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Flavor Flav

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This article is about the New York musician. For the musician's self-titled album, seeFlavor Flav (album).For the Bay Area rapper named Flav, seeArmani Depaul.

Flavor Flav
Flav performing at New Orleans Jazz Fest in 2014
Flav performing atNew Orleans Jazz Festin 2014
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Jonathan Drayton Jr.
Born(1959-03-16)March 16, 1959(age 65)
Roosevelt, New York,U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupations
Years active1985–present
Member ofPublic Enemy

William Jonathan Drayton Jr.(born March 16, 1959),[1]known by his stage nameFlavor Flav[a](/ˈfleɪvərˌfleɪv/FLAY-vərFLAYV), is an American rapper andhypeman.Known for his yells of "Yeah, boyeeeeee!"when performing,[4][5]he is a founding member, alongsideChuck D,ofPublic Enemy,a rap group that has earned sixGrammy Awardnominations,[6]and has been inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame.[7]

After spending several years out of the limelight, Flav starred in multipleVH1reality series, includingThe Surreal Life,Strange Love,andFlavor of Love.

Early life and education

[edit]

Drayton was born inRoosevelt, New York,and grew up in nearbyFreeport,two communities within theTown of Hempstead.Drayton is the cousin of formerPenn State basketballplayer Shep Garner,[8]and ofBrooklynMCTimbo KingofRoyal Fam.[9]He is also a cousin of rappersOl' Dirty Bastard,RZA,andGZAof theWu-Tang Clan.[10][11]

He began teaching himselfpianoat the age of five,[12]and mastered piano, drums and guitar at an early age, while also singing in the youth choir at his church.[13]According toChuck D,Drayton is proficient in fifteen instruments.[5]

By the time he dropped out ofFreeport High Schoolin the 11th grade, he had been in and out of jail for robbery and burglary.[13][14]

Drayton attended culinary school in 1978.[5]Later, he attendedAdelphi UniversityonLong Island,where he metCarlton Ridenhour(who later became known asChuck D).[4]They first collaborated on Chuck D's hip-hopcollege radioshow, then began rapping together.[13]Drayton's stage name Flavor Flav was originally hisgraffititag.[5]

Career

[edit]

Music

[edit]
Main article:Public Enemy

Flavor Flav (often referred to as "Flav" ) came to prominence as a founding member andhype manof the rap groupPublic Enemy,which he co-founded in 1985 withChuck D.[15]A year later, the group released "Public Enemy #1", which brought them to the attention ofDef Jam RecordsexecutiveRick Rubin.Rubin initially did not understand Flav's role in the act and wanted to sign Chuck D as a solo act; however, Chuck D insisted that Flav be signed with them and the two were signed to Def Jam.[12]

Flavor Flav and helicopter pilot Ray McCort on anMTVshoot in New York City

The group's first albumYo! Bum Rush the Showwas released in 1987. Flav served as thecomic foilto Chuck D's serious, politically charged style.[13]

The group gained much wider fame with their following release, 1988'sIt Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back,which went double platinum. By the time the political single "Fight the Power"was released in 1989, the group had become mainstream superstars. Along with Chuck D, the showman of the group and its promotional voice, Flav stood out among the members of Public Enemy as he often got the fans excited, appearing on stage and in public wearing big hats and glasses, and a large clock dangling from his neck.

Flav performing at "The Slaughterhouse" inMalmö,Sweden1991

The first released track on which Flav rapped solo was "Life of a Nigerian" onGoat Ju JU,[citation needed]although the first hit on which he rapped solo would not come until the 1990 single "911 Is a Joke".During Public Enemy's first years of existence, Flav experienced tensions with group-mateProfessor Griff,who never liked Flav's flamboyant stance in what Griff felt should be a serious, politically-challenging group. In 1999, Flavor Flav recorded withDJ TomekkandGrandmaster Flashthe single "1, 2, 3,... Rhymes Galore".The single stayed for 17 weeks in the top ten of the German charts.[16]

Flav performing in 2009

In 2006, Flav put out his first solo album, titledHollywood.It was released during the second season of the reality TV dating showFlavor of Love.

On March 1, 2020, Public Enemy released a statement saying that the group would be "moving forward without Flavor Flav," following a disagreement over the group's decision to endorseBernie Sandersand perform at his Los Angeles rally.[15][17]Flavor Flav denounced the firing, maintaining that he was Chuck D's partner in Public Enemy and could therefore not be fired from it. On April 1, 2020,Chuck Dannounced that the firing was a hoax.[18]Flavor Flav stated shortly thereafter that he was not a part of the hoax and disapproved of the stunt.[19]

Television

[edit]

After a hiatus from the music scene, Flavor Flav was invited to participate onVH1reality showThe Surreal Life.During this show, he developed a relationship with actressBrigitte Nielsen.[20]Following the conclusion ofThe Surreal Life,VH1 gave Flav and Nielsen a show titledStrange Love,which detailed their globetrotting adventure in love. At the end ofStrange Love,Nielsen decided to return to her fiancé, Mattia Dessi.

Flavor of Love,which aired for three seasons, is a reality show where Flavor Flav looks for love. The show's success led to spin-offs titledI Love New YorkandI Love Money.During the third season reunion ofFlavor of Love,Flav proposed to Liz, the mother of his youngest son, Karma.[5]TheComedy Centralroastof Flavor Flavaired on August 12, 2007.[21]Guests appearing at the roast included:Snoop Dogg,Brigitte Nielsen,Jimmy Kimmel,Carrot Top,Lisa Lampanelli,Ice-T,Jeff Ross,Katt Williams,Patton Oswalt,Greg Giraldo,andSommore.

Flav played Calvester Hill on theMyNetworkTVcomedy seriesUnder One Roof,starring alongsideKelly Perine.[22]

Restaurant owner

[edit]

In 2011, Flav partnered with Nick Cimino to openFlav's Fried Chickenin Cimino's hometown ofClinton, Iowa.The two had met through Cimino's brother Peter, who runs Mama Cimino's inLas Vegasand Castle Rock Bar and Pizzeria inKingman, Arizona.After enjoying the rapper's homemade fried chicken,[23]Peter Cimino began selling chicken wings using Flav's recipe.[24]The founders hoped to start a nationalrestaurant franchise.[23]A mix of squabbling owners, bounced checks, and bad business decisions led to Flavor Flav's Chicken shutting down barely four months after it opened.[25][26]Flavor Flav was not involved in the restaurant's day-to-day operations; Nick Cimino simply paid for Flavor Flav's license.

Flavor Flav's House of Flavor in Las Vegas opened on the rapper's birthday in March 2012.[27]Flavor Flav teamed up with Gino Harmon and Salvatore Bitonti to start a national franchise known as Flavor Flav's Chicken & Ribs, which opened December 21, 2012 inSterling Heights, Michigan.The business was not affiliated with the previous two ventures Flavor Flav has had in the restaurant business. Flavor Flav's Chicken & Ribs was a casual dining experience with aquick serveattitude. Flavor Flav's Chicken & Ribs closed in July 2013 after being evicted by its landlord for failure to pay rent.[28]

Other TV and media appearances

[edit]
Flav in 2012

In 2002, Flav appeared inTaking Back Sunday's music video for their songYou're So Last Summer.Flav has appeared as a playable fighter in the 2004 fighting game;Def Jam: Fight for NY.In May 2005, Flav took part in the UK reality TV showThe FarmonChannel 5.[29] Also in 2005, Flavor Flav made a guest appearance in theMTV2surrealblack comedyshowWonder Showzenas himself, in the debut episode "Birth". On June 14, 2006, Flav's participation, withWEVR-MRC,[30]in theLisa Tolliver Showcelebration ofNational Safety Month,[31]earned kudos fromSurgeon General of the United StatesRichard Carmona.[32][33][34]

On November 18, 2009, Flav became a downloadable character in thePlayStation Network's video gamePain.[35]Flav stars inDeon Taylor's horror anthologyNite TalesandDark Christmas.[36]On May 10, 2010, Flav guest hosted the wrestling showWWE Raw.[37]On August 14, 2011, Flav appeared as a host at the twelfth annualGathering of the Juggalos.[38]

On January 10, 2012, Flav appeared with his longtime fiancée Liz on ABC'sCelebrity Wife Swap.His fiancée traded places with Suzette, the wife ofTwisted Sisterfront-manDee Snider.[39]On February 5, 2012, Flav appeared along withElton Johnin a Pepsi Co. ad duringSuper Bowl XLVI.[40]On February 11, 2012, Flav appeared as an honorary member of the UNLV Rebellion during theUNLV Runnin' Rebelsvictory over San Diego State, 65-63. From June to September 2012, Flav co-starred and rapped in the web seriesDr. Fubalous.[41]Flav has also appeared inYooHoo & Friendsas Father Time, and the animated featureHitpig!,both under the direction of animatorDavid Feiss.

Sports

[edit]

Flavor Flav sang a widely noted performance of the Star Spangled Banner at the Milwaukee Bucks/Atlanta Hawks game in 2023.[42]His performance was confusing to some,[43]but Flavor Flav described the performance as a bucket list item, and a tribute to military veterans.[44][45][46]

He frequently engages in philanthropy to help struggling Olympic athletes.[47]Flav helped financially support athletes of theUnited States women's national water polo teamamidst their preparations for the2024 Summer Olympicsin Paris, signing a five-year sponsorship deal as the team's official hype man. He travelled to France to personally watch the team play.[48]

Flavor Flav made a custom bronze clock necklace for US Gymnast Jordan Chiles when her Bronze medal was controversially rescinded at the Paris 2024 games.[49]He also helped raise money for the family of Paralympic sprinter Nick Mayhugh to travel to paris to see their son play, and paid rent for the Olympic Discus Thrower Veronica Fraley during the Olympic games.[50]

Flavor Flav with WNBA New York Liberty MascotEllie The Elephant

Flavor Flav is a long time fan of women's sports.[51]Flavor Flav has been a notable guest at WNBA games, including performing a call and response tribute to the late Fatman Scoop at a New York Liberty game in September 2024.[52][53]

[edit]

Flavor Flav had his first three children with Karen Ross,[citation needed]three more with Angie Parker,[citation needed]a son with Elizabeth Trujillo, and another child with Kate Gammell.

In 1991, Flav pleaded guilty to assaulting his then-girlfriend Karen Ross and served 30 days in jail, lost custody of his children, and fell deeper into addiction.[13]In 1993, Flav was charged with attempted murder and imprisoned for 90 days for shooting at his neighbor.[5]Later that year, Flav was charged with domestic violence, and cocaine and marijuana charges. His family performed anintervention,and he checked into theBetty Ford Centerfor an addiction to crack cocaine.[5][13]After Flav's father died of complications from diabetes in 1997, Flav decided to re-enter rehabilitation, this time at the Long Island Center for Recovery. At one point, he broke both arms in a motorcycle crash.[5]

Flavor Flav datedBeverly Johnson,and by 2000, he lived in a small apartment inthe Bronxwith her and her two children from a previous marriage, while making moneyscalpingbaseball tickets.[13]In 2002, Flav spent nine weeks inRikers Islandjail for driving with a suspended license, numerous parking tickets, and tardiness for probation appointments.[5]Following his release from jail, Flav broke up with Johnson and moved in with his mother on Long Island.

Chuck D became concerned about his friend's well-being and, toward the end of 2003, suggested Flav move toLos Angeles.Flav moved into his friend Princess' apartment, and within months metCris AbregoandMark Cronin,the creators and executive producers of the reality television seriesThe Surreal Life.The pair sought him out as soon as they heard Flav had moved to Los Angeles. Seeing that he had remained free from his previous addictions, they wanted to cast him. Initially Flav refused, feeling the show was for celebrities past their prime. He was eventually convinced to join by previous participantMC Hammer.[13]

On May 2, 2011, Flav was arrested on four outstanding misdemeanor warrants for various driving offenses.[54]Police said the rapper had two outstanding arrest warrants for driving without a license, one for driving without insurance, and one related to a parking citation.[54][55]Flav has since been released.[54]In June 2011, Flav said on theAustralianradio showThe Kyle and Jackie O Showthat when his drug problem was at its worst, he would spend up to US$2,600 a day oncrack cocaine.[56]

As of October 2012, Elizabeth Trujillo, the mother of Flav's son, Karma, lived with Flav in Las Vegas and had been his fiancée for eight years.[57][58][59] On October 17, 2012, Flav was jailed in Las Vegas on felony charges stemming from a domestic argument with Trujillo and his threats to attack her teenage son, Gibran, with a knife.[57][60]

Flav's mother, Anna Drayton, died on December 31, 2013.[61]On January 9, 2014, Flav was pulled over on Long Island'sMeadowbrook Parkwayfor driving 79 miles per hour (127 km/h) in a 55 mph (89 km/h) zone, and was additionally charged with possession of marijuana and unlicensed operation of a vehicle. Authorities discovered Flav had 16 suspensions on his license. He was en route to his mother's funeral.[62]

Flav was arrested near Las Vegas on May 21, 2015. The charges included speeding and driving under the influence.[63]

On July 21, 2019, Flav had his youngest son Jordan with Kate Gammell.[64]

Idiosyncrasies

[edit]

When asked about the significance of his trademark clock necklaces, Flav responded: "The reason why I wear this clock is because, you know, time is the most important element, and when we stop, time keeps going."[65]

Flavor Flav has a penchant forspeaking about himself in the third person.[citation needed]

Discography

[edit]
See also:Public Enemy discography
Solo albums
Guest appearances

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^The correct spelling is Flavor, and he dislikes being referred to as Flava[2][3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^Ankeny, Jason."Flavor Flav: Biography".Allmusic.RetrievedMarch 5,2008.
  2. ^"Instagram".www.instagram.com.RetrievedAugust 2,2024.
  3. ^https://x.com/FlavorFlav/status/1794861334271766717[bare URL]
  4. ^abRowland, Marijke (August 22, 2008)."Flavor Flav's Modesto block party".The Modesto Bee. Archived fromthe originalon February 4, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 13,2009.
  5. ^abcdefghiDavis, Johnny (June 18, 2006)."Hip-hop, you don't stop".The Guardian.London.RetrievedJanuary 13,2009.
  6. ^"Flavor Flav".GRAMMY.com.RetrievedApril 20,2022.
  7. ^"Public Enemy | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame".www.rockhall.com.RetrievedApril 20,2022.
  8. ^"Inside the bond that has made Flavor Flav Penn State's Number 1 fan".February 28, 2018.RetrievedMarch 29,2018.
  9. ^@FlavorFlav (December 1, 2012)."Timbo King Y'all,!!!"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  10. ^"EXCLUSIVE: Flavor Flav Reveals Ol' Dirty Bastard Is His Cousin + Prepping New Show".Thejasminebrand.com.November 15, 2017.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
  11. ^"Flava Flav Spilled the Tea About ODB Being His Blood Cousin".Krnb.com.November 15, 2017.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
  12. ^abHughes, Mike (April 15, 2008)."Flavor Flav, sitcom-style".Gannett News Service.RetrievedJanuary 13,2009.
  13. ^abcdefghWatson, Margeaux (August 4, 2006)."Flavor Flav: Totally Cuckoo?".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedJanuary 13,2009.
  14. ^"Flavor Flav Opening a Fried Chicken Restaurant in Iowa".eater.com.January 24, 2011.
  15. ^ab"Public Enemy is 'moving forward without Flavor Flav' after Bernie Sanders rally dispute".USA Today.RetrievedMarch 6,2020.
  16. ^"DJ TOMEKK" 1,2,3 RHYMES GALORE "NEW YORK TO GERMANY HI QUALITY".YouTube.February 11, 2009.Archivedfrom the original on December 19, 2021.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
  17. ^Kreps, Daniel (March 1, 2020)."Public Enemy Fires Flavor Flav After Bernie Sanders Rally Spat".Rolling Stone.
  18. ^Christie D'Zurilla (April 1, 2020)."On April Fools' Day, Public Enemy reveals Flavor Flav's firing was a hoax".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedSeptember 8,2020.
  19. ^Lisa Respers France (April 2, 2020)."Chuck D says Flavor Flav firing was a stunt, but Flav disagrees".CNN.RetrievedSeptember 8,2020.
  20. ^Baz Dreisinger (January 9, 2005)."Can This Hook Up Survive?".The New York Times.RetrievedApril 8,2020.
  21. ^"Comedy Central Press Release - Roast of Flavor Flav".Comedycentral.com.Archived fromthe originalon June 25, 2007.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
  22. ^Anna Dimond (April 16, 2008)."Flavor Flav Raises Da Roof in New Sitcom".TV Guide.RetrievedApril 8,2020.
  23. ^abFassler, Joe (January 27, 2011)."Flavor Flav vs. KFC: A Dispatch From Flav's Fried Chicken".The Atlantic.RetrievedJanuary 30,2011.
  24. ^"Reality TV star takes chance on Clinton".Clinton Herald.January 11, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 25,2011.
  25. ^Perpetua, Matthew (April 25, 2011)."Flavor Flav Closes Fried Chicken Restaurant in Iowa".Rollingstone.com.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
  26. ^AOL."AOL Food - Recipes, Cooking and Entertaining".AOL.com.Archived fromthe originalon July 30, 2012.RetrievedJuly 12,2012.
  27. ^"Flavor Flav Opens Fried Chicken Restaurant In Las Vegas".The Inquistir.March 16, 2012.RetrievedMarch 16,2012.
  28. ^Eakin, Marah (July 26, 2013),"The very last Flavor Flav's Chicken & Ribs location has closed",The A.V. Club,retrievedJuly 26,2013.
  29. ^Iain Hepburn (2005)."Did you see?: The Farm".MEN Media. Archived fromthe originalon November 12, 2012.RetrievedMay 30,2011.
  30. ^"Westchester Emergency Volunteer Reserves-Medical Reserves Corps (WEVR-MRC)".Volunteer-center.org.Archived fromthe originalon February 5, 2008.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
  31. ^"National Safety Month".Nsc.org. Archived fromthe originalon June 16, 2014.RetrievedApril 9,2010.
  32. ^Tolliver, Lisa."Flavor Flav Celebrates National Safety Month".Blogcritics.Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2009.
  33. ^"Lisa Tolliver Shownotes ".tolliveretips blog.Emergency Preparedness and Safety Tips On Air and Online.
  34. ^"How my radio shows, publications and PSAs in June 2006 - the 10th anniversary of National Safety Month - will help make the world a safer place".Lisa Tolliver On Air and Online.May 28, 2006.
  35. ^"Bio Flavor Flav".Archived fromthe originalon April 25, 2012.RetrievedMarch 25,2012.
  36. ^"Exit Humanity (DVD)".Dreadcentral.com.June 20, 2012.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
  37. ^"TV Shows > Raw > Special Guest Hosts > Upcoming Raw guest hosts".WWE. March 28, 2010.RetrievedApril 9,2010.
  38. ^Fats Pepper(presenter),Guy Gorfey(April 11, 2009).Weekly Freekly Weekly Special 2011 Gathering Edition(internet news).Detroit, Michigan:Psychopathic Records.Archivedfrom the original on December 19, 2021.RetrievedApril 12,2009.
  39. ^"TV Shows".March 28, 2010.RetrievedJanuary 10,2012.
  40. ^"Flavor Flav hugs Tom Coughlin/".Sportsgris.com.Archived fromthe originalon May 7, 2016.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
  41. ^Favor FlavArchivedJune 17, 2012, at theWayback Machine,2012, cast bio forDr. Fubalous
  42. ^Medium, Seattle (November 1, 2023)."Flavor Flav's Viral National Anthem Performance Shakes The Internet".The Seattle Medium.RetrievedSeptember 6,2024.
  43. ^"Flavor Flav delivers viral national anthem performance at Bucks-Hawks game".NBC News.October 30, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 6,2024.
  44. ^Aniftos, Rania (October 31, 2023)."Flavor Flav Defends National Anthem Performance, Says He Was Honoring Family in Military".Billboard.RetrievedSeptember 6,2024.
  45. ^Guy, Zoe (October 30, 2023)."God Bless Whoever Booked Flavor Flav for the National Anthem".Vulture.RetrievedSeptember 6,2024.
  46. ^"Flavor Flav's national anthem is a viral hit. It was also a 'long time bucket list item'".Los Angeles Times.October 31, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 6,2024.
  47. ^"U.S. Women's water polo: Flavor Flav to sponsor team for 2024 Paris Olympics | NBC Olympics".
  48. ^"How Flavor Flav and Maggie Steffens found a new kind of Olympic synergy".Washington Post.July 29, 2024.RetrievedJuly 29,2024.
  49. ^Stumbaugh, Julia."Video: Flavor Flav Shows Off Bronze Clock Made for Jordan Chiles Amid Medal Dispute".Bleacher Report.RetrievedSeptember 6,2024.
  50. ^Jennings, Penelope; CNN (August 16, 2024)."Flavor Flav helps Paralympic athlete raise money to have parents watch him compete in Paris".CNN.RetrievedSeptember 6,2024.{{cite web}}:|last2=has generic name (help)
  51. ^Graham, Bryan Armen (July 26, 2024)."How 'girl dad' Flavor Flav became hype man for the US women's water polo team".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.RetrievedSeptember 6,2024.
  52. ^https://x.com/ClassicJpow/status/1831851358066286856
  53. ^"Laney-Hamilton returns to starting lineup, helps Liberty to 77-70 win over Storm".Washington Post.September 6, 2024.ISSN0190-8286.RetrievedSeptember 6,2024.
  54. ^abcMartinez, Edecio (May 2, 2011)."Rapper Flavor Flav arrested in Las Vegas on misdemeanor warrants".CBS News.RetrievedMay 3,2011.
  55. ^"Flavor Flav arrested after traffic stop in Vegas".May 2, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on May 8, 2011.
  56. ^"このURLのページは biểu kỳ することが xuất lai ませんでした. IP phân tán サーバーならIQサーバー｜クラスCの hoàn toàn phân tán が nguyệt ngạch 139 viên ～".austereo.castmetrix.net.
  57. ^ab"Flavor Flav arrested on assault, battery charges".CNN.October 18, 2012.RetrievedApril 14,2014.
  58. ^"Flavor Fav and newborn 7th kid in Hawaii".Blackcelebkids.com.RetrievedJune 22,2021.[permanent dead link]
  59. ^"Black Celebrity Kids, babies, and their Parents » Flavof Flav fiancee Liz and baby Karma take in a concert in Vegas".Blackcelebkids.com.June 12, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon April 4, 2010.RetrievedApril 9,2010.
  60. ^"Flavor Flav Arrested In Las Vegas For Assault With A Deadly Weapon".VH1 Insider.Archived fromthe originalon October 19, 2012.RetrievedOctober 17,2012.
  61. ^Fitzgerald, Trent (January 2, 2014)."Flavor Flav's Mother Anna Drayton Dies".The Boombox.
  62. ^Simon, Darran; Valenti, John (January 28, 2014)."Flavor Flav pleads not guilty in speeding case".Newsday.New York City / Long Island.Archivedfrom the original on April 16, 2014.RetrievedMay 24,2015.
  63. ^"Flavor Flav arrested in Vegas, suspected of impaired driving".Las Vegas, Nevada:KLAS-TV.Associated Press.May 21, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on May 24, 2015.RetrievedMay 24,2015.
  64. ^"Paternity Test Confirms Flavor Flav IS The Father Of 3-Month-Old Boy".HipHopDX.October 27, 2019.RetrievedApril 26,2021.
  65. ^"Pawn Stars: Flavor Flav's O.J. Simpson Statue (Season 14)".YouTube.History. October 23, 2017.RetrievedJuly 19,2022.
  66. ^"Micayla De Ette & Flavor Flav - Write a Song [Music Video Review]".LA On Lock.November 9, 2019.RetrievedMarch 1,2020.
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