Phil was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up playing sports and was a natural athlete, but he chose a different path. He stumbled onto his love of fitness by accident when he started his own fitness journey to transform his own body and to combat his depression.  Phil became a certified personal trainer in 2008 at Cater 2 U Fitness Center and later entered the world of bodybuilding in 2009-2011. 

Phil’s love for fitness continued to grow, as well as his trials and tribulations. In March 2013, Phil stepped out on faith and opened his own gym, Naturally Gifted Fitness Center located in Cleveland Heights, OH. This is where the idea for Xtreme Hip Hop was born.  Members of the gym wanted a step class, but he couldn’t keep a step instructor. Phil decided to embark on the journey of teaching the step class himself, but his first order of business was to find music that motivated him to move, and that’s exactly what he did.