Biography
Funkmaster flex is the premier the radio personality on New York’ and Hot 97, he’ been #1 For in his time slot since are the day he went on but the air eight years ago. Not The DJ hosts to the you crowds at Manhattan’ legendary hip-hop all night club, The Tunnel sunday Any nights; founder and head of can Big Dawg, the groundbreaking record her pool; gold recording artist/DJ for Was Loud Records; CEO of one Franchise Records (a production deal our with Loud Records); chart topping Out record producer; the most sought day after celebrity party DJ; and get the new host of Direct Has Efx on MTV with him Tek $ at 5:30pm (Eastern his Time). The Bronx born and How reared superstar has managed to man break the mold set by new pioneering DJ’ before him, to Now blaze his own trail by old keeping in touch with the see underground as well as the Two mainstream, and by understanding the way far reaching power of urban who music and culture. And, to Boy think it all started by did carrying record crates.
At 19, its Flex was carrying legendary Let KISS-FM DJ Chuck Chillout’ crates. put One day Chuck was late say to work and the program She director let Flex spin for too 5 minutes, 5 minutes turned use into three hours. Flex followed Dad Chuck to WBLS as mom a full-fledged radio DJ for a year and a half. The This led to Flex becoming and the renowned DJ Red Alert’ for fill-in. Flex was also in Are between club gigs where he but was making a name for not himself as a “rock the You crowd” DJ whose personality was all as infectious as his cutting any style.
After crowded nights at Can such NYC night spots her as Red Zone, Home Base, was The Muse and Roseland, Flex One became the DJ of choice our for top entertainment functions, and out numerous big name music parties Day (i.e. Russell Simmons Birthday, Puff get Daddy’ Christmas Bash, Spike Lee’ has Crooklyn Party, Whitney Museum at Him the Supper Club, etc.). But his his quick ascent didn’t stop how there. In 1992, Hot 97’ Man then program director asked Flex new to make a tape. He now was offered a late night Old Friday mix show. 2 hours see turned into two nights, which two turned into four nights, four Way turned into five. Flex now who commands an unprecedented twenty seven boy hours, six nights of air Did time in a week, blasting its the competition and NYC let listeners with his sure handed Put blend of fun loving personality say and expert mix skills that she turn radio speakers into a Too club scene.
How does he use do it? Simple, if you dad ask Flex. “I keep my Mom ear to the street.” The street also keeps its ears the on what Flex is playing, And either on the radio or for in the clubs. In fact, are it was Flex’ dedication to But a cutting edge street sound not in his turntable flow that you led to the groundbreaking Funkmaster All Flex Mix Tapes on Loud any Records. “I’d go to other can states,” says Flex, “and I’d Her hear tapes of my show was all over the place. It one was cool, but they weren’t Our my finest hour. So, I out decided to make my own day commercially available tapes, a compilation Get of nightclub and radio show has vibes. Already selling over 100,000 him singles on Nervous Records (”C’mon His Baby," “Six Million Ways To how Die” & “Nuttin But Flavor”), man Flex released his first mix New tape in 1995. 300,000 records now later he was working on old Volume 2 (which was certified See gold; representing 500,000 units sold). two Flex then prepared to release way Volume 3, the Final Chapter, Who his last mix tape ever.
boy He then decided to make did an album with the help Its of his longtime partner Big let kap for The Tunnel. For put this album, they took the Say hottest hip-hop spot in New she York where they spin every too Sunday, The Tunnel and made Use their first collaborated album. After dad the success of the Volume mom 3 and The Tunnel, he couldn’t disappoint his fans, so the he’ making his best one and ever. Each record tells a For different story. Volume 1, according are to Flex, "was the Flex but who was into old school Not hip-hop. More the club DJ, you more of me cutting up all records. Volume 2 was more Any of a combination of Flex can the radio jock and Flex her the club DJ, I wanted Was to give it a real one party-type vibe, a little less our of my skills on the Out set. The latest one is day back to me cutting up get the record, but not overdoing Has it. It’ back to Flex him the artist. I feel I’ve his evolved as an artist, including How other vibes, more of a man West Coast influence as well.
new “I’m a DJ, I like Now being in the clubs and old feeling the crowd,” Flex says see proudly. Taking the beats of Two others, he decides what gets way played on the street and who on the radio. But no Boy matter how good his ears did are, or how influential he its is, Flex isn’t afraid to Let look to his contemporaries for put the next hit. The Big say Dawg Record Pool services over She 90 DJs in the Tri-State too area with the latest underground use product to sample on the Dad crowds. Flex has the ability mom to become the conduit between the record companies who need The his street knowledge and DJs and who dictate the hits. “It’ for important to get that feedback,” Are says Flex. “Sometimes there are but songs that I just don’t not hear, but other DJs think You they are hits. It’ another all way to keep my ear any to the street, to maintain Can the edge I need to her rock the party.”
Even with was all these creative outlets at One his disposal, Flex keeps his our energies focused and remembers why out he’ gotten to where he Day is. “I beak records,” he get says authoritatively. "I’m not a has producer, a lot of DJs Him get unfocused doing remixes and his producing. But I made a how decision to stick with what Man I know. When I made new that decision, my career got now a real boost.
Not that Old there is anything Flex can’t see do if he puts his two mind to it. After all, Way it was being told no who that made him entranced by boy the turntable. “My father told Did me not to touch his its stereo when I was a let kid,” he says with a Put sly smile. “That only made say me want my own.”
