- HubPages»
- Books, Literature, and Writing»
- Books & Novels»
- Nonfiction»
- Biographies & Memoirs
Flavor Flav: The Icon. The Memoir. The Book review
The Vitals
Flavor Flav: the Icon, the Memoir by Flavor Flav
228 pages, 2011 Farrah Gray Publishing (US)
Total Rating: 31/35
Flavor Flav: the Icon, the Memoir
A review
By Justin W. Price
(a slightly modified version of this review will be in eFiction Humor)
Flavor Flav: Self-proclaimed “Greatest Hype Man of all time”, inventor of the term “gee” and “the most sampled voice in the history of music”. These, and other outrageous claims,are only a few of the gems you’ll find in this entertaining and scathingly honest memoir. While it’s certainly hard to refute—or confirm—many of these claims, it’s this braggadocio and confidence that makes this book such a satisfying and enlightening read.
William Jonathan Drayton (AKA, Flavor Flav) pulls no punches in this autobiography. He’s frank about his addiction to crack cocaine, his domestic violence, his love life (seven kids, from three different baby mamas) and not so public feud with fellow Public Enemy member, Professor Griff. The fact that it took three paragraphs to even reference his tenure with one of the most popular and influential hip hop groups of all time shows the diversity of his life and this book.
You’ll discover the origins of the ever present clock, of the name Flavor Flav, what really happened between he and Brigitte Nielsen, behind the scenes of Flavor of Love and of Public Enemy itself. This memoir has one of the strongest voices I’ve ever read in a memoir. It would be impossible to read this without hearing Flav talking to you. It’s very conversational and chock full of Flavor’s famous vernacular (“n’aw mean?” “A’ight”, “Hee hee, har har”) and supreme confidence.
You’ll discover that he is an incredibly loyal and loving person and deeply religious. He takes you as honestly no holds barred through the ups and downs, the funny and the tragic, the sexy and the sacred, often in the same chapter. To close the book, he also gives you some of his recipes. These alone are worth the cost of purchase.
Whether or not you’re a fan of Public Enemy or Flavor Flav, this book is a must read. It’s a fascinating, honest look at one of the most recognizable celebrities of our day.
Writing/Editing Quality: 7/10
Entertainment quality: 19/20
Originality: 5/5
Total Rating: 31/35