HOT GALLERY: LMFAO: Looking at the Dance-Party Gurus’ Rise to Music Dominance!

It's clear even at a young age how close Sky Blu was with his family. Here we see him kissing his grandfather, music mogul Berry Gordy. Little did anyone know that the combination of music and family would dominate his life so profoundly yet allow him to have so much fun making loads of money and adding to the Gordy fortune. Sometimes it is all in the genes!

Before DJ Redfoo party rocked, he was a normal kid in the Palisades, playing tennis and basketball and skateboarding. Here he’s just adorable tween Stefan Gordy, posing with his buddy actress Christine Lakin of Step by Step. He looks... preppy!

It’s apparent young Stefan Gordy is already testing the waters with his wild hairdo in this beta version. Christine Lakin, his friend, looks like she wholeheartedly approves of the aspiring entertainer, even in this suburban setting.

Back when Stefan Gordy didn’t look like a party rocker but a clean-cut Pali High student, he was friends with will.i.am, who would eventually join the Black Eyed Peas. Redfoo produced the Peas’ first demo in his home studio. It was only a matter of time before he would realize his true potential.

LMFAO started in 2006. It was their grandmother who came up with the duo’s name. Originally they called themselves Sexe Dudes, but she felt LMFAO sounded far better. They might not have been LOL-ing while attending “A Very Sexy Halloween” back in 2007 in Vegas while showing off with Paris Hilton with their original name.

By 2009 at this Z100 Zootopia appearance, Redfoo and his nephew Sky Blu (yes they are related!) already have their brilliant marketing down as they flash their very expensive ($25/pair) underpants! Want a pair? Buy them here. At this appearance, they headlined with acts including the Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, the All American Rejects, and Flo Rida. How did they learn what it's like to be and act successful? Sky Blu credits their early exposure to all the Motown rock 'n' roll greats their grandfather knew. When you have legends like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Rick James setting performance examples, it’s hard to go wrong. Professionally.

It’s only fitting that LMFAO appear at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, considering their increasing popularity among the MTV crowd. We bet it won't be long before these two come up with their version of a Spice Girls movie, with loads of party rocking. Their music has appeared in popular commercials for the Kia Soul and a special Christmas NBA Budweiser spot. We’re surprised there isn’t a reality show yet. Is there such a thing as overexposure in Hollywood?

Spending so much time in Vegas clubs in their earlier years inspired both these guys to live in Vegas—at least part-time. Sky Blu appears monthly as a DJ at the Wynn, while Redfoo resides at Marquee at the Cosmopolitan. That way, they can truly party rock, baby! You have to wonder if all that Veuve Clicquot inspired one of their newer hits, “Champagne Showers.”

LMFAO arrives, making a spectacle as they always do, in their own line of clothing. They decided early on to brand themselves, learning how to create logos for their shirts using Photoshop, designing and creating a look that no fan could possibly forget. And they make money at it. Fans buy their stuff and wear their ‘gear’ to LMFAO performances. Their “Party Rock Anthem” video was nominated for the Best Choreography category, but Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls)” video won.

LMFAO performs in pseudo-superhero costumes along with Far East Movement for 97.1 AMP Radio’s Halloween costume party to combat breast cancer for two charities: Stand Up to Cancer and Breakaway from Cancer. In honor of the occasion, you can see they went shirtless.

If you’re wondering how close Justin Bieber and LMFAO are these days, Redfoo tweeted him a birthday wish via YouTube on his Twitter feed. Bieber appeared in the first number of their closing act, “Party Rock Anthem.” This is a long way from when they were doing songs at the beginning of their career for the reality shows Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami (“I’m in Miami, B*tch”—their first best-selling hit) and Jersey Shore (“Get Crazy”—which might as well reflect every cast member’s life choice on the show). They were nominated for the Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group category, but Maroon 5 won.

Last November, LMFAO closed the American Music Awards with two of their biggest hits, “Party Rock Anthem” and “Sexy and I Know It.” Within three years of their start, they had an entire audience of their peers rocking out to their songs with a crowning moment at the very end of the performance when TV icon (and pop star in Germany) David Hasselhoff appeared onstage, ripping off his pants and wiggling with the best of them. I wonder how many fans bought the smiley face underpants that Redfoo and Hasselhoff stripped down to. If you need them to make yourself sexy, feel free to add to their small fortune and buy a pair.

Fun fact: Sky Blu dropped out of high school and never got his GED, something he doesn’t regret in the least. And it looks like it hasn’t hurt him one bit. Neither Sky Blu nor Redfoo believe in rules, which suits LMFAO just fine. They made it to the Super Bowl halftime show, singing and dancing with Madonna. They learned from Kayne West that it’s good to make a spectacle whenever you appear in a public performance. They certainly did that with Madonna, who learned their signature shuffle. After touring with Ke$ha last year, LMFAO will be embarking on their first headliner world tour this year.