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. The first released track on which Flav rapped solo was "Life Of A Nigerian" on Goat Ju JU, though the first hit on which he rapped solo would not come until the 1990s single "911 Is a Joke". By the time the political single "Fight the Power" was issued in 1989, the group had become mainstream superstars.Īlong 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. 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. Flav served as the comic foil to Chuck D's serious, politically charged style. The group's first album, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, was released in 1987. 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 in 1986. In 1984, the group released a track, "Public Enemy #1", which brought them to the attention of Def Jam Records executive Rick Rubin. See Public Enemy (group) for more informationįlavor Flav came to prominence as a founding member and hype man of the rap group Public Enemy. The two worked for Chuck D's father's delivery service. They first collaborated on Chuck D's hip-hop college radio show, then began rapping together. Flavor Flav took his stage name after his graffiti tag. He attended Adelphi University on Long Island where he met Carlton Ridenhour, who would become known as Chuck D. Flav graduated from culinary school in 1978, and has cooked in several restaurants. He set a house on fire as a small child while playing with a lighter by the time he dropped out of school in the 11th grade, he had been in and out of jail for robbery and burglary. He eventually became proficient in 15 instruments. A musical prodigy, he sang in the youth choir at his church and mastered the piano, drums, and guitar at an early age.
Flav began playing the piano at age five and is self-taught. He is also known for popularizing the role of the hype man and for yelling "Yeah boy!" and "Flavor Flav!" during performances.Īfter falling out of the public eye for a number of years, he reappeared as the star of several VH1 reality series, including The Surreal Life, Strange Love, and Flavor of Love.ĭrayton grew up in Freeport, New York. (born March 16, 1959), better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American musician and television personality who rose to prominence as a member of the hip-hop group Public Enemy.
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Flavor Flav (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) William Jonathan Drayton, Jr.
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