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Flavor Flav

William Drayton, better known as Flavor Flav (born March 16, 1959), is a rap artist and member of the influential and politically-conscious rap group Public Enemy. Born in Roosevelt, New York, Flav, a classically-trained pianist, attended Adelphi University in Long Island where, while rapping under the name MC DJ Flavor he met then graphic design student Carlton Ridenhour (Chuck D). Chuck D compiled DJ Terminator X, Professor Griff and Flavor Flav to form Public Enemy and release the debut album Yo, Bum Rush the Show in 1987.

Flav participated in Public Enemy as second rapper or vocalist (vocals were mostly done by Chuck D), and as the rap band's drummer. Some credit Flav with the role of rap sidekick. While in the group, Flav had numerous brushes with the law. During the time of the band's success, Flav was also a heavy drug abuser, though he is proudly clean as of 2004.

Flavor Flav appeared in the third season of The Surreal Life on VH1, in which he had an on-screen relationship with actress Brigitte Nielsen.

Flav credits himself as having been the originator of the current platinum grill craze in hip-hop fashion. Though Flav himself has vehemently stated that he would never wear platinum teeth himself, his near-constant wearing of gold teeth has inspired other rappers to get gold or platinum teeth, he claims. Given that no noticeable celebrity wore gold-plated teeth prior to Public Enemy's success, Flav's comments are arguably accurate.

He often wears a clock around his neck, stating that observers will "know what time it is...". These clocks became one of Flav's trademarks. Flav is also known to wear flashy colors, such as hot pink, and a metal-horned helmet on his head, while Chuck D used to perform in dark colours, and the Security of the 1st World wear military uniform. Flav realizes that his style is bizarre, and he is proud of his own uniqueness.

Flavor Flav has six children by two women and currently resides in New York.



Last updated: 02-09-2005 22:35:52
Last updated: 05-03-2005 17:50:55