In the world of pop culture, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who has made more out of two simple words: “Yeah, boy.” Those seven letters have helped make Flavor Flav a hip-hop legend, a No. 1-rated TV star, a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and, as Flav will tell you, “the most sampled voice in the history of music.”
But of course, Flavor Flav is much more than just a catch phrase. In our latest episode from Las Vegas, the Public Enemy hype man sits down with the Outlaws to discuss the work he put in to succeed in the music business, as well as the later work he did to improve himself as a person. He recounts how the record company originally did not want him to be a part of Public Enemy because he didn’t have the deep, bassy voice most people associated with 1980s hip-hop. Now the voice they didn’t want is iconic and synonymous with the genre.
A self-taught musician who plays 14 different instruments, Flav knew that if he was going to get anywhere toward achieving his dream he had to focus on himself and not worry about what anyone else thought. “[Forget] being in competition with somebody else; be in competition with yourself. Try to outdo yourself.”
Flavor Flav also discusses the origin of his iconic clock, what he thought when he was initially offered a spot on “The Surreal Life” TV show, what his platform would be if he ran for president, and stories about opening for The Beastie Boys early in his career. Tune in to episode 67 of Business Outlaws and add a little Flavor to your day.
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