Miami’s music scene has brought hip hop some of its brightest stars. With the path blazed by artists like Rick Ross and Flo Rida, new artist Billy Blue is hoping to bring that same fire to the game – and he has a story to tell. His machine gun flow mixed with his gritty – and very real lyrics – make him a fortified contender to keep the fire burning in the South.

Born Pedritho Dorsonne in New Rochelle, NY to Haitian immigrants, Billy Blue’s stage name came from his many trials and tribulations while growing up. His life story sounds more like a movie script than real life; the promising artist signed to Interscope through a joint venture with Poe Boy Entertainment, Akon’s Konvict Music and Timbaland’s Mosely Music Group has lived a dangerously fast and mostly tragic lifestyle. In fact, he would say music saved his life.

At the formative age of 10, Blue’s mother passed away. This life changing occurrence would lead to his first nickname – Blue. Never really finding joy in school or with friends once she passed, his schoolmates quickly named him “Blue” because he was always sad. When she died, he and his two sisters assumed they would live with their father, but their dad had other plans. Instead of taking in his own flesh and blood, he transferred his estranged wife’s social security checks to his sister in North Miami and shuffled his kin to reside with her and her two sons. This was the beginning of a long nightmare for Billy.