William Jonathan Drayton Jr. (born March 16, 1959),[1] known by his stage name Flavor Flav (/ˈfleɪvər ˌfleɪv/, FLAY-vər FLAYV), is an American DJ rapper and hype man. Known for his yells of "Yeah, boyeeeeee!" when performing,[2][3] he is a founding member of Public Enemy alongside Chuck D; a rap group which has earned six Grammy Award nominations,[4] and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[5]

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.

Drayton was born in Roosevelt, New York, and grew up in nearby Freeport, two communities within the Town of Hempstead. Drayton is the cousin of former Penn State basketball player Shep Garner,[6] and of Brooklyn MC Timbo King of Royal Fam.[7] He is also a cousin of rappers Ol' Dirty Bastard, RZA, and GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan.[8][9]

He taught himself piano and began playing at the age of five.[10] He sang in the youth choir at his church and mastered the piano, drums and guitar at an early age.[11] According to Chuck D, Drayton is proficient in fifteen instruments.[3] 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.[11][12]

Drayton attended culinary school in 1978.[3] Later he attended Adelphi University on Long Island, where he met Carlton Ridenhour (who later became known as Chuck D).[2] They first collaborated on Chuck D's hip-hop college radio show, then began rapping together.[11] Drayton's stage name Flavor Flav was originally his graffiti tag.[3]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.