Funkmaster Flex

Aston George Taylor Jr., known professionally as Funkmaster Flex, was born on August 5, 1968, in the Bronx, New York City, to Jamaican immigrant parents. His father, DJ Aston George Taylor Sr., was a sound system professional, which exposed Flex to the world of DJing early on. At the age of 16, he began DJing at local nightclubs, developing his skills. His radio career started in the late 1980s as an assistant to Chuck Chillout at WRKS 98.7 Kiss-FM, later moving to 107.5 WBLS-FM. By the early 1990s, after making club appearances, he was convinced by Vito Bruno to air live broadcasts from clubs on Hot 97. Recognizing the resurgence of hip-hop, Hot 97 expanded its urban radio programming.

In the spring of 1992, Funkmaster Flex launched his own specialized rap program on Hot 97, cementing the station’s role as the first pop station in New York to prominently feature rap music. He has remained a fixture at Hot 97, with his show airing nationally through syndication. Flex is known for his signature “bomb drop” sound effect and played a significant role in breaking new music, such as Kanye West & Jay-Z’s “Otis” in 2011. Beyond radio, Flex expanded into music production with Loud Records, releasing a series of gold-certified mixtapes, including “60 Minutes of Funk.” In 1995, he co-founded The Flip Squad, a collective of New York City DJs, releasing a self-titled album in 1998. He also released the album “The Tunnel” with Def Jam in 1999, featuring collaborations with prominent artists. In 2020, he announced plans for a new album under his label IFWT Films and Records, featuring artists like Juice Wrld, Kodak Black, and Pop Smoke.

Flex also ventured into television, starting with appearances on “Yo! MTV Raps” in the early nineties. His television presence grew with shows like “Ride with Funkmaster Flex” (2003) on Spike TV, which explored car culture within hip-hop. He later hosted “All Muscle with Funkmaster Flex” (2007) and “Car Wars with Funkmaster Flex” (2007) on ESPN, focusing on custom cars and interviewing athletes. “Fast Machines with Funkmaster Flex” (2010), also on Spike TV, blended custom car builds for celebrities with reality elements. In 2014, he appeared on VH1’s reality show “This Is Hot 97.” His entrepreneurial spirit further extended to an annual eight-city Funkmaster Flex Custom Car & Bike Show Tour, showcasing custom vehicles and featuring major recording artists. Additionally, he collaborated with Ford Motor Company, customizing several models since 2005, and contributed to video games like “Grand Theft Auto IV” and “Def Jam Vendetta.”