Flavor Flav
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| Flavor Flav | |
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| 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] |
| Origin | Roosevelt, Long Island, New York, United States |
| Genre(s) | Hip-hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Instrument(s) | vocals, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Saxophone, Clarinet, drums, Triangle [2] |
| Years active | 1982 - 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 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.
Contents |
Career
Music
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Main article: Public Enemy (band)
Flavor Flav came to prominence as a founding member of the rap group Public Enemy. In 1984, the group released a track, Public Enemy #1, which brought them to the attention of Def Jam Records executive Rick Rubin. Rubin signed the group to Def Jam in 1985, leading to the group's first album, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, in 1987. The group gained much wider fame with their following release, 1988's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, which went double platinum. By the time the political single, "Fight the Power", was issued 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 hyped, appearing on stage and in public wearing big hats and glasses and a large clock dangling from his neck.
The first released track on which Flav rapped solo was "Too Much Posse" on Yo! Bum Rush the Show, though the first hit on which he rapped solo wouldn't come until the 1990s single "911 is a Joke".
During Public Enemy's first years of existence, Flav dealt with tensions with group-mate Professor Griff, who never liked Flav's flamboyant stance in what Griff felt to be a serious, politically-challenging group. In 1990, after allegedly making anti-Semitic comments, Griff left PE.
In 2006, Flav put out his self-titled first solo album. It was released during the second season of his hit reality show, Flavor of Love.
Television
The Surreal Life
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Main article: 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
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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.
Comedy Central Roast
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Main article: Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav
The Comedy Central roast of Flavor Flav 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)
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Main article: 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 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 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.
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)
Solo 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
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. ""Flavor Flav: Biography"". Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
- ^ Un-J (October 4, 2006). "Chuck D. Interview". Youtube.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
- ^ Comedy Central Press Release - Roast of Flavor Flav
- ^ Westchester Emergency Volunteer Reserves-Medical Reserves Corps (WEVR-MRC)
- ^ Blogcritics Magazine - Flavor Flav Celebrates National Safety Month
- ^ Lisa Tolliver show notes blog
- ^ Lisa Tolliver's Blog
External links
- Artist profile at VH1
- Flavor Flav at the Internet Movie Database
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