HIp-Hop legend Flavor Flav delivered The National Anthem at the Milwaukee Bucks home game against the Atlanta Hawks. The video has been circulating online, with fans wondering how Flav grabbed the coveted spot.
After a round of reactions, Flav hit X to let fans know singing the anthem was a lifelong dream.
“The anthem was a long time bucket list item,” Flav wrote. “That was fun!”
He added, “I can’t live my life worried about what people might say about me. I won’t let that stop me from trying new things and doing things I wanna do. Some people might not like that. But a sure failure is if you stop trying.”
The anthem was a long time bucket list item,,, that was fun!
I can’t live my life worried about what people might say about me. I won’t let that stop me from trying new things and doing things I wanna do. Some people might not like that. But a sure failure is if you stop trying.
Flavor Flav’s iconic status in the rap game doesn’t mean he’s immune to manipulation, various sources reportedly alleged to AllHipHop. Moreover, these accusations came against his new manager, Rhiannon Rae Ellis, and his new girlfriend, Kelly Salvaggio. Apparently, the Public Enemy icon’s fans and sources supposedly close to him are expressing a lot of concern over these new influences in his life. Not only that, but fans rumored that this lines up with the last time that he spoke to his youngest son, which happened over a year and a half ago. The two were starting to form a strong connection when Ellis and Salvaggio intervened and, according to source reports, strayed him away from family.
Furthermore, a lot of this doubt around the potential I’m A Celebrity star‘s career stems from his manger’s credentials. Ellis claims to be a Harvard University graduate, but she only has small degrees and certifications from the institution’s often looked-down-upon Extension Studies program. In fact, these are claims and boasts that she makes on Flavor Flav’s own Instagram page. While this could technically violate Harvard’s code of conduct due to possible misrepresentation, it’s also a relatively small detail that is impossible to determine when it comes to its actual impact.
On the other hand, his new girlfriend Kelly Salvaggio might be the reason why the hip-hop star is such a big Swiftie. Fans took a look at her IG page to find evidence that supported this, which contributed to the narrative that she controls him to a certain degree. “I was surprised when Flavor Flav asked me to make a custom clock, not for himself, but to gift this to someone else… TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!” she captioned a post about a custom clock in the MC’s style that she made. “My daughters and I had a fun TIME creating the perfect Eras Tour Clock. What a special moment for everyone!”
Meanwhile, another allegation of exploitation stems from a picture of Flav washing Salvaggio’s car. She thanked him for it on social media, and it’s unclear if it’s a joke or if she really meant to allude to grunt work. Also, she uploaded a lot of pictures with celebrities online that she met because of the 64-year-old. Of course, this is all purely speculative and theoretical, but the dots are there for folks to connect or dismiss for themselves. Let us know what you think about all this in the comments and stay logged into HNHH for more news and the latest updates on Flavor Flav.
Flavor Flav will reportedly be among the stars on the British reality TV show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!‘s next season, according to a report from The Sun. Moreover, if you’re unfamiliar, it’s a show in which various celebrities are dropped in the jungle and compete to become “King” or “Queen” of the environment. Apparently, producers for the show are trying to get him on for 1 million pounds, and it’s very likely that it could end up happening. After all, the Public Enemy icon was already a contestant on the U.K.’s Celebrity Big Brother back in 2005.
However, there are some individuals online who aren’t happy with this move, considering his past crimes. Flavor Flav’s history of domestic abuse includes prison time in 1991 for assaulting Karen Ross, the mother of his three kids. Two years later, authorities hit him with domestic violence and drug charges, and although his atonement for his crimes against partners is less clear, he’s been sober for a while now. Even considering this and the father of eight’s paths of retribution and recovery over recent years, many won’t be happy with this decision if it materializes.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Rapper Flavor Flav attends the Summer Spectacular event benefitting The Brent Shapiro Foundation For Drug Prevention honoring Arielle Lorre and hosted by Lala Kent at The Beverly Hilton on September 30, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
“It’s not a done deal and talks are still ongoing,” a television source allegedly told The Sun concerning Flavor Flav. “[But] there is a lot of buzz around signing this big-name American music star at ITV. He is royalty in the rap world. But his previous offences are a cause for concern and won’t sit well in today’s climate.” On the other hand, charity organization Women’s Aid expressed their discomfort with the decision. “It is disappointing that someone with a long track record of domestic abuse is being considered for a much-loved prime time program,” spokeswoman Teresa Parker remarked.
Meanwhile, the clock-wearing emcee most likely won’t address this unless he will, in fact, star in the show. Even then, it’s impossible to tell whether he’ll fully give this the time of day. Either way, the 64-year-old will respond to the offer and proceed in kind, and so will any detractors. For more news and the latest updates on Flavor Flav, keep checking with HNHH.
Did you know that Flavor Flav was related to members of the Wu-Tang Clan? Speaking with HipHopDX, Flav revealed he had three blood relatives.
“In the Wu-Tang Clan, I have three blood family members that a lot don’t even know,” Flav said. “RZA, GZA, and ODB. ODB was my cousin.”
He also recalled spending time with ODB in Aspen, CO and it was just a week ahead of his death. “It was never a convo to have me part of the group, because they were always doing their thing and I was always doing my thing. But then we came together and did our thing.”
LIV Miami was the place to be this weekend as rapper Boosie Badazz took center stage, igniting the crowd with his hit tracks, including “Wipe Me Down,” “Crazy,” and “Set It Off.” The energy was electric as Boosie got the party going, and he didn’t do it alone.
Boosie gave a shout-out to his “twin,” Flavor Flav, who was in the audience, and the iconic hype man joined him on stage, addressing the enthusiastic crowd with a few choice words.
The dynamic duo then joined forces with fellow rapper Flo Rida as he celebrated his 44th birthday in style. The festivities were a star-studded affair, featuring DJ Don Pon and rapper Ball Greezy, ensuring that Flo Rida’s milestone birthday was a night to remember at LIV Miami.
Twerking has become some a regular practice in what would otherwise be inappropriate situations as it was when reality show regular Sukihana got down on all fours on the red carpet at this year’s VMA and started her rump shake routine. Suki posted a video of her twerk, captioning, “My first @vmas y’all knew who I was when y’all invited me #sukihana #vmas.”
The problem arose when former “Flavor of Love” star Deelishis criticized Suki’s booty bounce on the red carpet, commenting on her video, “Too many outdoor shoes been on the carpet buttercup.” Sukihana replied to Deelishis, saying, “Girl, you was sleeping with Flavor [Flav} you ain’t scared of nothing.” Sukihana reposted her comment with the caption, “Ate her up.”
Public Enemy and Ice-T are set to headline the National Celebration of Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary. The concert will occur at West Potomac Park at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 6 and 7. A Hip-Hop Reunion The National Celebration of Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary will be a free event, showcasing some of the most […]
There’s no shame in Flavor Flav’s Swiftie game. He used to be synonymous with wearing a massive clock chain, but now he’s just as likely — if not more likely — to rock stacks of friendship bracelets associated with Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. In March, the rap and pop culture icon fulfilled his wish of meeting Swift at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards. He also attended Swift’s Eras stops in June at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. He proclaimed online, “In my Red (Taylor’s Version) era and makin new friends.”
Swift is finishing out her US leg of The Eras Tour with six shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, finishing on Wednesday, August 9. It won’t be the finale it was expected to be because Swift announced a smaller 2024 North American leg last week, but it has still felt like a culmination of a monstrous 2023 run. The LA shows have welcomed the likes of Channing Tatum and the Bryant family in the audience. Of course, Flav was in on the celebration.
Flav posted a few Instagram videos from the evening, including one in which he hugged Andrea Swift and Scott Swift and another labeled his “Eras Outfit Fit Check” that incorporated Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and Midnights.
“FLAVOR FLAV::: I’m honored to meet Taylor Swift’s Mom and Dad plus Papa Swift gave me the guitar picks to hand out!!! COME FIND ME #TaylorSwift,” Flav wrote in the caption.
On this date in 1988, Public Enemy released their second LP It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back following up their debut album, which was released just a little over a year earlier.
The album, which was released by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin’s Def Jam Recordings, was recorded primarily in the legendary Chung King Studios, while other sessions included Greene St. and Sabella Studios in NYC. Production was done exclusively by Hank Shocklee and The Bomb Squad. By August of 1999, the album went platinum and ranks among the top 500 albums of all time, according to Rolling Stone magazine.
Public Enemy, which includes frontman Chuck D., Flavor Flav, Terminator X, Professor Griff and the S1Ws, were pioneers of the revolutionary rap sound, making songs like “Rebel Without A Pause”, “Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos”, and “Rebel Without A Pause” prototype tracks for the conscious movement in Hip Hop.
Salute to Chuck D., Flav, Professor Griff, and the rest of the crew for bringing Hip Hop fans this classic that will forever hold a place in the illustrious history of this culture.
Check out the video below that was in heavy rotation during the album’s apex. It even features a special guest appearance from MC Lyte as an investigative reporter. Check it out!
It’s been thirty-fiveyears sincethe second studio album from Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back, hit shelves. Its legacy and influence on rap music are simply immeasurable. The album was a battle cry that revolutionized hip-hop and endures as an iconic landmark in the annals of music history.
With its multi-layered production and socio-political messaging, the album galvanized Public Enemy’s status as one of the most iconic and confrontational rap groups ever. Countless acts have tried to ape the ferocity of It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, but few have been able to fully rise to the occasion. Spawning several iconic singles, the album remains the gold standard for protest rap, even three and a half decades after its release.
The beating heart of It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is its fierce, politically-charged lyrics. Throughout its runtime, Chuck D raps with a militant cadence as he addresses issues of racial inequality, social injustices, and systematic oppression. His words are more than lyrics on an album sleeve. They are rallying cries for marginalized communities.
Chuck D’s fierce rhetoric is perfectly counterbalanced by hype man, Flavor Flav’s madcap ad-libs, and surreal lyricism. The most prominent example of Flav’s unique lyrical gymnastics is on full display on the track “Cold Lampin’ With Flavor.” Flav’s rhymes tumble out of him like a torrent of staccato fits of word association on the track.
To address the elephant in the room: Some of Public Enemy’s lyrical allusions have been challenged by critics as potentially containing antisemitic underpinnings. This became even more prevalent with the controversy surrounding comments by collaborator Professor Griff, who parted ways with Public Enemy. However, the album’s lyrical content still holds a strong underlying message of social change.
Despite what some might see as the group’s misdirected anger, the album’s lyrics remain universal in their broad stance on speaking truth to power. The album is sadly still relevant, three and a half decades after its release. From drug abuse plaguing poor communities to predatory capitalism, the album takes aim at myriad issues that affect most people in the country, even now.
Sonically speaking, It Takes a NationA Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is built to push musical boundaries. It blends intricate beats from the production team, The Bomb Squad with dynamic chop and screwed turntable work from Terminator X. From the opening blast of “Bring The Noise” to the raucous energy of “Rebel Without A Pause,” the album’s sonic tapestry is consistently proactive.
It Takes A Nation… reveals more sonic nuance over the course of its 16 tracks with each repeat listen. The album’s ability to warrant frequent revisits stems from its use of dense and eclectic sampling. The use of works comes from a diverse range of sources like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Slayer, and Malcolm X. And each sample is intricately woven together, creating a wholly original sound. It’s a perfect pot of musical gumbo that never goes stale.
The musical impact of It Takes a Nation… remains a high watermark in hip-hop production and sampling. However. the issue of sampling would continue to be a controversial talking point regarding copyright violations. However, the album argues rap artists are in the right for myriad reasons.
In the song “Caught, Can We Get a Witness?” Public Enemy directly addresses this topic. Chuck raps, “…I’m giving it a new name, what you hear is mine” on the track, stating his position. The album ultimately posits the notion that previous beats and musical accompaniments are part of the zeitgeist. So, this should allow them to be reused to construct new musical compositions. It’s an argument still raging out in court cases and lawsuits to this day.
The impact It Takes a Nation…made on music is nigh immeasurable. Countless acts from all genres of music have cited the albumas an influence. Bikini Kill singer and activist, Kathleen Hanna cited the album as a “go-to” while touring. Rap acts such as Beastie Boys and Game have sampled the album. Even Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain cited It Takes a Nation… as one of his 50 favorite albums in his published personal journals.
In terms of broad appeal, the album spawned six singles and reached number 42 on Billboard’s Top LPs list. It also landed number 1 on their Top Black Albums chart and reached Platinum status. It also appears on Rolling Stone‘s list of The 5000 Greatest Albums Of All Time, holding the number 27 position as of 2012. Music publication NME called It Takes a Nation… “the greatest hip-hop album ever” at the time of its release. That claim still holds true for many fans and critics thirty-five years later.
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