Flavor Flav Unveils The Story Behind His Famous Clock Chain

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CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 29: Flavor Flav of Public Enemy attends the opening event dedicating the Hip-Hop at 50 Exhibit "Holla If Ya Hear Me" sponsored by Technics at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum on June 29, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Duane Prokop/Getty Images)
Flavor Flav claims his iconic necklace was inspired by a "crackhead."

During a recent interview on SiriusXM, Flavor Flav told the story behind his iconic clock necklace. He revealed the whole thing actually started as a joke, claiming that a "crackhead" gave him his first one. He's worn the clock chains throughout most of his career, even gifting one to Harvard University earlier this year.

Flavor Flav begins, “So one day, as a joke, as a joke, you know, this crackhead came through my projects, you know what I’m saying? Selling these shower clocks that she stole from a place called Fortunoff." He continues, “Well, she went to Fortunoff, stole this big bag, big box of shower clocks came through our projects selling them. So my boy, Son of Berserk, you know what I’m saying? He took the stopwatch off my neck and put the clock around my neck and everybody was laughing. It was a big joke and all of that.”

Flavor Flav's Clock Necklace Started As A Joke

Flavor Flav attends as WEtv celebrates the premieres of Growing Up Hip Hop New York and Untold Stories of Hip Hop on August 19, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for WEtv)

The artist then reveals that what may have started as a joke, ended up getting him some serious attention. Flavor Flav recalls landing on the front pages of various publications for the fashion statement. “So they dared me to wear that clock on stage," he explained to Roxanne Shante, "but during the show. So when we went to open up for the Beastie Boys in Passaic, New Jersey, 1986, I wore the clock, Roxanne, and then the next day on the front page of NewsdayNew York TimesNew York Post, the look of the clock was dope.”

Flavor Flav is also celebrating being nearly three years sober from alcohol, and over 15 years sober from drugs. "To everyone out there struggling with addiction, it is a real battle you fight every day," he wrote in June. He went on to tell followers, "if I can do it anyone can do it."

About The Author
Caroline Fisher is a News Writer at HotNewHipHop from Chicago, Illinois. She started at HNHH this year, and has since spent her time writing about all that is newsworthy in the world of hip-hop. With a drive for hunting down the hottest stories, she enjoys documenting new developments in culture and entertainment. She also has an appreciation for hip-hop and seeks to cover the most important trends and shifts. She has a Bachelor of Arts which she received at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Having graduated in 2022, she majored in English with a concentration in Media, Rhetoric and Cultural Studies. Specializing all things music, pop culture and entertainment, some of her favorite musical artists include Snoop Dogg, OutKast, and Nicki Minaj. When she’s not writing about music she’s also a fan of attending shows, watching the latest movies, staying up-to-date with current events, photography, and poetry.
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