Editing Funkmaster Flex

{{Short description|American DJ and radio host (born 1968)}}
{{Lead too short|date=July 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name              = Funkmaster Flex
| image             = Funkmaster Flex, 2018.png
| caption           = Funkmaster Flex in 2018
| image_size        = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels -->
| birth_name        = Aston George Taylor Jr.
| alias             = {{hlist|Flex|Funk Flex}}
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1967|8|5}}
| birth_place       = [[The Bronx]], [[New York City]], U.S.
| origin            = 
| instrument        = {{hlist|[[Turntablism|Turntable]]|[[Sampler (musical instrument)|sampler]]|[[Rapping|vocals]]}}
| genre             = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
| occupation        = {{hlist|DJ|rapper|record producer|radio host}}
| years_active      = 1987–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[Loud Records|Loud]]|[[RCA Records|RCA]]|[[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]]|[[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]]|[[Island Def Jam Music Group|Island]]|[[Universal Music Group|Universal]]|[[E1 Entertainment|E1]]|[[Koch Records|Koch]]|Franchise Records}}
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|[[The Flip Squad]]}}
| website           = {{URL|inflexwetrust.com}}
}}
'''Aston George Taylor Jr.'''<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |author=Jason Birchmeier |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/funkmaster-flex-mn0000156010/biography |title=Funkmaster Flex &#124; Biography & History |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |date=1968-08-05 |access-date=2016-02-26 |archive-date=March 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314234642/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/funkmaster-flex-mn0000156010/biography |url-status=live }}</ref> (born August 5, 1967),<ref name="allmusic"/> professionally known as '''Funkmaster Flex''', is an American DJ, rapper, record producer, and host on New York City's [[WQHT|Hot 97]] radio station. In 1992, he became host of the first hip hop [[radio show]] on Hot 97 in New York, which was a pop radio station at the time.<ref name="PayBack"/>

==Early life==
Aston Taylor Jr. was born in the Bronx borough of New York City to [[Jamaicans|Jamaican]] immigrant parents.<ref>{{cite news |last=Birchmeir |first=Jason |title=Funkmaster Flex Artist Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/funkmaster-flex-mn0000156010/biography |access-date=2019-01-19 |archive-date=February 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214185559/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/funkmaster-flex-mn0000156010/biography |url-status=live }}</ref> His father, DJ Aston George Taylor Sr., was a sound system professional.<ref name="Vibe">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_FCwEAAAAMBAJ |quote=Funkmaster Flex Born bronx. |title=Vibe |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_FCwEAAAAMBAJ/page/n95 88] |via=Internet Archive |date= March 1997|access-date=2016-02-26|last1=Group |first1=Vibe Media |publisher=Vibe Media }}</ref> He was raised in a strict, religious household.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sales |first=Nancy Jo |title=Flex Time |url=http://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/music/features/2731/ |access-date=2019-01-19 |archive-date=January 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174622/http://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/music/features/2731/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At the age of 16, he began DJing at local nightclubs.<ref name="Vibe" />

==Radio career==
By the age of 19, Flex began working with fellow Bronx native [[DJ Chuck Chillout|Chuck Chillout]] for [[WEPN-FM|WRKS]] 98.7 Kiss-FM in New York. He later left KISS, and spent a brief period at 107.5 [[WBLS]]-FM.<ref name="Shapiro">Shapiro, Peter (2005) ''The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop'', Rough Guides, {{ISBN|1-84353-263-8}}, p.149-150</ref> In the early 1990s, Flex made club appearances at many of Vito Bruno's operated nightclubs. Bruno later convinced Joel Salkowitz, a regional vice president of Hot 97, to begin airing live broadcasts from clubs where he was performing. When they realized the resurgence of hip hop was coming fast from its decline in the eighties, they increased the hours of this urban radio programming.<ref name="PayBack">Charnas, Dan (2010). ''The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop'', {{ISBN|978-1-101-44582-2}}</ref> 

Due to the success of that programming, in the spring of 1992 Funkmaster Flex began mixing and hosting his own show, a specialized rap program on Hot 97. With this, Hot 97 became the first pop station in New York to showcase rap. Flex has been with Hot 97 ever since, and currently airs nationally through syndication during weeknights and weekends.<ref name="PayBack" /> 

He is well known for his signature "bomb drop" sound effect over records. On July 20, 2011, [[Kanye West]] & [[Jay-Z]]'s "[[Otis (song)|Otis]]" premiered on Flex's Hot 97 radio show. Despite the song itself lasting under 3 minutes, it took over 22 minutes for Flex to go through from start to finish, as he restarted the song 25 times (roughly once every 53 seconds) and played the bomb drop sound effect 63 times.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minichino |first=Nick |date=2012-01-18 |title=Pazz & Jop 2011: Nick Minichino On Funkmaster Flex's ALL-CAPS Premiere Of Jay-Z And Kanye West's "Otis" |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/pazz-jop-2011-nick-minichino-on-funkmaster-flexs-all-caps-premiere-of-jay-z-and-kanye-wests-otis/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=The Village Voice |language=en-US}}</ref> Flex is also responsible for his early mentorship of his friend and former coworker at Hot 97, [[Angie Martinez]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Julian |title=Get Paid To Be Yourself: The Business Of Being Angie Martinez |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/julianmitchell/2017/01/23/get-paid-to-be-yourself-the-business-of-being-angie-martinez/ |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

==Website==
On August 3, 2010, Flex launched his news website InFlexWeTrust.com.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inflexwetrust.com/2010/08/03/funkmaster-flex-interviews-lil-wayne-live-from-rikers/ |title=Funkmaster Flex Interviews Lil Wayne Live From Rikers |date=August 3, 2010 |publisher=In Flex We Trust |access-date=2016-02-26 |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708084646/http://www.inflexwetrust.com/2010/08/03/funkmaster-flex-interviews-lil-wayne-live-from-rikers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He makes the audio, video and mp3's of artist freestyles from his show "exclusively" available on the site. The site also posts entertainment news, music, cars, models, sports and technology. It joined the Complex media network in September 2012, and has been mentioned in songs, including [[Fabolous]]' "So NY."<ref>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Andrew |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/08/inflexwetrustcom-joins-the-complex-media-network |title=InFlexWeTrust.com Joins The Complex Media Network |publisher=Complex |access-date=2016-02-26 |archive-date=August 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827074156/http://www.complex.com/music/2012/08/inflexwetrustcom-joins-the-complex-media-network |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Music production==
By the mid-1990s, Flex was signed by a major record label, Loud Records, for a series of mixtapes entitled ''60 Minutes of Funk''. All four were certified gold by the [[RIAA certification|RIAA]] in the US.<ref name="Shapiro" /> In 1995 he formed [[The Flip Squad]] along with seven of New York City's most respected disc jockeys, including [[Biz Markie]], "BounceMasta" Doo Wop, [[Big Kap]], [[DJ Enuff]], [[Mister Cee]], [[Frankie Cutlass]], DJ Riz, [[Cipha Sounds]] and [[Mark Ronson]]. Their self-titled debut LP was released on [[MCA Records|MCA]] in late 1998. In 1999, he released [[The Tunnel (album)|The Tunnel]] with Def Jam, which included songs by artists [[Dr. Dre]], [[Jay-Z]], [[Eminem]], [[LL Cool J]], DJ Myth, [[Method Man]], [[DMX (rapper)|DMX]], [[Nas]] and [[Snoop Dogg]].<ref name="Shapiro" /> Other acts he has worked with include [[Yvette Michele]], [[Pras]], [[DJ Kool]],  Foxy Brown and [[Armand Van Helden]].<ref name="Artistopia">{{Cite web|url=http://www.artistopia.com/funkmaster-flex/music|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707165642/http://www.artistopia.com/funkmaster-flex/music|url-status=dead|title=Funkmaster Flex Music &#124; Artistopia.com|date=July 7, 2011|archive-date=July 7, 2011 }}</ref>

In October 2020, Flex announced plans of an upcoming album. In December, he released the album's lead single, "[[Lurkin (Funk Flex and King Von song)|Lurkin]]", with [[King Von]], while confirming that the album would feature an array of artists, including [[Juice Wrld]], [[Kodak Black]], [[Post Malone]], [[Lil Baby]], and [[Pop Smoke]], among others. A release date is yet to be announced, however the album will be released through Flex's own label IFWT Films and Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.59460/title.funk-flex-teases-potential-album-with-king-von-50-cent-ddg-tory-lanez-every-other-2020-rapper-you-can-name|title=Funk Flex Teases Potential Album With King Von, 50 Cent, DDG, Tory Lanez & Every Other 2020 Rapper You Can Name|work=[[HipHopDX]]|last=Walker|first=Joe|date=December 10, 2020|access-date=December 10, 2020|archive-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110221302/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.59460/title.funk-flex-teases-potential-album-with-king-von-50-cent-ddg-tory-lanez-every-other-2020-rapper-you-can-name|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Television==
Funkmaster Flex first appeared on television in the early nineties on ''[[Yo! MTV Raps]]'' hosted by [[Fab 5 Freddy]], DJ Myth, [[Ed Lover]], and [[Doctor Dré]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s4HMhEOOIc |title=Funkmaster Flex – Interview @ Yo MTV Raps 1995 (HQ) |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2012-03-30 |archive-date=July 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701214656/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s4HMhEOOIc |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Real TV">{{Cite web|url=http://www.realtelevision.net/2010/04/29/funk-flex-full-throttle/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724030638/http://www.realtelevision.net/2010/04/29/funk-flex-full-throttle/|url-status=dead|title=FUNK FLEX FULL THROTTLE &#124; Reality TV @ Real Television|date=July 24, 2011|archive-date=July 24, 2011|access-date=February 10, 2011}}</ref> He later did various hip-hop and automobile spots for MTV.

In 2003, Flex debuted his first television series, [[Ride with Funkmaster Flex]] on the Spike cable network.<ref name="Spike TV">{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/funkmaster-flex-rides-back-for-season-ii-on-spike-tv-72493842.html |title=Funkmaster Flex Rides Back for Season II on Spike TV - re> NEW YORK, April 15 /PRNewswire/ |website=Prnewswire.com |access-date=2016-02-26 |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013021119/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/funkmaster-flex-rides-back-for-season-ii-on-spike-tv-72493842.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The show documented the subculture of cars popular in hip hop culture. Noteworthy moments in the series included a look into [[Puff Daddy|Diddy's]] private jet and a visit to [[Eminem]]'s studio.<ref name="Spike TV" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs3UfCU3DxI |title=Eminem shows his GM truck to FunkMaster Flex |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2012-03-30 |archive-date=July 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723132049/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs3UfCU3DxI |url-status=live }}</ref>

Flex later developed a one-off Spike TV show race event – The Funkmaster Flex Super Series Invitational.<ref name="Super Series">{{cite news |last=Poniewozik |first=James |url=http://tv.nytimes.com/show/175124/Funkmaster-Flex-Super-Series/overview |title=Arts - Television - The New York Times |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=2016-02-26 |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714220616/http://tv.nytimes.com/show/175124/Funkmaster-Flex-Super-Series/overview |url-status=live }}</ref> The race featured 60 late-model stock car drivers at The [[Waterford Speedbowl]] in Connecticut.<ref name="Super Series" /> Celebrities like [[Orange County Choppers]], [[LL Cool J]], and [[Lil' Kim]] were brought out to watch the event.<ref name="Super Series" />

ESPN noticed ''Ride with Funkmaster Flex'' and decided to create a show with Flex focusing on custom cars and interviewing 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 began airing early 2007.<ref>Blades, Nicole. "Muscle Man – Celebs and jocks roll with DJ Funkmaster Flex when they want their own wheels of steel" ESPN The Magazine July. 2007.</ref>

Later in 2007, a second show called Car Wars with Funkmaster Flex premiered on [[ESPN]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecarconnection.com/tips-article/1011002_funkmaster-flex-returns-in-car-wars |title=Funkmaster Flex Returns in Car Wars |publisher=The Car Connection |date=2007-05-17 |access-date=2016-02-26 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304175822/http://www.thecarconnection.com/tips-article/1011002_funkmaster-flex-returns-in-car-wars |url-status=dead }}</ref> Car Wars asked different car customizers to modify existing vehicles for cash prizes. If featured automotive designers such as [[Patrick Schiavone]], former Ford North American Truck & SUV Design Director and currently Vice President of Design at [[Whirlpool]], Ford Explorer Exterior Design Manager Melvin Betancourt and Louis D'erasmo of Valanca Auto Concepts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZElJdg-_hIU  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/ZElJdg-_hIU| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Car Wars with Funkmaster Flex Bstroll Rap Freestyle |publisher=YouTube |date=June 14, 2008 |access-date=2012-03-30}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

For ''Fast Machines with Funkmaster Flex'', Flex returned to Spike TV to focus on making muscle and modern car customization for celebrities. Examples included a 1955 [[Chevy Bel Air]] for [[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]], a 1966 [[Pontiac GTO]] for Pontiac Enthusiast Magazine and a 1970 [[Chevy Chevelle]] for the [[U.S. Marines]]. It also featured an interview with Royal Purple race driver Kathryn Minter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spike.com/show/31298|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028172415/http://www.spike.com/show/31298|url-status=dead|title=Fast Machines with Funk Master Flex &#124; SPIKE|date=October 28, 2010|archive-date=October 28, 2010 }}</ref>

In 2010, Flex returned to [[MTV]] with a new show – ''[[Funk Flex Full Throttle]]''. The show featured Flex interviewing hip-hop artists and customizing cars; either on location at [[Spring Break]], the [[New York Auto Show]] or in his garage. ''Full Throttle'' also integrated reality elements as Flex directed his team of car customizers at various builds and allowed viewers inside the lifestyle of Hip-Hop stars.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/full_throttle/series.jhtml#moreinfo |title=Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows |publisher=MTV |date=2016-02-09 |access-date=2016-02-26 |archive-date=March 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314045344/http://www.mtv.com/shows/full_throttle/series.jhtml#moreinfo |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2014, Funkmaster Flex appeared on [[VH1]] as part of the reality show ''[[This Is Hot 97]]''.

==Car Show Tour==
Taylor developed and promotes an annual eight-city Funkmaster Flex Custom Car & Bike Show Tour. It has had featured artists such as [[Drake (entertainer)|Drake]], [[Nicki Minaj]] and [[Fabolous]]. Each stop showcases customized cars in competition for cash prizes and model and recording talent search. In 2010, he added the Funkmaster Flex Lifestyle Expo which included sneaker and DJ battles, video game competitions, [[skateboard]] demos.<ref>Johnson, Mitchell."Royal Purple Lubricants Taps DJ Funkmaster Flex to Showcase Its Latest Performance Products" PR Newswire. March 8, 2010</ref>

He also displays some of his personal collection of roughly 40 [[muscle cars]] at each stop of the tour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.motortrend.com/classic/features/c12_0601_funkmaster_flex/index.html |title=Funkmaster Flex's Classic and Muscle Cars - My Garage - Motor Trend Classic |website=Motortrend.com |date=2006-06-20 |access-date=2016-02-26 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629063020/http://www.motortrend.com/classic/features/c12_0601_funkmaster_flex/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Auto design ==
[[File:Ford F-150 Funkmaster Flex.JPG|thumb|right|An FMF tenth-generation [[Ford F-Series tenth generation|Ford F-150]].]]
In 2005, Ford Motor Company opened its Dearborn design studio doors to Taylor to look at how to customize its product line-up and add exposure to the brand. He has since customized several models for Ford.<ref name="Ford Media">Mitchell C. Johnson."FORD FUSION AND F-150 TO RIDE FUNKMASTER FLEX STYLE" Ford Media. May 12, 2005</ref>

==Video games==
He is a voice actor in ''[[Quest for the Code]]'' in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://starbright.org/press/asthma_launch.html|title=STARBRIGHT® FOUNDATION LAUNCHES QUEST FOR THE CODE™, A STAR-STUDDED INTERACTIVE CD-ROM GAME FOR CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA|date=2002-05-28|access-date=2023-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030221001508/http://starbright.org/press/asthma_launch.html|archive-date=2003-02-21|url-status=dead}}</ref>

FunkMaster Flex's name was used on the American release for the PS2 video game ''Music 3000'', ''[[Music 3000|FunkMaster Flex's Digital Hitz Factory]]'' in 2004.

Flex is a featured DJ on The Beat 102.7 in ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]], [[Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned]]'' and ''[[The Ballad of Gay Tony]]''.<ref>GTA.net."Beat 102.7" GTA.net. 2010</ref>

He is a celebrity adversary and an unlockable free agent fullback in season mode of ''[[ESPN NFL 2K5]]''. He also has an unlockable team, the Baurtwell Funkmasters.<ref>Zawada, Chris."ESPN NFL 2K5" GamesRadar.com July 27, 2004</ref>

Flex was an unlockable character and in-game narrator in ''[[Def Jam Vendetta]]''.

Flex is also mentioned in the prelude of ''[[NBA 2K18]]'' when talking to ATM (a CPU character).

== Discography ==
{{Main|Funkmaster Flex discography}}
*''[[The Mix Tape, Vol. 1]]'' (1995)
*''[[The Mix Tape, Vol. II]]'' (1997)
*''[[The Mix Tape, Vol. III]]'' (1998)
*''[[The Tunnel (album)|The Tunnel]]'' (1999)
*''[[The Mix Tape, Vol. IV]]'' (2000)
*''[[Car Show Tour]]'' (2005)
*''Who You Mad At? Me Or Yourself?'' (2013)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Funkmaster Flex}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Funkmaster Flex}}
[[Category:American hip-hop DJs]]
[[Category:African-American DJs]]
[[Category:Mixtape DJs]]
[[Category:Nightlife in New York City]]
[[Category:Rappers from the Bronx]]
[[Category:Def Jam Recordings artists]]
[[Category:MNRK Music Group artists]]
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:African-American male rappers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:20th-century American rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:The Flip Squad members]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American musicians]]
[[Category:American curators]]
[[Category:People from Wakefield, Bronx]]