William Jonathan Drayton Jr., better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American rapper and television personality. As a member of the hip hop group Public Enemy, he is known for his politically charged rap lyrics. After a period of relative quiet, he has reemerged as a prominent figure in American reality television, starring in several VH1 programs, including the popular Flavor of Love series.
This article delves into the life and career of Flavor Flav, exploring his journey from a troubled youth to a hip-hop legend and reality TV star.
Flavor Flav Biography
Flavor Flav, born William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. on March 16, 1959, in Roosevelt, New York, was raised in Freeport, New York, alongside his mother Anna, father William (a restaurant owner), brother Steven, and sister Jean. At just five years old, he taught himself to play the piano and later expanded his musical talents to include guitar and drums.
As a child, he accidentally set his family’s house on fire while playing with a lighter and had several arrests for burglary and robbery during his teenage years. In 1978, William decided to attend culinary school, where he met Carlton Ridenhour, better known as Chuck D, at Long Island’s Adelphi University. The two began rapping together, and Drayton adopted the stage name Flavor Flav.
Flavor Flav Education
Flav attended Freeport High School. However, he dropped out in the 11th grade due to various challenges, including legal troubles and a tendency to find himself in difficult situations, which he later described as being “the Dennis the Menace of society” during his youth.
After leaving high school, Flav pursued culinary studies in 1978 and later attended Adelphi University on Long Island, where he studied business and radio communications. It was at Adelphi that he met Chuck D, with whom he would later form the influential hip-hop group Public Enemy.
Flavor Flav has recently shared his determination to finish his high school education. He revealed plans to star in a reality TV show that will follow his journey to earn a high school diploma, making it clear that he is focused on this goal rather than opting for a GED.
Flav recognizes how the education system has evolved since his younger days and is ready to adjust to these changes.
This journey highlights Flav’s continued dedication to personal growth and education, even at this stage of his life.
Flav told the outlet:
“I’m going back to high school to get my diploma! That’s what my show is going to be about. Flavor Flav goes back to high school to get his diploma and I’m getting it for real. Not a GED, bro. I want my diploma.”
Source – vibe.com
Flavor Flav Career
Flavor Flav and Chuck D co-founded Public Enemy in 1985, releasing the track “Public Enemy #1” the following year. This track caught the attention of Rick Rubin, a Def Jam Records executive, leading to a deal with the label. Their debut album, *Yo! Bum Rush the Show*, was released on February 10, 1987.
The album achieved Gold certification from the RIAA, and their follow-up in 1988, *It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back*, went Platinum and topped the *Billboard* Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 1990, Public Enemy released *Fear of a Black Planet*, featuring the #1 *Billboard* Hot Rap Songs “Fight the Power” and “911 Is a Joke.” Since then, the group has released 11 more albums, including *New Whirl Odor* (2005), *Rebirth of a Nation* (2006), and *The Evil Empire of Everything* (2012). Their 15th album, *What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?*, was scheduled for release in September 2020. In March 2020, the group announced Flav’s dismissal following a disagreement over a Bernie Sanders rally, but Chuck D later revealed it was a hoax.
In 1996, Flav released a self-titled solo album and has since made guest appearances on tracks by artists like Anthrax, George Clinton, Ice Cube, Will Smith, and Snoop Dogg. He ventured into reality TV in 2004, starting with *The Surreal Life*, where he began a relationship with Danish actress Brigitte Nielsen. VH1 gave them their own show, *Strange Love*, in 2005, but Nielsen ended the relationship at the show’s conclusion, returning to her fiancé.
Flav then starred in the dating show *Flavor of Love*, which aired for three seasons. In 2007, he was the guest of honor at the *Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav*. Flav has also acted in various film and TV projects, including *New Jack City* (1991), *Private Parts* (1997), and *The Bernie Mac Show* (2004). He had recurring roles on *Under One Roof* (2008-2009), *Nite Tales: The Series* (2009), and *Dr. Fubalous* (2012). Flav has also owned restaurants such as Flav’s Fried Chicken, Flavor Flav’s House of Flavor, and Flavor Flav’s Chicken & Ribs.
What are Flavor Flav’s Major Career Milestones?
Throughout his career, Flavor Flav has reached various milestones, including:
- Released critically praised albums with Public Enemy, including “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.”
- Winning multiple honors, including the Grammy for Best Rap Performance.
- He transitioned to reality television, where he found a new audience and exhibited his charm on shows like “Flavor of Love.”
Flavor Flav Net worth 2024
In 2024, Flavor Flav’s estimated net worth is around $2 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. This amount largely stems from his music career with Public Enemy and his various television appearances, highlighting his enduring impact on the entertainment industry, especially in hip-hop.
Flavor Flav Real Estate
Flav paid almost $685,000 for a 3,708-square-foot Las Vegas property in 2008. The house has four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Flavor Flav Personal Life
Flav has three kids with Karen Ross, three with Angie Parker, and one with Elizabeth Trujillo. He became engaged to Trujillo while dating other women on “Flavor of Love,” and the couple reportedly married sometime around 2013. Flav was arrested in October 2012 for attacking Liz and threatening her adolescent son with a knife, and the following year, the two featured on VH1’s “Couples Therapy.” Parker took Flav to court in 2012 over the $111,186 he owed in child support. Facing a 6-month sentence in prison, he paid Angie $25,000 in June of that year and agreed to monthly $1,200 installments.
Flav has suffered with addiction and legal difficulties his entire life, and after being arrested in 1991 for attacking Ross and again in 1993 for cocaine, marijuana, domestic violence, and attempted murder, his family staged an intervention and encouraged him to get treatment at the Betty Ford Center. He also sought treatment at the Long Island Center for Recovery following his father’s death in 1997. Flav has been arrested multiple times since then, including a nine-week stint at Rikers Island in 2002 for parking citations and driving with a suspended license, as well as arrests for driving crimes in 2011, 2014, and 2015. Flav’s driver’s license has been banned 16 times prior to his arrest in 2014.
Flavor Flav Awards and Nominations
Flavor Flav, as part of Public Enemy, has garnered six Grammy nominations, including four for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (“Fight the Power” in 1990, “Fear of a Black Planet” in 1991, “Apocalypse 91” in 1992, and “Greatest Misses” in 1993). They also received a nomination for Best Metal Performance (“Bring the Noise” with Anthrax, 1995) and Best Music Video – Long Form (“The Enemy Strikes Live,” 1993). Public Enemy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
The group has also been recognized with nominations from the American Music Awards and the Soul Train Awards, winning Best Rap Album for “Apocalypse ’91” in 1992. For his role in “Flavor of Love,” Flav earned Teen Choice Award nominations for TV – Choice Reality Star (Male) in 2006 and Choice TV: Male Reality/Variety Star in 2007.
What is Flavor Flav doing now?
Flavor Flav remains an active presence in the entertainment world. He frequently performs with Public Enemy and appears as a guest on several television shows. He actively participates in community involvement and advocacy, using his position to raise awareness about critical social issues. Despite his career ups and downs, Flavor Flav is still a popular figure, noted for his contagious energy and commitment to his work.
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