This article is about the musician. For the musician's self-titled album, see Flavor Flav (album).
| Flavor Flav |
Flavor Flav performing at the Bilbao Urban Musikaldia, Vista Alegre bullring on October 8, 2006 |
| Background information |
| Birth name |
William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. |
| Also known as |
Flav
MC DJ Flavor Flav.
|
| Born |
March 16, 1959 (1959-03-16) (age 49)[1] |
| Genre(s) |
Hip-hop |
| Occupation(s) |
Rapper |
| Instrument(s) |
Vocals, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Saxophone, Clarinet, Drums, Triangle [2] |
| Years active |
1983 - present |
| Associated acts |
Public Enemy
Chuck D
Professor Griff
DJ Lord
Terminator X
Sister Souljah
S1W |
William Jonathan Drayton Jr. (born March 16, 1959), better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an African-American rapper, television star, and member of the politically and socially conscious rap group Public Enemy. His visual trademark is an oversized clock hanging from his neck.
After falling out of the public eye for a number of years, he has recently reappeared as the star of several VH1 reality series, including The Surreal Life, Strange Love, and Flavor Of Love.
Career
Music
-
In 1984, the group released their debut record, Public Enemy #1, which brought them to the attention of Def Jam Records executive Rick Rubin, who signed the group to Def Jam in 1985. As a member of Public Enemy, his first record with the group, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, came out in 1987. The group rose to rap prominence with their following release, 1988's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, which went double platinum. By the time the group issued the political single, "Fight the Power", in 1989, the group were mainstream superstars. The 1990s single "911 is a Joke" became a big hit, but it wasn't the first track Flavor rapped on solo—it was "Too Much Posse" on Yo! Bum Rush the Show. Along with Chuck D, the showman of the group and its promotional voice, as he often got the crowd hype and with his big glasses, even bigger clock dangling from his neck and wearing big hats, the rapper stood out among his fellow PE group mates.
During PE's first years of existence, Flav dealt with tensions with Professor Griff, who never liked Flav's flamboyant stance in what he felt to be a serious politically-challenging group. In 1990, after allegedly making anti-Semitic comments, Griff left PE.
Throughout the 1990s, Flav was arrested numerous times on drug charges. He entered rehab after a drug overdose in 1997, and has claimed to be sober since.
Flav still raps as a member of Public Enemy, though the group is often in hiatus.
In 2006 Flav put out his first solo album, released during the second season of his hit reality show, Flavor of Love.
Television
The Surreal Life
-
After a hiatus from the music scene, Flavor Flav was invited to participate on the VH1 reality show, The Surreal Life. During this show, he developed a relationship with Brigitte Nielsen. Following the conclusion of the show, VH1 gave Flav and Brigitte a show entitled Strange Love, which detailed their globetrotting adventure in love. At the end of Strange Love Brigitte decided to return to her fiancee, Mattia Dessi. Flavor Flav made a show of his very own, called the Flavor of Love.
Flavor of Love
-
Main article: Flavor of Love
Flavor of Love, which recently finished its third and final season, is a reality show where Flavor Flav looks for love. The show's success led to a spin-off titled, I Love New York. But confirmed accounts say Flavor Flav was currently engaged before filming Flavor of Love Season Three, and only did it because he had already cashed the check given to him by VH1.
Comedy Central Roast
Flav was roasted on Comedy Central. The roast first aired on August 12, 2007.[3] Guests appearing at the roast: Snoop Dogg, Brigitte Nielsen, Jimmy Kimmel, Carrot Top, Lisa Lampanelli, Ice T, Jeff Ross, Katt Williams, Patton Oswalt, Greg Giraldo, and Sommore.
Under One Roof (2008 TV series)
-
Flav plays Calvester Hill on the MyNetworkTV comedy Under One Roof starring alongside Kelly Perine.
Other TV and media appearances
- In 2003, Flav appeared in Taking Back Sunday's video for "You're So Last Summer".
- In 2004, he appeared in TV spots for the then upcoming second season of Reno 911! on Comedy Central in his signature garb. He sang the Public Enemy song "911 is a Joke".
- Flav appeared in the 6th episode of the fifth season of ABC's hit show My Wife and Kids as himself. The episode also featured other rappers Kool Moe Dee, MC Lyte, and Special Ed.
- On June 14, 2006, Flav's participation, with WEVR-MRC[4], in the Lisa Tolliver Show celebration of National Safety Month earned kudos from Surgeon General of the United States Richard Carmona.[5][6][7]
- Flav has appeared on a local TV station in Springfield, Illinois for his purchase of four Target's in the winter of 2006 one of which was based out of Springfield.
- Flav appeared in EA Games Def Jam: Fight for NY as a playable character.
- Flavor Flav appeared in 2K Sports NBA 2K6 as a playable streetballer in 24/7 Mode and Street Mode.
- Flavor Flav appeared in BET's 2007 BET Awards with Public Enemy.
- Flavor Flav appears as Lucky in the upcoming film Confessions of a Pit Fighter.
- Flav was the guest of honor in Roast of Flavor Flav on Comedy Central (2007)
- On the comedy short "Cat" by Stella, Michael Ian Black suggests they name the cat "Flavor Flav" after his grandfather.
- Flav has appeared on The Bernie Mac Show during season 3.
- Flav appeared on one of Criss Angel's Mindfreak episodes.
- Flav was a guest star on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on February 26, 2008.
- Flav's signature clock appeared on the Cartoon Network show Chowder (TV series) when the characters, Mung Daal and Chowder, were making a musical food dish and he needed a little "flavor" so he added a clock on a chain.
- He appeared in the second series of the UK version of reality TV show The Farm being the third person evicted.
Personal Life
Flav has seven children: Shaniq, Karen, Da'zyna, Kwan, William, Kayla and Karma. There are three mothers to his children. His seventh child Karma is by his fiancee Liz. He has two grandchildren.
Discography
With Public Enemy
Solo albums
Guest appearances
- Anthrax, "Bring The Noise" (w/Chuck D)
- Barshem, "Where's My $5 At?"
- Chad Muska, "Flavor Man"
- Crime Mob, "I'll Beat Yo Azz"
- De La Soul, "Come On Down"
- DJ Hurricane, "Freeze The Frame" (w/Chuck D & Money Mark)
- DJ Tomekk, "1, 2, 3,...Rhymes Galore" (w/Grandmaster Flash, MC Ren & Afrob)
- George Clinton, "Paint The White House Black" (w/Chuck D, Ice Cube, MC Breed, Kam, Yo-Yo & Dr. Dre), "Tweakin" (w/Chuck D)
- Heavy D, "You Can't See What I Can See"
- Ice Cube, "I'm Only Out For One Thang"
- Living Colour, "Funny Vibe" (w/Chuck D)
- Material, "Burnin" (w/DXT)
- Moby, "MKLVFCKWR" (w/Chuck D)
- Nigo, "From New York To Tokyo"
- Paris, "Freedom (Remix)" (w/Chuck D & Dead Prez)
- Prince Akeem, "Only We Can Do This"
- Will Smith featuring Biz Markie and Slick Rick. "So Fresh" (Music Video)
- Snoop Dogg, "Bad Bitch"
- Taking Back Sunday, video for "You're So Last Summer"
- Various, "Self Destruction" (Public Enemy, Heavy D, Stetsasonic, MC Lyte, KRS-One, Kool Moe Dee, and others)
- Wu-Tang Clan, "Soul Power"
- P.Diddy, Music video for "P.E. 2000"
References
External links
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