Flavor Flav

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve the article or discuss these issues on the talk page.
This article is about the musician. For the musician's self-titled album, see Flavor Flv (album).
Flavor Flav
Flavor Flav performing at the Bilbao Urban Musikaldia, Vista Alegre bullring on October 8, 2006
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 in Charlotte, North Carolina. known by his stage name Flavor Flav,[3] is an American rapper, classically trained pianist, trombonist,[citation needed] television star, hype man, DJ, and member of the politically conscious hip hop group Public Enemy. Flavor Flav's visual trademark is an oversized clock hanging from his neck, so 'You know what time it is'. After falling out of the public eye in former years, he has recently reappeared as a star of American reality television. He has starred in multiple VH1 programs, including Flavor of Love, and the 2007 Comedy Central Roast. His catchphrase is a very emphasized "yeah boy" that sounds like "yeeeeah booooyyyyee", which he uses as an introduction to himself or his performances, as well as an answer.


Contents

[edit] Rap career

Main article: Public En (band)
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. With 1990's Fear of a Black Planet, Flavor finally got a chance to rap on a PE track, the single, "911's a Joke", became a big hit and made Flav, this however wasn't the first track Flav Rapped on solo it was on It Takes A Nation... on "Cold Lampin Wiv Flavor", 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 at the Jewish community, Griff left PE. Despite him being the stand out of Public Enemy projects, it took until 2006 for Flav to put out his solo debut album, released during the second season of his hit reality show, Flavor of Love. Throughout the 1990s, Flav was arrested numerous times on assault and drug charges, after a drug overdose, he went to rehab in 1997 and has claimed to be sober since. Flav still raps as a member of Public Enemy though the group often went through hiatus leading Flav to find different ways to reclaim celebrity.

[edit] TV career

[edit] The Surreal Life

Main article: 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. and is now married. Flavor Flav made a show of his very own, called the Flavor of Love.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Comedy Central Roast

Flav was roasted on Comedy Central. The roast first aired on August 12, 2007.[4] 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.

[edit] Under One Roof (2008 TV series)

Main article: Under One Roof (2008 TV series)

Flav plays Calvester Hill on the MyNetworkTV com, Under One Roof starring alongside Kelly Perine.

[edit] Other TV and media appearances

[edit] Discography

[edit] With Public Enemy

[edit] Solo albums

[edit] Guest appearances

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Flavor Flav: Biography". All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
  2. ^ Un-J (October 4, 2006). Chuck D. Interview. Youtube.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
  3. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Ankeny
  4. ^ Comedy Central Press Release - Roast of Flavor Flav
  5. ^ Westchester Emergency Volunteer Reserves-Medical Reserves Corps (WEVR-MRC)
  6. ^ Blogcritics Magazine - Flavor Flav Celebrates National Safety Month
  7. ^ Lisa Tolliver show notes blog
  8. ^ Lisa Tolliver's Blog

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
v • d • e
The Surreal Life
Cast
Spinoffs
v • d • e
Flavor of Love
Cast
Flavor Flav | New York | Saaphyri | Deelishis | Hoopz
Seasons
Spinoffs
v • d • e
Public Enemy
Chuck D • Flavor Flav • Professor Griff • Terminator X • DJ Lord
Studio albums
Singles
Live releases
Compilations
Related articles