Flavor Flav

{{About|the New York rapper|the Bay Area rapper named Flav|Armani Depaul}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Flavor Flav

| image = Flavor Flav of Public Enemy.jpg

| caption = Flav performing at New Orleans Jazz Fest in 2014

| background = person

| birth_name = William Jonathan Drayton Jr.

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1959|3|16}}

| birth_place = Roosevelt, New York, U.S.

| genre = Hip-hop

| occupations = {{hlist|Rapper|hype man|television personality}}

| years_active = 1985–present

| current_member_of = Public Enemy

| website =

}}

William Jonathan Drayton Jr. (born March 16, 1959),{{cite web|last = Ankeny|first = Jason|url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p76462/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title = Flavor Flav: Biography|work = Allmusic|access-date = March 5, 2008}} known by his stage name Flavor Flav{{efn|The correct spelling is Flavor, and he dislikes being referred to as Flava{{cite web|access-date=2024-08-02|title=Instagram|url=https://www.instagram.com/flavorflavofficial/p/C-E_dXftDLm/|website=www.instagram.com}}{{cite web | url=https://x.com/FlavorFlav/status/1794861334271766717 | title=FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) on X | work=X (formerly Twitter) }}}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|l|eɪ|v|ər|_|ˌ|f|l|eɪ|v}} {{respell|FLAY|vər|_|FLAYV}}), is an American rapper and television personality. Known for his catchphrase "Yeah, boyeeeeee!" when performing,{{cite web |last=Rowland |first=Marijke |date=August 22, 2008 |title=Flavor Flav's Modesto block party |url=http://www.modbee.com/local/v-print/story/401836.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204122142/http://www.modbee.com/local/v-print/story/401836.html |archive-date=February 4, 2009 |access-date=January 13, 2009 |publisher=The Modesto Bee |df=mdy-all}}{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Johnny |date=June 18, 2006 |title=Hip-hop, you don't stop |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jun/18/urban |access-date=January 13, 2009}} he is a founding member alongside Chuck D, of Public Enemy, a rap group which has earned six Grammy Award nominations.{{Cite web |title=Flavor Flav |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/flavor-flav/2549 |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=GRAMMY.com}} He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |title=Public Enemy {{!}} Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |url=https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/public-enemy |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=www.rockhall.com}}

After spending several years out of the limelight, Flav starred in multiple VH1 reality series, including The Surreal Life, Strange Love, and Flavor of Love.

Early life and education

Drayton was born in Roosevelt, New York and grew up in nearby Freeport, two communities within the Town of Hempstead. His father, William Drayton Sr., ran a restaurant, The Soul Diner in Freeport.

Drayton Jr. is the cousin of former Penn State basketball player Shep Garner,{{cite web | url = https://nypost.com/2018/02/28/inside-the-bond-that-has-made-flavor-flav-penn-states-no-1-fan/ | title = Inside the bond that has made Flavor Flav Penn State's Number 1 fan | date = February 28, 2018 | access-date = March 29, 2018}} and of Brooklyn MC Timbo King of Royal Fam.{{cite tweet |user=FlavorFlav |number=274817538691592192 |date= December 1, 2012 |title= Timbo King Y'all ,!!! }} He is also a cousin of rappers Ol' Dirty Bastard, RZA, and GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan.{{Cite web|url=https://thejasminebrand.com/2017/11/15/exclusive-flavor-flav-reveals-ol-dirty-bastard-is-his-cousin-prepping-new-show/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Flavor Flav Reveals Ol' Dirty Bastard Is His Cousin + Prepping New Show|website=Thejasminebrand.com|date=November 15, 2017|access-date=June 22, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=http://krnb.com/shms/2017/11/15/flava-flav-spilled-the-tea-about-odb-being-his-blood-cousin/|title=Flava Flav Spilled the Tea About ODB Being His Blood Cousin|date=November 15, 2017|newspaper=The Steve Harvey Morning Show|access-date=June 22, 2021}} Drayton began teaching himself piano at the age of five.{{cite web|first= Mike |last=Hughes |url= http://www.azcentral.com/ent/tv/articles/2008/04/15/20080415flavorflav0415.html|title= Flavor Flav, sitcom-style|publisher= Gannett News Service|date= April 15, 2008|access-date= January 13, 2009}} He was an accomplished musician playing piano, drums, and guitar at an early age while singing in the youth choir at his church.{{cite magazine | last=Watson | first=Margeaux | url=https://ew.com/article/2006/08/04/flavor-flav-totally-cuckoo/| title = Flavor Flav: Totally Cuckoo? | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date= August 4, 2006 | access-date= January 13, 2009}} According to Chuck D, Drayton is proficient in playing fifteen instruments.

By the time he dropped out of Freeport High School in the 11th grade, he had been in and out of jail for robbery and burglary.{{cite web|url=http://eater.com/archives/2011/01/24/flavor-flav-opening-a-fried-chicken-restuarant-iowa.php|title=Flavor Flav Opening a Fried Chicken Restaurant in Iowa|website=eater.com|date=January 24, 2011}} He attended culinary school in 1978. Later, he went to Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, where he met Carlton Ridenhour (who later became known as Chuck D). They first collaborated on Chuck D's hip-hop college radio show, then began rapping together. Drayton's stage name Flavor Flav was originally his graffiti tag.

Career

=Music=

Flavor Flav (often referred to as "Flav") came to prominence as a founding member and hype man of the rap group Public Enemy, which he co-founded in 1985 with Chuck D.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/03/01/flavor-flav-slams-bernie-sanders-campaign-promoting-public-enemy-show/4923987002/|title=Public Enemy is 'moving forward without Flavor Flav' after Bernie Sanders rally dispute|work=USA Today|access-date=March 6, 2020|language=en}} A year later, the group released "Public Enemy #1", which brought them to the attention of Def Jam Records executive Rick 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.

File:Flava_Flav,_and_helicopter_pilot_Ray_McCort_on_MTV_shoot_in_NYC.jpg shoot in New York City, September 2016]] The group's first album Yo! Bum Rush the Show was released in 1987. Flav served as the comic foil to Chuck D's serious, politically charged style. The group gained much wider fame with 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 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 excited fans appearing on stage and in public wearing large hats, glasses, and a sizable clock dangling from his neck.

File:Flavor Flav - Public Enemy- konser-Slakthuset-Malmö-1991.jpg, 1991]] The first released track on which Flav rapped solo was "Life of a Nigerian" on Goat Ju JU,{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} 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-mate Professor Griff, who never liked Flav's flamboyant stance in what Griff felt should be a serious, politically-challenging group. In 1999, Flavor Flav recorded with DJ Tomekk and Grandmaster Flash the single "1, 2, 3, ... Rhymes Galore". The single stayed for 17 weeks in the top ten of the German charts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SecYu-V6OZ0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/SecYu-V6OZ0 |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=DJ TOMEKK "1,2,3 RHYMES GALORE" NEW YORK TO GERMANY HI QUALITY|date=February 11, 2009 |access-date=June 22, 2021|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

File:Flavor-flav.jpg in Brisbane, Australia, January 2009]] In 2006, Flav put out his first solo album, titled Hollywood. It was released during the second season of the reality TV dating show Flavor of Love. On March 1, 2020, Public Enemy released a statement saying that the group would be "moving forward without Flavor Flav," after a disagreement of the group's decision to endorse Bernie Sanders and perform at his Los Angeles rally.{{cite magazine |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |title=Public Enemy Fires Flavor Flav After Bernie Sanders Rally Spat |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/public-enemy-flavor-flav-bernie-sanders-960272/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 1, 2020}} Flavor Flav denounced the firing, maintaining that he was Chuck D's partner in Public Enemy and could not be fired from it. On April 1, 2020, Chuck D announced that the firing was a hoax.{{Cite web|author=Christie D'Zurilla|date=April 1, 2020|title=On April Fools' Day, Public Enemy reveals Flavor Flav's firing was a hoax|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-04-01/chuck-d-flavor-flav-firing-public-enemy-radio|access-date=September 8, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} Flavor Flav said shortly thereafter that he was not a part of the hoax and disapproved of the stunt.{{Cite web|author=Lisa Respers France|title=Chuck D says Flavor Flav firing was a stunt, but Flav disagrees|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/02/entertainment/chuck-d-flavor-flav-hoax/index.html|access-date=September 8, 2020|website=CNN|date=April 2, 2020 }}

=Television=

After a hiatus from the music scene, Flav was invited to participate on VH1 reality show The Surreal Life. During this show, he developed a relationship with actress and singer Brigitte Nielsen.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/09/fashion/can-this-hookup-survive.html|title=Can This Hook Up Survive?|work=The New York Times|author=Baz Dreisinger|date=January 9, 2005|access-date=April 8, 2020}} After the conclusion of The Surreal Life, VH1 gave Flav and Nielsen a show titled Strange Love, which detailed their globetrotting adventure in love. At the end of Strange Love, Nielsen decided to return to her fiancé, Mattia Dessi.

Flavor of Love aired for three seasons. It is a reality show where Flavor Flav looks for love and the show's success led to spin-offs titled I Love New York and I Love Money. During the third season reunion of Flavor of Love, Flav proposed to Liz, the mother of his youngest son, Karma. The Comedy Central roast of Flavor Flav aired on August 12, 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2007/cctoroastflavorflav.jhtml|title=Comedy Central Press Release - Roast of Flavor Flav|website=Comedycentral.com|access-date=June 22, 2021|archive-date=June 25, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625171213/http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2007/cctoroastflavorflav.jhtml|url-status=dead}} 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, and Sommore. Flav played Calvester Hill on the MyNetworkTV comedy series Under One Roof, starring alongside Kelly Perine.{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/flavor-flav-roof-38626/|title=Flavor Flav Raises Da Roof in New Sitcom|work=TV Guide|author=Anna Dimond|date=April 16, 2008|access-date=April 8, 2020}}

=Restaurant owner=

In 2011, Flav partnered with Nick Cimino to open Flav's Fried Chicken in Cimino's hometown of Clinton, Iowa northeast of Davenport. The two had met through Cimino's brother Peter, who runs Mama Cimino's in Las Vegas and Castle Rock Bar and Pizzeria in Kingman, Arizona west of Flagstaff. After enjoying Flav's homemade fried chicken,{{r|fassler20110127}} Peter Cimino began selling chicken wings using Flav's recipe.{{cite news|url=http://clintonherald.com/local/x530798204/Reality-TV-star-takes-chance-on-Clinton|title=Reality TV star takes chance on Clinton|publisher=Clinton Herald|date=January 11, 2011|access-date=January 25, 2011}} They hoped to start a national restaurant franchise.{{cite news|last=Fassler|first=Joe|title=Flavor Flav vs. KFC: A Dispatch From Flav's Fried Chicken|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/2011/01/flavor-flav-vs-kfc-a-dispatch-from-flavs-fried-chicken/70313/2/|access-date=January 30, 2011|newspaper=The Atlantic|date=January 27, 2011}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flavor-flav-closes-fried-chicken-restaurant-in-iowa-99441/|title=Flavor Flav Closes Fried Chicken Restaurant in Iowa|first=Matthew|last=Perpetua|website=Rollingstone.com|date=April 25, 2011|access-date=June 22, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/25/flavor-flav-ditches-his-fried-chicken-restaurant/|title=AOL Food - Recipes, Cooking and Entertaining|last=AOL|website=AOL.com|access-date=July 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730024408/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/25/flavor-flav-ditches-his-fried-chicken-restaurant|archive-date=July 30, 2012|url-status=dead}} 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 Flav's birthday in March 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/206380/flavor-flav-opens-fried-chicken-restaurant-in-las-vegas/|title=Flavor Flav Opens Fried Chicken Restaurant In Las Vegas |access-date=March 16, 2012|work=The Inquistir|date=March 16, 2012}} 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 in Sterling Heights, Michigan north of Detroit. The business was not affiliated with the previous two ventures Flav had in the restaurant business. Flavor Flav's Chicken & Ribs was a casual dining experience with a quick serve attitude. Flavor Flav's Chicken & Ribs closed in July 2013 after being evicted by its landlord for failure to pay rent.{{citation |title=The very last Flavor Flav's Chicken & Ribs location has closed |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-very-last-flavor-flavs-chicken-ribs-location-has-1798239546 |first=Marah |last=Eakin |date=July 26, 2013 |work=The A.V. Club |access-date=July 26, 2013}}.

=Other TV and media appearances=

file:Flavor Flav (6774618076).jpg Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida, January 2012]]

In 2002, Flav appeared in Taking Back Sunday's music video for their song You'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 British reality TV show The Farm on Channel 5.{{Cite web|url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/tv_and_showbiz/s/158087_did_you_see_the_farm_channel_5_1030pm|title=Did you see?: The Farm|access-date=May 30, 2011|publisher=MEN Media|year=2005|author=Iain Hepburn|archive-date=November 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112182424/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/tv_and_showbiz/s/158087_did_you_see_the_farm_channel_5_1030pm|url-status=dead}}

Also in 2005, Flavor Flav made a guest appearance in the MTV2 surreal black comedy show Wonder Showzen as himself, in the debut episode "Birth". On June 14, 2006, Flav's participation with WEVR-MRC{{Cite web|url=http://www.volunteer-center.org/programs_services/wevr.htm|title=Westchester Emergency Volunteer Reserves-Medical Reserves Corps (WEVR-MRC)|website=Volunteer-center.org|access-date=June 22, 2021|archive-date=February 5, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205184149/http://www.volunteer-center.org/programs_services/wevr.htm|url-status=dead}} in the Lisa Tolliver Show celebration of National Safety Month,{{cite web |url=http://www.nsc.org/nsc_events/Nat_Safe_Month/Pages/home.aspx |title=National Safety Month |publisher=Nsc.org |access-date=April 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616140514/http://www.nsc.org/nsc_events/Nat_Safe_Month/Pages/home.aspx |archive-date=June 16, 2014 |url-status=dead }} earned kudos from U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona.{{cite web|url=http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/06/21/173419.php |work=Blogcritics |author=Tolliver, Lisa |title=Flavor Flav Celebrates National Safety Month |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213223841/http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/06/21/173419.php |archive-date=February 13, 2009 }}{{cite web|url= http://tolliveretips.blogspot.com/2006/06/lisa-tolliver-show-guests-flavor-flav.html|work=tolliveretips blog|series=Emergency Preparedness and Safety Tips On Air and Online|title= Lisa Tolliver Show notes}}{{cite web|url= http://lisatolliver.blogspot.com/2006/05/how-my-radio-shows-publications-and.html|work=Lisa Tolliver On Air and Online|title=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 |date=May 28, 2006}}

On November 18, 2009, Flav became a downloadable character in the PlayStation Network's video game Pain.{{cite web|url=http://www.painthegame.com/Characters/FLAVOR.html|title=Bio Flavor Flav|access-date=March 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425083023/http://www.painthegame.com/Characters/FLAVOR.html|archive-date=April 25, 2012|url-status=dead}} Flav stars in Deon Taylor's horror anthology Nite Tales and Dark Christmas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/34751/exit-humanity-dvd/|title=Exit Humanity (DVD)|website=Dreadcentral.com|date=June 20, 2012|access-date=June 22, 2021}} On May 10, 2010, Flav guest hosted the wrestling show WWE Raw.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/special/allspecialguesthosts/upcomingguesthosts |title=TV Shows > Raw > Special Guest Hosts > Upcoming Raw guest hosts |publisher=WWE |date=March 28, 2010 |access-date=April 9, 2010}} On August 14, 2011, he appeared as a host at the twelfth annual Gathering of the Juggalos.{{cite video |people=Fats Pepper (presenter), Guy Gorfey |date=April 11, 2009 |title=Weekly Freekly Weekly Special 2011 Gathering Edition |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy_uj82xKKI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/dy_uj82xKKI |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|format=internet news |publisher=Psychopathic Records |location=Detroit, Michigan |access-date=April 12, 2009 }}{{cbignore}}

On January 10, 2012, Flav appeared with his longtime fiancée Liz on ABC's Celebrity Wife Swap. His fiancée traded places with Suzette, the wife of Twisted Sister front-man Dee Snider.{{cite web|url=http://abc.go.com/shows/celebrity-wife-swap |title=TV Shows |date=March 28, 2010 |access-date=January 10, 2012}} On February 5, 2012, Flav appeared along with Elton John in a Pepsi ad during Super Bowl XLVI.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/flavor-flav-hugs-tom-coughlin|title=Flavor Flav hugs Tom Coughlin/|website=Sportsgris.com|access-date=June 22, 2021|archive-date=May 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507210637/http://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/flavor-flav-hugs-tom-coughlin/|url-status=dead}} On February 11, 2012, Flav was an honorary member of the UNLV Rebellion during the UNLV Runnin' Rebels victory over San Diego State, 65-63. From June to September 2012, he co-starred and rapped in the web series Dr. Fubalous.[http://drfubalous.com/cast/#flavor-flav Favor Flav] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617063615/http://drfubalous.com/cast/#flavor-flav |date=June 17, 2012 }}, 2012, cast bio for Dr. Fubalous He also appeared in YooHoo & Friends as Father Time, and the animated feature Hitpig!, both directed by animator David Feiss. In 2025, Flav competed in season thirteen of The Masked Singer as "Space Ranger" which resembles an alien cowboy. He was eliminated on "Ghostbusters Night".{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-masked-singer-season-13-episode-5-recap-space-ranger-1236335769/|title='The Masked Singer' Reveals Identity of Space Ranger: Here Is the Celebrity Under the Costume|website=Variety|first=Michael|last=Schneider|date=March 12, 2025|access-date=March 14, 2025}}

= Sports =

Flavor Flav sang a widely noted performance of the Star Spangled Banner at a Milwaukee Bucks home game against the Atlanta Hawks in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Medium |first=Seattle |date=2023-11-01 |title=Flavor Flav's Viral National Anthem Performance Shakes The Internet |url=https://seattlemedium.com/flavor-flavs-viral-national-anthem-performance-shakes-the-internet/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=The Seattle Medium |language=en-US}} His performance was confusing to some,{{Cite web |date=2023-10-30 |title=Flavor Flav delivers viral national anthem performance at Bucks-Hawks game |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/flavor-flav-delivers-viral-national-anthem-performance-bucks-hawks-gam-rcna122797 |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=NBC News |language=en}} but Flav described the performance as a bucket list item and a tribute to military veterans.{{Cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |date=2023-10-31 |title=Flavor Flav Defends National Anthem Performance, Says He Was Honoring Family in Military |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/flavor-flav-defends-national-anthem-performance-1235459130/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Guy |first=Zoe |date=2023-10-30 |title=God Bless Whoever Booked Flavor Flav for the National Anthem |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/10/flavor-flav-national-anthem-milwaukee-bucks.html |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Vulture |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-31 |title=Flavor Flav's national anthem is a viral hit. It was also a 'long time bucket list item' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-10-31/flavor-flav-national-anthem-milwaukee-bucks-viral |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He has been a philanthropist and helped Olympic athletes needing support.{{cite web |title=U.S. Women's water polo: Flavor Flav to sponsor team for 2024 Paris Olympics | NBC Olympics |url=https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/flavor-flav-hyped-sponsor-us-womens-water-polo-team-paris-olympics-bigger-me}} Flav helped athletes of the United States women's national water polo team amidst their preparations for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, signing a five-year sponsorship deal as the team's official hype man. He traveled to France to personally watch the team play.{{Cite news |date=2024-07-29 |title=How Flavor Flav and Maggie Steffens found a new kind of Olympic synergy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/of-interest/2024/07/29/flavor-flav-water-polo-maggie-steffens-olympics/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en}}

Flav made a custom bronze clock necklace for U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles after her bronze medal was controversially rescinded at the Paris 2024 games.{{Cite web |last=Stumbaugh |first=Julia |title=Video: Flavor Flav Shows Off Bronze Clock Made for Jordan Chiles Amid Medal Dispute |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10131780-video-flavor-flav-shows-off-bronze-clock-made-for-jordan-chiles-amid-medal-dispute |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}} He helped raise money for the family of Paralympic sprinter Nick Mayhugh to travel to Paris to see their relative play, and paid rent for Veronica Fraley, an Olympic discus thrower during the Olympic games.{{Cite web |last1=Jennings |first1=Penelope |last2=CNN |date=2024-08-16 |title=Flavor Flav helps Paralympic athlete raise money to have parents watch him compete in Paris |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/16/sport/nick-mayhugh-flavor-flav-paris-paralympic-games/index.html |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=CNN |language=en}}

File:Flavor Flav and Ellie The Elephant.png, September 2024]]

Flavor Flav is a long time fan of women's sports.{{Cite news |last=Graham |first=Bryan Armen |date=2024-07-26 |title=How 'girl dad' Flavor Flav became hype man for the US women's water polo team |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/26/how-girl-dad-flavor-flav-became-hype-man-for-the-us-womens-water-polo-team |access-date=2024-09-06 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} 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.https://x.com/ClassicJpow/status/1831851358066286856{{Cite news |date=2024-09-06 |title=Laney-Hamilton returns to starting lineup, helps Liberty to 77-70 win over Storm |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wnba/2024/09/05/wnba-liberty-storm-score/89729d3c-6beb-11ef-86b4-58b1d68922fb_story.html |access-date=2024-09-06 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

Personal life and legal situations

Flavor Flav had his first three children with Karen Ross,{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} three children with Angie Parker,{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} 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. In 1993, Flav was charged with attempted murder and imprisoned for 90 days for shooting at his neighbor. Later that year, Flav was charged with domestic violence, and possession of cocaine and marijuana. His family performed an intervention, and he checked into the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California for an addiction to crack cocaine. After Flav's father died of complications from diabetes in 1997, Flav decided to re-enter rehabilitation at the Long Island Center for Recovery. He also broke both arms in a motorcycle crash.

Flavor Flav dated Beverly Johnson and by 2000, he lived in a small apartment in the Bronx with her and her two children from a previous marriage, while making money scalping baseball tickets. In 2002, Flav spent nine weeks in Rikers Island jail for driving with a suspended license, numerous parking tickets, and tardiness for probation appointments. After being released from jail, Flav broke up with Johnson and moved in with his mother on Long Island.

Chuck D became concerned about Flav's well-being and, toward the end of 2003, suggested that Flav move to Los Angeles. Flav moved into his friend Princess' apartment, and within months met Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin, the creators and executive producers of the reality television series The 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 participant MC Hammer.

On May 2, 2011, Flav was arrested on four outstanding misdemeanor warrants for various driving offenses.{{cite news|title=Rapper Flavor Flav arrested in Las Vegas on misdemeanor warrants|author= Martinez, Edecio|date=May 2, 2011|access-date=May 3, 2011|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rapper-flavor-flav-arrested-in-las-vegas-on-misdemeanor-warrants/|work=CBS News}} Police said Flav had two outstanding arrest warrants for driving without a license, one for driving without insurance, and one related to a parking citation.{{cite web|title=Flavor Flav arrested after traffic stop in Vegas|date=May 2, 2011 |url=https://www.today.com/news/flavor-flav-arrested-after-traffic-stop-vegas-wbna42863639|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508001925/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42863639/ns/today-entertainment/t/flavor-flav-arrested-after-traffic-stop-vegas/|url-status=live|archive-date=May 8, 2011}} He was released within a few days. In June 2011, he said on the Australian radio show The Kyle and Jackie O Show that when his drug problem was at its worst, he would spend up to US $2,600 a day on crack cocaine.{{cite web|url=http://austereo.castmetrix.net/podcast/378302368699185950/1/TheKyleandJackieOShow.mp3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725143550/http://austereo.castmetrix.net/podcast/378302368699185950/1/TheKyleandJackieOShow.mp3|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 25, 2011|title=このURLのページは表示することが出来ませんでした。 IP分散サーバーならIQサーバー｜クラスCの完全分散が月額139円～|website=austereo.castmetrix.net}} 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.{{cite web | url = http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/17/showbiz/flavor-flav-arrest/ | title=Flavor Flav arrested on assault, battery charges | publisher =CNN | date= October 18, 2012 | access-date= April 14, 2014}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.blackcelebkids.com/2007/12/13/meet-flavor-flavs-youngest-son|title=Flavor Fav and newborn 7th kid in Hawaii|website=Blackcelebkids.com|access-date=June 22, 2021}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web |url=http://www.blackcelebkids.com/2008/06/12/flavor-flav-fiancee-liz-and-baby-karma-take-in-a-concert-in-vegas/ |title=Black Celebrity Kids, babies, and their Parents » Flavof Flav fiancee Liz and baby Karma take in a concert in Vegas |website=Blackcelebkids.com |date=June 12, 2008 |access-date=April 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404172517/http://www.blackcelebkids.com/2008/06/12/flavor-flav-fiancee-liz-and-baby-karma-take-in-a-concert-in-vegas/ |archive-date=April 4, 2010 |url-status=dead }}

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.{{cite news | url=http://www.vh1.com/celebrity/2012-10-17/flavor-flav-arrested-in-las-vegas-for-assault-with-a-deadly-weapon/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019052948/http://www.vh1.com/celebrity/2012-10-17/flavor-flav-arrested-in-las-vegas-for-assault-with-a-deadly-weapon/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 19, 2012 | title=Flavor Flav Arrested In Las Vegas For Assault With A Deadly Weapon | work=VH1 Insider | access-date=October 17, 2012}}

Flav's mother, Anna Drayton, died on December 31, 2013.{{cite web |url=http://theboombox.com/flavor-flav-mother-anna-drayton-dies/ |title=Flavor Flav's Mother Anna Drayton Dies |first=Trent |last=Fitzgerald |website=The Boombox |date=January 2, 2014}} On January 9, 2014, Flav was pulled over on Long Island's Meadowbrook Parkway for driving {{convert|79|mph}} in a {{convert|55|mph|abbr=on}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/celebrities/flavor-flav-pleads-not-guilty-in-speeding-case-1.6893917|title=Flavor Flav pleads not guilty in speeding case| date=January 28, 2014| work=Newsday | location = New York City / Long Island| first1=Darran| last1=Simon| first2=John| last2=Valenti| access-date= May 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416095351/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/celebrities/flavor-flav-pleads-not-guilty-in-speeding-case-1.6893917| archive-date=April 16, 2014|url-status=live}} Flav was arrested near Las Vegas on May 21, 2015. The charges included speeding and driving under the influence.{{cite news|url=http://www.8newsnow.com/story/29128557/flavor-flav-arrested-in-vegas-suspected-of-impaired-driving|title=Flavor Flav arrested in Vegas, suspected of impaired driving| date=May 21, 2015| agency=Associated Press | publisher= KLAS-TV | location = Las Vegas, Nevada| access-date= May 24, 2015| archive-date= May 24, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150524210812/http://www.8newsnow.com/story/29128557/flavor-flav-arrested-in-vegas-suspected-of-impaired-driving | url-status=live}}

On July 21, 2019, a son, Jordan was born to Flav and Kate Gammell.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-27 |title=Paternity Test Confirms Flavor Flav IS The Father Of 3-Month-Old Boy |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.53117/title.flavor-flav-named-in-new-paternity-suit |access-date=2021-04-26 |website=HipHopDX}}

=Idiosyncrasies=

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."{{cite web |title=Pawn Stars: Flavor Flav's O.J. Simpson Statue (Season 14) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG3KWioKAJA |website=YouTube | date=October 23, 2017 |publisher=History |access-date=19 July 2022}} Flavor Flav has a penchant for speaking about himself in the third person.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

Discography

;Solo albums

Hollywood (2006)

;Guest appearances

Barshem, "Where's My $5 At?"
Bumpy Knuckles & DJ Premier, "Shake the Room", Kolexxxion, 2012
De La Soul, "Come on Down", The Grind Date, 2004
DJ Tomekk, "1, 2, 3, ... Rhymes Galore" (w/ Grandmaster Flash, MC Rene & Afrob), Return of Hip Hop, 1999
George Clinton, "Paint The White House Black" (w/ Chuck D, Ice Cube, MC Breed, Kam, Yo-Yo & Dr. Dre), Hey, Man, Smell My Finger, 1993;"Tweakin'" (w/ Chuck D), The Cinderella Theory, 1989
Heavy D and The Boyz, "You Can't See What I Can See", B-Side to "Don't Curse", 1992
Ice Cube, "I'm Only Out for One Thang", AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, 1990
Living Colour, "Funny Vibe" (w/ Chuck D), Vivid, 1988
Material, "Burnin" (w/ DXT), Intonarumori, 1999
Nigo, "From New York to Tokyo", 2001
Nikki D, "Lettin' Off Steam (Club Mix)", Daddy's Little Girl, 1991
Prince Akeem, "Only We Can Do This", Coming Down Like Babylon, 1991
Stop the Violence Movement, "Self Destruction", 1989
Wu-Tang Clan, "Soul Power", Iron Flag, 2001
Eric B. & Rakim, "I Ain't No Joke" (Music Video Cameo)
Xzibit, "What U See Is What U Get" (Music Video Cameo)
P. Diddy, "P.E. 2000" (Music Video Cameo)
Taking Back Sunday, "You're So Last Summer" (Music Video Cameo)
Will Smith, "So Fresh" (w/ Biz Markie & Slick Rick) (Music Video Cameo)
Micayla de Ette, "Write a Song", 2019{{cite web |title=Micayla De Ette & Flavor Flav - Write a Song [Music Video Review] |url=https://www.laonlock.com/reviews/11/9/2019/micayla-de-ette-amp-flavor-flav-write-a-song-music-video-review |website=LA On Lock |access-date=March 1, 2020 |date=November 9, 2019}}

Notes

References

External links

{{Official website|www.publicenemy.com}} Public Enemy
[https://web.archive.org/web/20121022034602/http://www.mtv.com/artists/flavor-flav/ Artist profile] at MTV
{{IMDb name|id=0281318}}

Category:1959 births

Category:Living people

Category:Adelphi University alumni

Category:African-American male rappers

Category:21st-century American male rappers

Category:African-American television producers

Category:Television producers from New York (state)

Category:Hardcore hip-hop artists

Category:American people convicted of burglary

Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians

Category:American people convicted of assault

Category:Underground rappers