Flavor Flav

Infobox musical artist
Name = Flavor Flav

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Img_capt = Flavor Flav performing at the Bilbao Urban Musikaldia, Vista Alegre bullring on October 8, 2006
Img_size = 250 Birth Father = Richard James Carey
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = William Jonathan Drayton, Jr.
Alias = Flav
MC DJ Flavor Flav.

Born = birth date and age|1959|03|16cite web | last = Ankeny | first = Jason | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fbfyxqt5ld0e~T1 | title = "Flavor Flav: Biography" | work = Allmusic | accessdate = 2008-03-05]
Origin = Roosevelt, Long Island, New York, United States
Instrument = vocals, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Saxophone, Clarinet, drums, Triangle cite web | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HklVsjJv3y0 | accessdate = 2006-10-28 | author = Un-J | title = Chuck D. Interview | publisher = Youtube.com | date = October 4, 2006]
Genre = Hip-hop
Occupation = Rapper
Years_active = 1983 - present
Label =
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 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 and repeatedly yelling his own name.

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 a track "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 hyped 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.

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 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 titled "Strange Love", which detailed their globetrotting adventure in love. At the end of "Strange Love" Brigitte decided to return to her fiancé, Mattia Dessi.

"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".

Comedy Central Roast

The Comedy Central roast of Flavor Flav aired on August 122007. [ [http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2007/cctoroastflavorflav.jhtml Comedy Central Press Release - Roast of Flavor Flav] ] 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 142006, Flav's participation, with WEVR-MRC [ [http://www.volunteer-center.org/programs_services/wevr.htm Westchester Emergency Volunteer Reserves-Medical Reserves Corps (WEVR-MRC)] ] , in the "Lisa Tolliver Show" celebration of National Safety Month earned kudos from Surgeon General of the United States Richard Carmona. [ [http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/06/21/173419.php Blogcritics Magazine - Flavor Flav Celebrates National Safety Month] ] [ [http://tolliveretips.blogspot.com/2006/06/lisa-tolliver-show-guests-flavor-flav.html Lisa Tolliver show notes blog] ] [ [http://lisatolliver.blogspot.com/2006/05/how-my-radio-shows-publications-and.html Lisa Tolliver's Blog] ]
* Flav appeared in EA Games "" 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 262008 and on October 2, 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, Kwana, William, Kayla and Karma. There are five mothers to his children. His seventh child Karma is by his fiancee Liz. He has two grandchildren by Shaniq

Discography

With Public Enemy

* "Yo! Bum Rush the Show" (1987)
* "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" (1988)
* "Fight the Power...Live!" (video and album, 1989)
* "Fear of a Black Planet" (1990)
* "Apocalypse '91...The Enemy Strikes Black" (1991)
* "Greatest Misses" 1986-1992 (1992)
* "Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age" (1994)
* "He Got Game" (1998)
* "BTN 2000" (online released mega-mix which initiated PE's leaving Def Jam Records) (1999)
* "There's A Poison Goin On" (1999)
* "Revolverlution" (2002)
* "There's A Poison Goin On" (worldwide re-release via Slamjamz.com) (2004)
* "Son of a Bush" (EP) (released before the 2004 Presidential Election); contained the songs "Son of a Gun", "Get Your Dump Together" and the song featuring Fine Arts Militia (featuring Chuck D) entitled "Twisted Sense of God"
* "New Whirl Odor" (2005)
* "Rebirth of a Nation" (featuring Paris, Guerrilla Funk Recordings) (2006)
* "How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?" (2007)

olo albums

* "Flavor Flav" (2006)

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

* [http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/flavor_flav/artist.jhtml Artist profile] at VH1
*
* [http://davidcano23.blogspot.com/2007/11/flava-flav-interview-for-undercover_15.html Interview with UK magazine]
* [http://www.complex.com/blogs/2008/07/07/getting-to-know-flavor-flav/ Flavor Flav Interview]