Funkmaster Flex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Funkmaster Flex
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Funkmaster Flex in 2018
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Aston George Taylor Jr. |
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| Born | August 5, 1968 The Bronx, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
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| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1987–present |
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Aston George Taylor Jr. (born August 5, 1968), known as Funkmaster Flex, is a famous American DJ, rapper, and record producer. He is also a popular radio host on New York City's Hot 97 radio station. In 1992, he started the very first hip hop radio show on Hot 97. At that time, Hot 97 was mostly a pop music station.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Music
Aston Taylor Jr. was born in the Bronx, a part of New York City. His parents were immigrants from Jamaica. His father, Aston George Taylor Sr., was a professional sound system DJ. Funkmaster Flex grew up in a strict home. When he was 16, he began DJing at local nightclubs.
How Funkmaster Flex Started His Radio Career
By the time he was 19, Funkmaster Flex began working with another DJ from the Bronx, Chuck Chillout. They worked at WRKS 98.7 Kiss-FM in New York. Later, he moved to 107.5 WBLS-FM for a short time. In the early 1990s, Flex often performed at nightclubs.
A club owner named Vito Bruno helped Flex get live broadcasts from his club performances on Hot 97. When they saw that hip hop music was becoming popular again, they gave more time to this type of music on the radio. Because of this success, Funkmaster Flex started his own rap music show on Hot 97 in 1992. This made Hot 97 the first pop station in New York to play rap music.
Funkmaster Flex's Signature Style on Hot 97
Funkmaster Flex has been with Hot 97 ever since. His show is now heard across the country on weeknights and weekends. He is famous for his special "bomb drop" sound effect, which he plays over songs. For example, in 2011, when Kanye West and Jay-Z's song "Otis" first played on his show, he restarted the song many times and played the bomb sound effect often. Flex also helped mentor his friend and former coworker at Hot 97, Angie Martinez.
Funkmaster Flex's Online Presence
On August 3, 2010, Funkmaster Flex launched his news website, InFlexWeTrust.com. He shares exclusive audio, video, and MP3s of artist freestyles from his radio show on this site. The website also features news about entertainment, music, cars, models, sports, and technology. In 2012, it became part of the Complex media network. The site has even been mentioned in songs, like Fabolous' "So NY."
Music Production and Collaborations
In the mid-1990s, Funkmaster Flex signed with a big record label called Loud Records. He released a series of mixtapes called 60 Minutes of Funk. All four of these mixtapes sold very well and were certified gold.
Forming The Flip Squad
In 1995, he created The Flip Squad with seven other respected DJs from New York City. This group included famous names like Biz Markie and Mark Ronson. Their first album came out in 1998.
Working with Top Artists
In 1999, Flex released an album called The Tunnel with Def Jam. This album featured songs by many top artists, such as Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, Eminem, LL Cool J, Method Man, DMX, Nas, and Snoop Dogg. He has also worked with other artists like Yvette Michele and Foxy Brown.
Upcoming Music Projects
In October 2020, Flex announced that he was planning a new album. In December, he released the first song from the album, "Lurkin", with King Von. He also confirmed that the album would include many artists, such as Juice Wrld, Kodak Black, Post Malone, Lil Baby, and Pop Smoke. The release date for this album is still to be announced. It will be released through Flex's own label, IFWT Films and Records.
Funkmaster Flex on Television
Funkmaster Flex first appeared on television in the early 1990s on Yo! MTV Raps. This show was hosted by Fab 5 Freddy, Ed Lover, and Doctor Dré. He later did various hip-hop and car-related segments for MTV.
Custom Car Shows
In 2003, Flex started his first TV show, Ride with Funkmaster Flex, on the Spike cable network. The show explored the world of custom cars that are popular in hip hop culture. Some memorable moments included a look at Diddy's private jet and a visit to Eminem's studio.
Flex also created a special race event for Spike TV called The Funkmaster Flex Super Series Invitational. This race featured 60 stock car drivers. Celebrities like Orange County Choppers, LL Cool J, and Lil' Kim came to watch the event.
Sports and Cars
ESPN noticed Ride with Funkmaster Flex and decided to create a show with him. This new show focused on custom cars and interviews with athletes from the NBA, NFL, and Major League Baseball. Guests included Danica Patrick, Terrell Owens, and Jason Giambi. The show was called All Muscle with Funkmaster Flex and started airing in 2007.
Later in 2007, another show called Car Wars with Funkmaster Flex premiered on ESPN. Car Wars challenged different car customizers to change existing vehicles for cash prizes. It featured famous car designers.
More Custom Car TV Shows
For Fast Machines with Funkmaster Flex, Flex returned to Spike TV. This show focused on customizing classic muscle cars and modern cars for celebrities. For example, he customized a 1955 Chevy Bel Air for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and a 1970 Chevy Chevelle for the U.S. Marines.
In 2010, Flex returned to MTV with a new show called Funk Flex Full Throttle. This show featured Flex interviewing hip-hop artists and customizing cars. It also showed Flex directing his team of car customizers and gave viewers a look into the lifestyle of hip-hop stars.
In 2014, Funkmaster Flex appeared on VH1 as part of the reality show This Is Hot 97.
Funkmaster Flex's Car Show Tour
Taylor created and promotes an annual eight-city Funkmaster Flex Custom Car & Bike Show Tour. This tour has featured artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Fabolous. Each stop on the tour showcases customized cars competing for cash prizes. There are also talent searches for models and recording artists.
In 2010, he added the Funkmaster Flex Lifestyle Expo. This expo included sneaker and DJ battles, video game competitions, and skateboard demonstrations. Flex also displays some of his own collection of about 40 muscle cars at each stop of the tour.
Auto Design Collaborations
In 2005, the Ford Motor Company invited Taylor to their design studio. They wanted his ideas on how to customize their cars and trucks. Since then, he has customized several models for Ford.
Funkmaster Flex in Video Games
Funkmaster Flex has also been involved in video games.
- He was a voice actor in Quest for the Code in 2002.
- His name was used for the PS2 video game Music 3000, which was called FunkMaster Flex's Digital Hitz Factory in 2004.
- Flex is a featured DJ on The Beat 102.7 radio station in Grand Theft Auto IV, Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned, and The Ballad of Gay Tony.
- He is a celebrity opponent and an unlockable player in the season mode of ESPN NFL 2K5. He also has an unlockable team called the Baurtwell Funkmasters.
- Flex was an unlockable character and narrator in Def Jam Vendetta.
- He is mentioned in the beginning of NBA 2K18.
Discography
- The Mix Tape, Vol. 1 (1995)
- The Mix Tape, Vol. II (1997)
- The Mix Tape, Vol. III (1998)
- The Tunnel (1999)
- The Mix Tape, Vol. IV (2000)
- Car Show Tour (2005)
- Who You Mad At? Me Or Yourself? (2013)
