Flavor Flav

Posted on 11.19.2004

17 comment(s)

Flavor Fav
real name : William Drayton
Birthday : March 16, 1959
Hometown : Roosevelt, New York

Flavor Flav is a founding member of the influential politically conscious hip hop group Public Enemy. After falling from the public eye, he has recently regained fame as a star of American reality television. He has starred in a series of highly-rated VH-1 programs, most recently the Flavor of Love series.

Flavor Flav biography :

Born in Roosevelt, New York on Long Island, William Drayton attended high school in Freeport, New York. He dropped out of high school in his junior year with hopes of becoming an entertainer. Drayton was given his own Saturday night radio show at Adelphi University. While rapping at Adelphi under the name MC DJ Flavor Flav, he met a graphic-design student, Carlton Ridenhour (Chuck D).

Chuck D, DJ Terminator X, Professor Griff, and Flavor Flav formed Public Enemy and released their debut album Yo ! Bum Rush the Show in 1987.

Flav participated in Public Enemy as second rapper or vocalist (the primary vocalist was Chuck D), and as the band’s drummer. His stuttering vocal style has influenced rappers including Busta Rhymes and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Providing a comic foil to the political message of Chuck D, some credit Flav with the development of the rap sidekick (often referred to as a "hype man"). Unlike later practitioners of the hype man role, however, Flav’s stage presence and musical contributions were at least as strong as Chuck D’s, and his surreally absurd rapping added a humanizing light-heartedness to the group. In addition to the comic and derisive asides he offers on most Public Enemy performances, he has also taken center stage on songs such as "Too Much Posse," the bizarre and unforgettable "Cold Lampin’ with Flava," and "911 Is a Joke," which provided one of the group’s most colorful music videos. On the group’s 1998 "comeback" single—following a four-year hiatus—"He Got Game," the title song to a contemporaneous film by Spike Lee, Flav performs essentially a duet with Chuck D.

Flav often wears a clock around his neck, stating that observers will "know what time it is." The clock became one of Flav’s trademarks, along with comic sunglasses. Flav credits himself as having been the originator of the current platinum grill craze in hip hop fashion. Flav acknowledges that his style is bizarre, and he is proud of his distinctiveness. Another of Flav’s trademarks is his catchphrase, a loud and exaggerated "Yeeeeaaaahhhh Booooyyyy !"

Flav has reportedly completed two solo albums, both of which were rejected by his record label, Def Jam. A third LP, It’s About Time, was due to be released in 1999 but never appeared. A fourth album, "Hollywood," is scheduled for release on October 31, 2006.

Flav has six children. Their names are Shaniq, Karen, Designa, Kwan, William, and Kayla. He also has two grandchildren, Brianna and Matthew. Both grandchildren belong to his daughter Shaniq.

On October 23, 2006, Flav revealed on the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show that "a shorty in Vegas" was carrying his seventh baby and is due any minute. This new baby will bring Flav one child closer to his goal of having ten kids.

Flavor Fav Discography

Flavor Fav Solo album
Flavor Flav (2006)

Albums 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)
Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age (1994)
He Got Game (1998)
BTN 2000
There’s A Poison Goin On (1999)
Revolverlution (2002)
New Whirl Odor (2005)
Rebirth of a Nation (2006)

<< Ol Dirty Bastard | Chingy >>

Share this article

Got a comment ?

No profanity, or inaproppriate remarks.

Flavor Flav, by Andrea [2008-05-23 20:05:12]

You are so handsome I would really love to meet you one day.

Your friend Andrea

Flavor Flav, by antionette [2008-05-18 11:31:20]

i would love to meet you

Flavor Flav, by antionette [2008-05-18 11:29:58]

i would meet you

Flavor Flav, by Lynda Ottey [2008-05-12 12:22:03]

I was informed that Flavor Flav had a PH.d in education and taught as a Professor at some University is that true ?

Flavor Flav, by nickole [2008-05-08 09:28:27]

ummm..... naw souja boi aint dix old axx dood son so get dat write

Flavor Flav, by mary [2008-04-10 19:25:50]

Flav, i love your show flavor of love. ive seen all 3 of them but if you ask me i dont think any of the girls on season 3 are good enough for you ! your way too fine ! love you baby !

Flavor Flav, by jamie [2008-04-08 09:08:31]

uuuuu rrrrrrrrrrrr sssssssssooooooooo hot

Flavor Flav, by Casidy Jones [2008-03-05 10:19:29]

Flav you are so dam cute !

Flavor Flav, by [2007-11-18 19:25:04]

MAAAAKKKEEOOOVVVEEERRR !!! (is Soulja boy his son ?)

Flavor Flav, by [2007-11-18 19:22:45]

he one crazy dude. but wat can i say he had a goood show

Flavor Flav, by jb [2007-11-05 10:21:17]

im doing a mthing for school on you its called the history of flavor fav

Flavor Flav, by brenda [2007-10-24 14:23:57]

hey wuz good wit u me i’m still in high school and still a teen i love u showings and i hate the way u did newyork

Flavor Flav, by [2007-10-15 17:34:04]

kickdatshitbooooooooooooyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeee !!!!!

Flavor Flav, by Stacy [2007-10-11 01:19:29]

What happened to Big Joe the rapper ? Is he sick in the hospital or does he have clogged arteries ? Hope he is ok !! Much love Stacy. From N.N. Virginia.