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Today, most people associate the name Flavor Flav with his most recent bout of success, which came in the form of a little reality show over at the VH-1 network called, Flavor of Love. However, true school Hip-Hop heads really know the man, born William Drayton Jr., for the legendary musical icon that he truly is.

Born in Roosevelt, New York on Long Island, the, then, aspiring entertainer, and classically trained pianist, who at that time was using the moniker, MC DJ Flavor, dropped out of his Freeport, N.Y. high school to pursue his lifelong dream of a career in music. As fate would have it, while hosting a local college radio show at Adelphi University, He would, eventually, meet his musical partner, Carlton Ridenhour, a graphic design student, who went by the name of Chucky D (later Chuck D).

Together, with DJ Terminator X, and Professor Griff, in addition to producers Hank & Keith Shocklee and Eric ‘Vietnam’ Sadler (The Bomb Squad), the group would later go on to record, and release, their critically acclaimed, now, classic Def Jam Records’ debut, Yo! Bum Rush the Show. Collectively known as Public Enemy, the group has since amassed global success, with millions of records sold worldwide, extensive touring, with their faithful Security of the First World, a.k.a. S1W’s, team in tow, in and around every city, state and country all over the earth, and were ranked number forty-four of the Fifty Greatest Artists of All Time by Rolling Stone Magazine. In 2007, P.E. will finally be inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

CraveOnline recently reached out to the clock sporting, number one hype-man to ever touch a mic, now drug-free, and a doting father of six children, with one on the way, a few weeks after the release of his exceedingly overdue solo opus, simply titled, Flavor Flav.

CraveOnline: First things first, what took you so long to drop this record?

Flavor Flav: Well, let me say this, it all started back in the days when I was signed to Def Jam as a solo artist, and we were doing the He Got Game (soundtrack) project. I was supposed to release my album around that time, and being that He Got Game didn’t do so well, they bent my finger back. Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen bent my finger back and said, “Well, if you don’t give us another album, we won’t release your solo album!!” So, I gave them another album, and that one didn’t really do so well with Public Enemy, and they still never released my solo album. But, then things went on to where I had to get off of Def Jam, so it took years, and years, and years for me to try to find somebody to really put my album out with. As time went on, things went on in my life. Then, the next thing you know I start getting in trouble with the law, with driving and all of this stuff, and guns and all of this stuff. Next thing, things started escalating down. So, while it was escalating down, and I was down, I wasn’t really in the studio that much doing recording. My life was at a real, like, quick downfall, at that time, with drugs. I was battling drugs, at the time, and when you’re on drugs your mind doesn’t have that will-power to keep yourself moving. You just want to stay around and be addicted to the doggone stuff. And, one day, I just said to myself, “Listen, I’m tired of this. I gotta get myself together!!” And, I went and I checked myself into a place called L.I.C.R., which is Long Island Center of Recovery, and my boy, Jack Hamilton, and them, helped me get myself together, and that was the start of me rising back up, folks. ‘Cause, next thing you know, as I got myself together, and I got myself off of drugs and stuff, me and my girlfriend broke up, and me, my partner, Chuck D, and Hank Shocklee, we were having a meeting one day in Chuck D’s room, and, being that my girlfriend kicked me out, I told them I was gonna go get an apartment downtown in Manhattan. They said, “Well listen, there’s not really much going on for you here in New York, why don’t you take that same money, go out to L.A., (and) see what you can do there” Then, a light-bulb came over my head shining, and I always wanted to do TV, I always wanted to be in movies, so I said to my-self, “Well, what’s the best way right now to get on TV Well, go to L.A., be around TV stuff. What’s the best way to get into movies? Go around (or) be around movie stuff.” So, I went out to L.A., and I started doing TV, and that gave me a lot more power to go in the studio and start recording. Next thing you know, I ended up getting the power to stay in the studio, (and) finally I came up with the right product to put out on the street. I’m independent. I’m taking my own money right now, and I’m putting this thing out myself, and I’m gonna see what it could do. So, that’s the reason why it took so long for me to come with this album, because my life wasn’t right at the time when I really wanted to deliver it, but now being that my life is right, God has blessed me with the power to deliver this album. So, now I’m delivering my first solo album ever, and everybody has been waiting for years for a Flavor Flav solo project, and I’m so glad right now to give it to ‘em!! Hopefully, hopefully it’s gonna do good. I want it to be a collector’s item, so that’s why it’s my first and only solo album ever, ‘cause I want it to be exclusive. And, if I do another solo album, then this album won’t be exclusive anymore.

CraveOnline: Well, there’s been some misconception about the album’s actual title that has some people assuming that the record is called Hollywood, when in fact it’s self-titled. Care to explain?

Flav: See, the title of the album isn’t Hollywood the title of the album is Flavor Flav. And see, Flavor Flav is from New York, and I moved to Hollywood. So, that’s why (on the cover) you’ll see a picture of the Hollywood sign, with the skyline of Manhattan coming out the back of it. I mean, picture the Hollywood sign being in New York, or picture Manhattan being in Hollywood [He cackles]. So, the name of the album isn’t Hollywood, the name of the album is Flavor Flav. That picture defines me moving from New York to Hollywood. So, that’s why I put the Hollywood sign there, and the skyline of Manhattan coming out the back of it!             

CraveOnline: With this project so many years in the making, what can your fans expect?

Flav: Wow!! I define (this album) a lot different than as the world sees me, because, see, the world sees me as the greatest hype-man. They know me as the greatest hype-man that ever lived, and I AM the greatest hype-man that ever lived!! And, I’m the first hype-man on records, and nobody ever could take my spot, take my position, and they can never take my title. Hey, let me tell (you) something, man -- Just having that position right now is number one, kid!! So, this definitely is a lot different from what y’all been seeing out of Flavor Flav, because Flavor Flav’s always been…I’ve always been a people person. And, in order to sell records to everybody, you gotta make records for everybody. So, that’s what this album is like right now. This is not like your regular Public Enemy album. This album right here is just...This album though is definitely versatile. It’s more like a variety album. Nothing really sounds the same on it. I got music on here for mostly all cultures. Most rap records, they just cater to one audience, but this album here caters to all audiences. And, right now I have a brand new audience, which is a crossover audience, and I got kids that love me now, too. And, I can’t disappoint the kids. So, I gotta have something on there for the kids. I gotta have something on there for my rap fans. I got a little bit of R&B going on, on my album, for people who like R&B. I got a song called ‘Two Wrongz,’ that’s an R&B cut.

CraveOnline: Let’s discuss the mega-success of your VH-1 reality show Flavor of Love, which just wrapped a second season. Were you at all surprised, or taken aback, by the amount of popularity that this program seemed to achieve in such a relatively short period of time?

Flav: Honestly, yes, I am kinda surprised. But, this is something that I did expect. I expected for it to grow big quick, and to do-good, I just didn’t know that it was gonna really happen like this. I mean, ever since I (first) got on TV, I’ve never been number one. When I was on Surreal Life (in 2004), that was a number one show. Then, me and Brigitte (Nielsen) ended up doing Strange Love, which ended up being a number one show. Then, after that, Flavor of Love (Season) One –- Oh my God!! (It) ended up being a number one show. And now, Flavor of Love (Season) 2, is gonna always remain the number one show ‘cause I got 7.5 million viewers, and I don’t think nobody else is gonna come behind me and come that close right now. But, I’m grateful for those numbers ‘cause I mean, “Hey, it took all of the people that love me, and support me, to give me that.” And, I’m grateful to all my people that even watched me on TV.

CraveOnline: Although those viewer-ship numbers are quite impressive, not everyone has been so kind to the show. Nay-Sayers, and critics alike, are panning it pretty badly, with negative comments and reviews, even comparing it to a modern day coon caricature such as a Stepin Fetchit -– What are your feelings surrounding all of this hoopla?

Flav: I’m gonna tell you like this. Honestly, one thing about Flavor Flav, he never ever cared what anybody had to say about him. He never cared what anybody ever thought about him. I always still did my thing, and it stayed successful anyway. So, their thoughts, and their things, can not stop Flavor Flav from being successful. Everybody is entitled to their own opinions, and if that’s their opinions, I just want to say, “Hey, they’re entitled to that, but they are sad opinions.”

CraveOnline: Since you eventually ended up selecting London Charles, known to you as Deelishis, as your new mate, I guess it’s fair to say that there won’t be a Season 3?

Flav: Well, I ain’t trying to have a season three anyway!! [He chuckles] Because, I think season number two was the Michael Jordan of reality TV right now. And, I think I’m gonna step back right now with this dating stuff. I want to start doing a TV show and everything now, a talk show and all that. That’s gonna be my next angle. I mean, “Hey look, this Flavor of Love thing was great!! And, not only that, but me and Deelishis, we haven’t (really) started dating yet. I’m gonna see how the chemistry is with me and Deelishis (first), and if the chemistry with me and Deelishis is good, there will be no reason for a Flavor of Love 3. If (it just) so happens that the chemistry isn’t good, I was not trying to really do a Flavor of Love 3, but, you know what, I still might consider (it).

CraveOnline: Truthfully, in the very beginning of Season 2, did you ever foresee, at that particular time, that Deelishis could very well be the one?

Flav: Well honestly, to tell you the truth, all of the girls were great on the show. But, then again, yes you’re gonna always key out one person which is gonna end up being your favorite person. And, I seen the way Deelishis was getting down for me on the show and everything, so I really favored that. So, “Hey, it took a lot!! It took some…It was close.”

CraveOnline: With all your newfound success, first with the show, and, now, with your solo debut. Where does this leave the future of Public Enemy at?

Flav: Aw, man, well the next Public Enemy album, that you guys get, this album will be done by my-self, Flavor Flav, and I’m gonna get with my boy, DJ Premier, in New York, and we’re gonna put together this next Public Enemy. And, Booooyyyy, it’s getting ready to happen!! Public Enemy, we just came off of (an) eleven country tour. We just got back, three days ago, and our last show was in Croatia. But, we started over in…I think it was Liverpool, England somewhere. I know we did Glasgow, Scotland. We just came from Ireland. We did Paris. Aw, man, we’ve been rollin’ right now. So, Public Enemy still has a future.

CraveOnline: Although your career has had its share of both high highs, and, admittedly, even lower lows, how have you continued to manage to stay on top of your game?

Flav: Well, the key (for me), first of all, is God. Because, God allows you to do what you do, and if it wasn’t for him, whatever you do would not be possible. That’s the main key. The second key is just to stay real, and keep it real, with my people. And, try to cater the right things to my audience.

CraveOnline: During the lengthy tenure of your career, what has been THE biggest moment to date?

Flav: For me to this point? Shoot, (it) is getting 7.5 million viewers. Right now, man, that’s the high life!! Yeah, man, and that’s it right now. I’m still trying to soak all-of-this up –- And, this is great!

CraveOnline: Since you are a veteran of this music industry, what are your true thoughts on today’s Hip-Hop music?

Flav: I’m happy with it. Not only that, but it’ll only get even better, folks!

CraveOnline: Will you tour in support of this new solo album?

Flav: Yeah, definitely. I’m definitely gonna do a Flavor Flav solo tour. But when, I don’t know.

CraveOnline: Thanks, man, it’s been real good talking with you –- Any parting words for CraveOnline?

Flav: Thank you, Todd -- I appreciate you, man, taking your time with me, too, man. And, can you tell everybody I just said, “Thank you for all the support that y’all gave me, (and) making me who I am because without you all, I would not be me!!” God Bless everyone!