, 1985) better known by his stage name Hot Rod or Young Hot Rod, is an American rapper and singer, who is signed to G-Note Records, which is a subsidiary label of 50 Cent's G-Unit Records. Early life: Raised in Sacramento, California until the age of 20, Hot Rod worked as mortgage broker until spotted by the G-Unit boss 50 Cent, who signed him to his label in 2006. Hot Rod would send his homemade demo CD to 50 Cent's G-Unit office's in hope the record label would sign him. After 50 Cent heard the CD he thought that Hot Rod's easy flow reminded him of his own. It was December 2005 when the 20-year-old rapper received a call at his day job as a mortgage broker, and it wasn't from any random G-Unit associate but 50 Cent himself., Hot Rod started in hip-hop as a teenager in the late '90s, making beats. "When my pops made me his assistant music engineer at the church. That's when I realized my passion for music," he reflects, "I've always had it in my blood so there was no stopping me from that point on". Music Style: Hot Rod's music style has varied over his career, his first single "Be Easy" which featured Mary J. Blige, was of the Hip hop/Rap genre, but it later changed when touring over in Europe. He said this about his new style of music, "I've enhanced my style to something more worldwide. I have records that are 130bpm, great dance records". Since joining G-Unit Records, Hot Rod has stayed touring and performing in over 20 countries. "My musical ear has expanded. Now the music I make is incredible and I can't wait to unleash it to the world," also he said, "the music I'm currently making is something that you wouldn't expect from a G-Unit artist and it's helping me stand on my own two feet, Its definitely a good way to brand myself as an artist with my own sound." Solo career: Hot Rod released his first single in August 2006, called "Be Easy" which featured R&B singer Mary J. Blige under the labels G-Unit / Interscope. The single failed to gain any major chart success and therefore he was dropped from the label Interscope in late 2006. After not realising any singles since, anticipation had been building up for his following. Hot Rod was the first of various rappers to host the Digital Dynasty series. 2010 - Present: "My Life": On December 16, 2010 after four years of waiting Hot Rod released his second ever single, and first single called "Dance With Me" off his upcoming album called "My Life". This was the first single ever to be released under the newly formed under G-Note Records / G-Unit Records label. In an interview with vibe magazine Hot Rod revealed that his album, which is called "My Life", is slated for a summer 2011 release date. He also stated that he had been working with producers such as David Guetta, Akon and Pharrell. Hot Rod has been recording music for his debut album, which was previously called "Fast Lane", since he had signed with G-Unit in 2006. Hot Rod tweeted that he was working with Snoop Dogg on his album. In early 2011, a preview of Hot Rod's second single off the album, which is also called "My Life", leaked onto the internet.

Source: Wikipedia

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