Who

Flex is a DJ on Hot97, a master of the mixtape and something of a rap icon.

Backstory

Flex—his real name is Aston Taylor, Jr.—grew up in a religious Jamaican household in the Bronx where his father, a video technician, also spun records on the side. Flex started out as a gofer for DJ Chuck Chillout at Kiss FM, but his career-making gig was DJ'ing the Def Jam Christmas party for Russell Simmons in 1992; shortly after, he was hired by Hot97. In the 1990s, Flex presided over the notorious Sunday night hip-hop party at the Tunnel and hosted Direct Effect on MTV. He's also released a handful of CDs in his Mix Tape series over the past decade. These days, he's a towering figure in the rap world and a ubiquitous presence on Hot97, DJing four or five hours every night except Sunday.

Scandal

In 2001, rival DJ Big Steph Lova of Power 105 alleged that Flex was involved in a pay-for-play deal with record companies, which Flex denied. He was later sued by Lova, after she claimed he choked and punched her outside the Hot97 studios. (He pled guilty to harassment.) After a series of shootings outside Hot97's headquarters involving 50 Cent, The Game, and Lil' Kim, in 2006 Flex declared that anyone involved in a shooting near the station would have their records banned from Hot97. (The same year, the building's owner sued to evict the station, citing 53 acts of violence at or near it.) On a more personal note, Flex was slapped with a paternity suit in 2002 by Haydee Diaz, who claimed he fathered her baby and refused to pay child support—which was news to Flex's girlfriend of ten years.

On the side

A car freak, Flex hosted the Spike TV show Ride with Funkmaster Flex and helped design a customized 2007 Expedition for Ford. He also puts on the annual Funkmaster Flex Custom Car & Bike Show, in which pals DMX and Wyclef Jean have participated in the past. Over his career, he's had endorsement deals with companies like Nike, Lugz, and Starter Apparel.

Personal

Flex lives in Ardsley with his wife Monica Joseph (a former correspondent on the Oxygen Network) and their daughter Jayden.

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