Name	Chuck D
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Carlton Douglas Ridenhour
Born	August 01, 1960
Alias	Carl Ryder (as a member of production team The Bomb Squad), Mistachuck, Chucky D, Chuck Dangerous, The Hard Rhymer, The Rhyme Animal,
Origin	Roosevelt, New York, U.S.
Genre	Hip hop
Occupation	Rapper, publisher, lecturer, activist, record producer
Years active	1986–present
Associated acts	Public Enemy, Confrontation Camp, Fine Arts Militia Immortal Technique, Sonic Youth, Sister Souljah, KRS-One
Url	http://www.publicenemy.com

Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1, 1960), better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.

Early life

Ridenhour was born in Roosevelt, New York, a hamlet on Long Island. After graduating from Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School, he went to Adelphi University in Long Island to study graphic design. He is the son of Lorenzo Ridenhour.

Career

Upon hearing Ridenhour's demo track "Public Enemy Number One", fledgling producer/mogul Rick Rubin insisted on signing him to his Def Jam label.

Their major label albums were: Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987), It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988), Fear of a Black Planet (1990), Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black (1991), Greatest Misses (1992), and Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age (1994). They also released a full length album soundtrack for the film He Got Game in 1998. Ridenhour also contributed (as Chuck D) to several episodes of the PBS documentary series The Blues. He has appeared as a feature artist on many other songs and albums, having collaborated with artists such as Janet Jackson, Kool Moe Dee, The Dope Poet Society, Run-DMC, Ice Cube, Rage Against The Machine, Anthrax, John Mellencamp and many others. In 1990, he appeared on "Kool Thing", a song by the alternative rock band Sonic Youth. In 1993, he executive produced Got 'Em Running Scared, an album by Ichiban Records group "Chief Groovy Loo and the Chosen Tribe".

Later career

In 1996, Ridenhour released Autobiography of Mistachuck on Mercury Records. Chuck D made a rare appearance at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, presenting the Video Vanguard Award to the Beastie Boys, whilst commending their musicianship. He later stated that he would not have made the appearance for any other group. In November 1998, he settled out of court with Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G" Wallace's estate over the latter's sampling of his voice in the song "Ten Crack Commandments". The specific sampling is Ridenhour counting off the numbers one to nine on the track "Shut Em Down".

In September 1999, he launched a multi-format "supersite" on the web site Rapstation.com. A home for the vast global hip hop community, the site boasts a TV and radio station with original programming, many of hip hop's most prominent DJs, celebrity interviews, free MP3 downloads (the first was contributed by multi-platinum rapper Coolio), downloadable ringtones by ToneThis, social commentary, current events, and regular features on turning rap careers into a viable living. Since 2000, he has been one of the most vocal supporters of peer-to-peer file sharing in the music industry.

He loaned his voice to as DJ Forth Right MC for the radio station . In 2000, he collaborated with Public Enemy's Gary G-Whiz and MC Lyte on the theme music to the television show Dark Angel. He appeared with Henry Rollins in a cover of Black Flag's "Rise Above" for the album . He was also featured on Z-Trip's album Shifting Gears on a track called Shock and Awe; a twelve inch of the track was released featuring artwork by Shepard Fairey. In 2008 he contributed a chapter to Sound Unbound: Sampling Digital Music and Culture (The MIT Press, 2008) edited by Paul D. Miller a.k.a. DJ Spooky, and also turned up on The Go! Team's album Proof of Youth on the track "Flashlight Fight." He also he fulfilled his childhood dreams of being a sports announcer by performing the play-by-play commentary in the video game NBA Ballers: Chosen One on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

In 2009, Ridenhour wrote the foreword to the book The Love Ethic: The Reason Why You Can't Find and Keep Beautiful Black Love by Kamau and Akilah Butler. He also appeared on Brother Ali's album, "Us".

In an interview on Conspiracy Worldwide Radio in late 2009, Chuck D spoke of his forthcoming projects and how he wanted to focus upon his label SlamJamz in 2010

In a follow-up October 31, 2010 interview on Conspiracy Worldwide Radio,Chuck discussed the importance of Public Enemy's tour in South Africa and his range of projects expected in 2011.

Rapping technique

Chuck D has noted that he often comes up with a title for a song first, in the books How to Rap and Check the Technique and that he writes on paper, though he sometimes edits using a computer. He also prefers to not punch in vocals, and he prefers to not overdub vocals. Chuck D is known for his powerful rapping voice - How to Rap says, “Chuck D of Public Enemy has a powerful, resonant voice that is often acclaimed as one of the most distinct and impressive in hip-hop”, and Chuck D says this was based on listening to Melle Mel and sports-casters such as Marv Albert.

Politics

Ridenhour is politically active; he co-hosted Unfiltered on Air America Radio, testified before Congress in support of peer-to-peer MP3 sharing, and was involved in a 2004 rap political convention. He continues to be an activist, publisher, lecturer, and producer. Addressing the negative views associated with rap music, he co-wrote the essay book Fight the Power: Rap, Race, and Reality, along with Yusuf Jah (ISBN 0-385-31868-5). He argues that "music and art and culture is escapism, and escapism sometimes is healthy for people to get away from reality", but sometimes the distinction is blurred and that's when "things could lead a young mind in a direction." He also founded the record company Slam Jamz and acted as narrator in Kareem Adouard's short film Bling: Consequences and Repercussions, which examines the role of conflict diamonds in bling fashion.

In an interview with Le Monde published 29 January 2008, Chuck D stated that rap is devolving so much into a commercial enterprise, that the relationship between the rapper and the record label is that of slave to a master. He believes that nothing has changed for African-Americans since the debut of Public Enemy and, although he thinks that an Obama-Clinton alliance is great, he does not feel that the establishment will allow anything of substance to be accomplished. He also stated that French President Sarkozy is like any other European elite: he has profited through the murder, rape, and pillaging of those less fortunate and he refuses to allow equal opportunity for those men and women from Africa. In this article, he also defended a comment made by Professor Griff in the past that he says was taken out of context by the media. The real statement was a critique of the Israeli government and its treatment of the Palestinian people. Chuck D stated that it is Public Enemy's belief that all human beings are equal.

In an interview with the magazine N'Digo published in late June 2008, he spoke of today's mainstream urban music seemingly relishing in the addictive euphoria of materialism and sexism, perhaps being the primary cause of many people harboring resentment towards the genre and its future. However he has expressed hope for its resurrection, saying "It’s only going to be dead if it doesn’t talk about the messages of life as much as the messages of death and non-movement", citing artists such as NYOil, M.I.A. and the The Roots as socially conscious artists who push the envelope creatively. "A lot of cats are out there doing it, on the Web and all over. They’re just not placing their career in the hands of some major corporation."

Most recently Chuck D became involved in Let Freedom Sing: The Music of the Civil Rights, a 3-CD box set from Time Life. He wrote the introduction to the liner notes and is visiting colleges across the nation discussing the significance of the set. He's also set to appear in a follow up movie called Let Freedom Sing: The Music That Inspired the Civil Rights Movement.

In 2010 Chuck D released a track entitled “Tear Down That Wall.” He says, “I talked about the wall not only just dividing the U.S. and Mexico but the states of California, New Mexico and Texas. But Arizona, it's like, come on. Now they're going to enforce a law that talks about basically racial profiling.”

Personal life

Chuck D is married to Gaye Theresa Johnson, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Black Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Chuck is a vegetarian, and has been active in both human and animal rights causes

Chuck practices Islam.

TV appearances

Narrated and appeared on-camera for the 2005 PBS documentary Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World.

Appeared on-camera for the PBS program Independent Lens: Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes.

Appeared in an episode of NewsRadio as himself.

He appeared on The Henry Rollins Show.

He was a featured panelist (with Lars Ulrich) on the May 12, 2000 episode of the Charlie Rose show. Host Charlie Rose was discussing the Internet, copyright infringement, Napster Inc., and the future of the music industry.

He appeared on an episode of Space Ghost Coast to Coast with Pat Boone. While there, Space Ghost tried (and failed) to show he was "hip" to rap, saying his favorite rapper was M. C. Escher.

He appeared on an episode of Johnny Bravo.

He appeared via satellite to the UK, as a panelist on BBC's Newsnight on 20 January 2009, following Barack Obama's Inauguration.

He Appeared on VH1 Ultimate Albums Blood Sugar Sex Magik talking about the Red Hot Chili Peppers

He voiced himself on "A PE Christmas", an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

Film appearances

He is the narrator of the 2006 documentary Quilombo Country, directed by Leonard Abrams.

He is prominently featured in Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, a 2006 documentary by Byron Hurt.

He is prominently featured in the 2008 film The Black Candle, directed by M.K. Asante, Jr. and narrated by Maya Angelou.

He is featured in a web- mini series called On The Real Off The Record, produced by, The Real News Network, June 1, 2009 - .

He played a bank robber named "Malcolm Y" in an unused plotline for the movie , which was eventually released straight-to-DVD as .

Music appearances

In 2010 Chuck D made an appearance on the album "Causa E Efeito in Português :pt:Causa e Efeito (In English: Cause And Effect)" in music Transformação (In English: Transformation) of Brazilian rapper MV Bill

In 1990, Chuck D appeared on the Sonic Youth song and video for "Kool Thing," from the album Goo.

Discography

With Public Enemy

Chuck D

1996: Autobiography of Mistachuck

2010 (as Mistachuck): I Don't Rhyme for the Sake of Riddlin'

References

External links

Public Enemy's official website

rapstation.com, Chuck D's official website

Entry on Chuck D at Rolling Stone's website

Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:American talk radio hosts Category:African American rappers Category:Public Enemy members Category:People from Nassau County, New York Category:Adelphi University alumni Category:Musicians from New York Category:Rappers from Long Island Category:African American Muslims

Name	Seu Jorge
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Jorge Mário da Silva
Born	June 8, 1970
Origin	Belford Roxo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Genre	Samba, Samba rock, Soul, Funk, MPB
Occupation	MusicianSinger-songwriterActor
Associated acts	Farofa Carioca
Url	Official website

Seu Jorge (born June 8, 1970; ) is a Brazilian musician, singer/songwriter and actor. Born Jorge Mário da Silva, he was raised in a favela in the city of Belford Roxo in the Baixada Fluminense region of Rio de Janeiro state. He is considered by his fans a renewer of Brazilian pop samba. Seu Jorge cites samba school, and American soul singer Stevie Wonder as major musical influences. He is also a fan of footballer Romário.

As a singer, Seu Jorge was part of the band Farofa Carioca, writing most of the songs of their 1998 debut album Moro no Brasil. In 2001 he released Samba Esporte Fino, a pop album influenced by musicians Jorge Ben Jor, Gilberto Gil, and Milton Nascimento. It was released outside Brazil under the name Carolina in 2003. His second album, the critically acclaimed Cru ("Raw"), was released in 2005. Seu Jorge also recorded the live duo album "Ana & Jorge" with Brazilian singer Ana Carolina, released in Brazil in 2005.

Seu Jorge has gained exposure through his work as an actor and soundtrack composer. He appeared in the critically acclaimed film City of God as Mané Galinha, and then played Pelé Dos Santos in Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, for which he provided much of the soundtrack in the form of Portuguese language cover versions of David Bowie classics.

In June 2006, he performed at Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee and at the Festival Sudoeste TMN in Portugal. He has also performed in 2006 at the Bluesfest in Ottawa and performed at the Harbourfront in Toronto. Jorge's performances are known for their excitement and getting the crowd moving. Performed with Thievery Corporation on Austin City Limits on PBS in January 2010.

His new album 'América Brasil' had a limited Brazilian release in 2007 under his label Cafuné Gravadora, distributed in the UK by Proper Music Distribution. In May 2010, Now-Again Records announced that Jorge's new album, Seu Jorge & Almaz, a collaboration with drummer Pupillo and guitarist Lucio Maia from Nação Zumbi and bassist and composer Antonio Pinto would be released in North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand on July 27 and in Europe on September 14. The album has been described as "how powerful Brazilian soul music can be."

Discography

Solo albums

Samba Esporte Fino (also released as Carolina by Regata Musica, MrBongo and Quantitum Solutions) (2001)

Cru (2004) (Released in Brazil, Europe, and Japan)

The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions (2005)

América Brasil O Disco (2007)

with Almaz

Seu Jorge & Almaz (2010)

Music DVDs

MTV Apresenta Seu Jorge (2004)

with Ana Carolina (2005)

Seu Jorge – Live at Montreux 2005 2008

Filmography

City of God (2002)

Moro no Brasil (2002)

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

House of Sand (2005)

Elipsis (2006)

The Escapist (2008)

Carmo (2008)

The Elite Squad 2 (2010)

See also

Afro-Brazilians

References

External links

Official website

Seu Jorge and Almaz Official website

Seu Jorge's UK Distributor

A Moment with Seu Jorge. Interview

CNN interview with Seu Jorge

Seu Jorge interview on PBS NewsHour

Category:1970 births Category:1990s singers Category:2000s singers Category:2010s singers Category:Living people Category:Brazilian actors Category:Brazilian singer-songwriters Category:Hollywood Records artists Category:People from Rio de Janeiro (state) Category:Música Popular Brasileira singers Category:Mr Bongo Records artists Category:Latin Grammy Award winners Category:Brazilian people of Black African descent

Name	Michael Steele
Order	64th
Office	Chairman of the Republican National Committee
Term start	January 2009
Term end	January 2011
Predecessor	Mike Duncan
Successor	Reince Priebus
Order2	7th
Office2	Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
Term start2	January 15, 2003
Term end2	January 17, 2007
Governor2	Robert Ehrlich
Predecessor2	Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
Successor2	Anthony G. Brown
Birth date	October 19, 1958
Birth place	Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
Birthname	Michael Stephen Steele (after adoption)
Alma mater	Johns Hopkins University (B.A.)Villanova UniversityGeorgetown University Law Center (J.D.)
Party	Republican
Profession	Lawyer
Occupation	Politician
Spouse	Andrea Derritt Steele (m. 1985)
Children	Two
Religion	Roman Catholic On December 13, 2010, he announced his intentions to seek a second term as Republican National Committee Chair. and was adopted as an infant worked for minimum wage as a laundress to raise her children. After Michael's father died, she ignored her friends' appeals to apply for public assistance, later telling Michael 'I didn't want the government raising my children'. She later married John Turner, a truck driver. Michael and his sister, Monica Turner, were raised in the Petworth neighborhood of Northwest Washington, D.C. which Steele has described as a small, stable and racially integrated community that insulated him from some of the problems elsewhere in the city.
Name	Steele, Michael
Date of birth	October 19, 1958
Place of birth	Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland

Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:American Roman Catholics Category:African-American Catholics Category:American Roman Catholic politicians Category:African American politicians Category:American adoptees Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni Category:Lieutenant Governors of Maryland Category:Maryland Republicans Category:People from Prince George's County, Maryland Category:People from Washington, D.C. Category:Republican National Committee chairmen Category:State political party chairs of the United States Category:Candidates in United States elections, 2002 Category:Candidates in United States elections, 2006

Name	KRS-One
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Lawrence Parker
Alias	KRS, Teacha
Origin	South Bronx, New York, U.S.
Born	August 20, 1965Flatbush, Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Genre	Hip hop
Occupation	Rapper, actor, record producer, author
Years active	1981–present
Instrument	Rapping, vocals, turntables
Label	B-Boy, Jive, RCA, Duck Down
Associated acts	Boogie Down Productions, Scott La Rock, Marley Marl, Diamond D, LL Cool J, Chuck D, Public Enemy, Buckshot, Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique
Url	http://www.krsoneinc.com/

Lawrence Kris Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage name KRS-One is an MC and producer. Over his career, he has been known by several pseudonyms including "Kris Parker," "The Blastmaster," "The Teacha," and "The Philosopher."

Stepson's death

Randy Hubbard Parker, stepson of KRS-One, was found dead in his Atlanta, Georgia apartment on July 6, 2007 in an apparent suicide; he was 23. Simone Parker, KRS-One's wife and Randy's mother, released a statement on July 10 that stated her son's death was related to his continuous battle with "severe depression". The Fulton County Medical Examiner's office stated that Parker died of a gunshot wound to the head, and listed the cause of death as suicide. Parker was a graphic designer and fashion entrepreneur. A private memorial service was held on July 18 , which would have been his 24th birthday.

Benefit for first responders

KRS-One spoke at a hip hop benefit concert on September 12, 2009 to benefit the first responders of 9/11 he spoke of non violence to take back the country. The event was presented by the 9/11 group We Are Change based in New York City and SMT Studios.

Awards

VH1

2004, VH1 Hip Hop Honors

BET Hip Hop Awards

2007, I am Hip Hop

2007, Lifetime Achievement

Urban Music Awards

2009, Living Legend Award

Discography

{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center" !align="center"|Boogie Down Productions !align="center"|Year |- |Criminal Minded |1987 |- |By All Means Necessary |1988 |- | |1989 |- |Edutainment |1990 |- |Live Hardcore Worldwide |1991 |- |Sex and Violence |1992 |- |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center" !align="center"|Solo Albums !align="center"|Year |- |''Return of the Boom Bap |1993 |- |''KRS-One |1995 |- |''I Got Next |1997 |- |''A Retrospective |2000 |- |''The Sneak Attack |2001 |- |''Strickly for Da Breakdancers & Emceez |2001 |- |''Spiritual Minded |2002 |- |''The Mix Tape |2002 |- |''Kristyles |2003 |- |''D.I.G.I.T.A.L. |2003 |- |''Keep Right |2004 |- |''Life |2006 |- |- |''Adventures in Emceein |2008 |- |''Maximum Strength |2008 |- |''Back to the L.A.B. |2010 |- |} {| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center" !align="center"|Collaborative Albums !align="center"|With !align="center"|Year |- |Hip Hop Lives |Marley Marl |2007 |- |Survival Skills |Buckshot |2009 |- |The Just-Ice and KRS-ONE EP Volume #1 |Just-Ice |2010 |- |Meta-Historical |True Master |2010 |- |Godsville |Showbiz |2011 |- |Return of the Boom Bip |DJ Premier |2011 |- |}

Filmography

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9; |- align="center" ! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Year ! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Film ! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Role |- | 1988 | I'm Gonna Git You Sucka | himself |- | 1993 | Who's the Man? | Rashid |- | 1997 | Subway Stories: Tales from the Underground | Vendor |- | 1997 | Rhyme & Reason | himself |- | 2000 | Boricua's Bond | |- | 2000 | Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme | himself |- | 2002 | The Freshest Kids | himself |- | 2003 | 2Pac 4 Ever | narrator |- | 2003 | Beef | himself |- | 2003 | Hip-Hop Babylon 2 | himself |- | 2003 | Soundz of Spirit | himself |- | 2003 | 5 Sides of a Coin | himself |- | 2003 | MuskaBeatz | himself |- | 2004 | War on Wax: Rivalries In Hip-Hop | himself |- | 2004 | The MC: Why We Do It | himself |- | 2004 | Beef II | himself |- | 2004 | And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop | himself |- | 2004 | Hip-Hop Honors | himself |- | 2004 | Keep Right | himself |- | 2005 | Zoom Prout Prout | himself |- | 2006 | A Letter to the President | himself |- | 2008 | | himself |- | 2009 | Good Hair | himself |- |}

Books

{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center" !align="center"|Book !align="center"|Year |- |Break the Chain KRS-ONE | 1994 |- |The Science of Rap (self published, 1996, out of print) | 1996 |- |Ruminations (Welcome Rain Publishers, July 25, 2003, out of print) | 2003 |- |The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument | 2009 |}

See also

Suicide, it's a suicide

References

External links

KRS-One Official Site

KRS-One MySpace Profile

Rolling Stone bio

Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:African American rappers Category:American graffiti artists Category:American vegetarians Category:Hip hop activists Category:Jive Records artists Category:Koch Records artists Category:American rappers of Jamaican descent Category:People from the Bronx Category:People from Brooklyn Category:Rappers from New York City Category:1990s rappers

Name	Flavor Flav
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	William Jonathan Drayton, Jr.
Alias	FlavMC DJ Flavor Flav.
Born	March 16, 1959Chuck DProfessor GriffDJ LordTerminator XSister SouljahS1W

William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. (born March 16, 1959), better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American rapper, television star, and member of the rap group Public Enemy. He eventually became proficient in 15 instruments. His childhood included legal trouble: He set a house on fire as a small child while playing with a lighter and, by the time he dropped out of school in the 11th grade, he had been in and out of jail for robbery and burglary.

He attended Adelphi University in Long Island where he met Carlton Ridenhour, who would become known as Chuck D. Flavor Flav took his stage name after his graffiti tag. They first collaborated on Chuck D's hip-hop college radio show, then began rapping together. The two worked for Chuck D's father's delivery service.

By the 1990s, Flav had become a drug addict. In 1991, he pled guilty to assaulting his then-girlfriend Karen Ross and he served 30 days in jail, lost custody of his children, and sank deeper into addiction. Two years later, he was charged with attempted murder and imprisoned for 90 days for shooting at his neighbor in 1993. He was later charged with domestic violence, cocaine and marijuana charges; his family performed an intervention and he checked into the Betty Ford Center for crack addiction.

After leaving the clinic, Flav began dating Angie Parker, with whom he has three more children. However, because of his previous erratic behavior, Public Enemy had temporarily stopped performing and, without anything else to do, he found himself back in addiction. After his father died of diabetes in 1997 he decided to re-enter rehabilitation, this time at the Long Island Center for Recovery. At one point, he broke both arms in a motorcycle crash. After leaving the clinic, he began dating Beverly Johnson, and by 2000, he lived in a small apartment in the Bronx with her and her two kids from a previous marriage while making extra cash scalping baseball tickets. In 2002, he spent nine weeks in Rikers Island jail for driving with a suspended license, numerous parking tickets and showing up late for his probation officer.

Following his release from jail, he broke up with Johnson and moved in with his mom on Long Island. Chuck D became concerned about his friend's well-being and, towards the end of 2003, suggested Flav move to Los Angeles. He moved into his friend Princess' apartment and within months met Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin, the creators and executive producers of The Surreal Life, who had tracked him down as soon as they heard he had moved to Los Angeles. Seeing that he had remained clean from his previous addictions, they wanted to cast him. Initially Flav refused, feeling the show was for celebrities past their fame. He was eventually convinced to join by previous participant MC Hammer.

Family

Flav has seven children. Their names are Shaniq, Karen, Dazyna, Quanah, William, Kayla, and Karma. He also has two grandchildren, Brianna and Matthew. Both grandchildren belong to his daughter Shaniq. The group's first album, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, was released in 1987. Flav served as the comic foil to Chuck D's serious, politically charged style. The group gained much wider fame with their following release, 1988's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, which went double platinum. By the time the political single "Fight the Power" was issued in 1989, the group had become mainstream superstars. Along with Chuck D, the showman of the group and its promotional voice, Flav stood out among the members of Public Enemy as he often got the fans hyped, appearing on stage and in public wearing big hats and glasses and a large clock dangling from his neck.

The first released track on which Flav rapped solo was "Too Much Posse" on Yo! Bum Rush the Show, though the first hit on which he rapped solo would not come until the 1990s single "911 Is a Joke". During Public Enemy's first years of existence, Flav dealt with tensions with group-mate Professor Griff, who never liked Flav's flamboyant stance in what Griff felt to be a serious, politically-challenging group. In 1990, after allegedly making anti-Semitic comments, Professor Griff left Public Enemy.

In 2006, Flav put out his self-titled first solo album. It was released during the second season of Flavor of Love.

Television

The Surreal Life

After a hiatus from the music scene, Flavor Flav was invited to participate on VH1 reality show The Surreal Life. During this show, he developed a relationship with Brigitte Nielsen.

Strange Love

Following the conclusion of The Surreal Life, VH1 gave Flav and Brigitte a show titled Strange Love, which detailed their globetrotting adventure in love. At the end of Strange Love Brigitte decided to return to her fiancé, Mattia Dessi.

Flavor of Love

Flavor of Love, which aired for three seasons, is a reality show where Flavor Flav looks for love. The show's success led to spin-offs titled I Love New York and I Love Money. It was revealed in the third season reunion show that Flav met a woman, not from the show, after taping had concluded. He proposed to her on air during the special. The two have a son together.

Comedy Central Roast

The Comedy Central roast of Flavor Flav aired on August 12, 2007. Guests appearing at the roast: Snoop Dogg, Brigitte Nielsen, Jimmy Kimmel, Carrot Top, Lisa Lampanelli, Ice T, Jeff Ross, Katt Williams, Patton Oswalt, Greg Giraldo, and Sommore.

Under One Roof (2008 TV series)

Flav played Calvester Hill on the MyNetworkTV comedy Under One Roof starring alongside Kelly Perine.

Other TV and media appearances

On June 14, 2006, Flav's participation, with WEVR-MRC, in the Lisa Tolliver Show celebration of National Safety Month, earned kudos from Surgeon General of the United States Richard Carmona. Flav stars in Deon Taylor's horror anthology Nite Tales and the Horror Christmas Flick Dark Christmas. On May 10, 2010, Flavor Flav guest hosted WWE RAW.

Discography

;With Public Enemy

Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987)

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)

Fight the Power...Live! (video and album, 1989)

Fear of a Black Planet (1990)

Apocalypse '91...The Enemy Strikes Black (1991)

Greatest Misses 1986-1992 (1992)

Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age (1994)

He Got Game (1998)

BTN 2000 (online released mega-mix which initiated PE's leaving Def Jam Records) (1999)

There's A Poison Goin On (1999)

Revolverlution (2002)

There's A Poison Goin On (worldwide re-release via Slamjamz.com) (2004)

Son of a Bush (EP) (released before the 2004 Presidential Election); contained the songs "Son of a Gun", "Get Your Dump Together" and the song featuring Fine Arts Militia (featuring Chuck D) entitled "Twisted Sense of God"

New Whirl Odor (2005)

Rebirth of a Nation (featuring Paris, Guerrilla Funk Recordings) (2006)

How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul? (2007)

;Solo albums

Flavor Flav (2006)

;Guest appearances

Anthrax, "Bring The Noise" (w/Chuck D)

Barshem, "Where's My $5 At?"

Chad Muska, "Flavor Man"

Crime Mob, "I'll Beat Yo Azz"

De La Soul, "Come On Down"

DJ Hurricane, "Freeze The Frame" (w/Chuck D & Money Mark)

DJ Tomekk, "1, 2, 3,...Rhymes Galore" (w/Grandmaster Flash, MC Rene & Afrob)

George Clinton, "Paint The White House Black" (w/Chuck D, Ice Cube, MC Breed, Kam, Yo-Yo & Dr. Dre), "Tweakin" (w/Chuck D)

Heavy D, "You Can't See What I Can See"

Ice Cube, "I'm Only Out For One Thang"

Living Colour, "Funny Vibe" (w/Chuck D)

Material, "Burnin" (w/DXT)

Moby, "MKLVFCKWR" (w/Chuck D)

Nigo, "From New York To Tokyo"

Paris, "Freedom (Remix)" (w/Chuck D & Dead Prez)

Prince Akeem, "Only We Can Do This"

Will Smith featuring Biz Markie and Slick Rick. "So Fresh" (Music Video)

Snoop Dogg, "Bad Bitch"

Various, "Self Destruction" (Public Enemy, Heavy D, Stetsasonic, MC Lyte, KRS-One, Kool Moe Dee, and others)

Wu-Tang Clan, "Soul Power"

P.Diddy, Music video for "P.E. 2000"

Taking Back Sunday, Music video for "You're So Last Summer"

Eric B & Rakim, music video for "I ain't no joke"

References

External links

Artist profile at VH1

Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:Adelphi University alumni Category:African American rappers Category:American burglars Category:American people convicted of assault Category:American robbers Category:People from Freeport, New York Category:People from Nassau County, New York Category:Public Enemy members Category:Rappers from Long Island Category:The Surreal Life participants

Name	David Byrne
Background	solo_singer
Born	May 14, 1952Dumbarton, Scotland, |UK
Instrument	Vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, synthesizer, flute, clavinet, slide guitar, harmonica autoharp, harmonium, violin, accordion buildings This project was also installed in 2005 in Stockholm, Sweden, and at the London Roundhouse in 2009. It bears similarities to a series of installations performed by New Zealand and Detroit based artists Alastair Galbraith and Matt De Genaro, recorded on their 1998 record Wire Music and 2006 follow-up Long Wires in Dark Museums, Vol. 2. Byrne says that the point in this project was to allow people to experience art first hand, by creating the music with the organ, rather than simply looking at it.
Name	Byrne, David
Date of birth	1952-05-14

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