Flav (real name William Jonathan Drayton Jr.) is a 10th grade dropout who cannot read, write, or do math beyond about a 7th-grade level.

“Honestly, to tell you the truth – I don’t have my diploma – and years later, down the line, I felt that it was an embarrassing situation that I wanted to fix,” the Long Island, NY native revealed in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday. “I wanted to make my mother happy – my sisters both have their diplomas and I don’t yet. And so I want to make my mom smile and make her proud while she’s still alive.”

He hopes his new show will remind others that they, too, are never too old to learn.

“I just want to show the world it’s never too late to get your diploma, and show kids they should stay in school and not wait until you’re old to get it,” Flav said. “Everybody sees me as this big love mogul. Now I got a baby girl, I’ve been there and done that and now it’s time for the next episode.”

Flav adds that he’s ready to use the reality TV platform to serve as a role model.

“I want to use this show as an example that it’s never too late to go back. I want to use this show as a tool to show kids who are already in school to get your diploma while you’re there. There are a lot of things that you can’t do in your life without your diploma. I want to go back and fix it now. I want this to be influential on kids.”

Flav says that fans will see a much more serious side of him in this new show.

“You’re definitely going to see a much more serious and deep side of William Drayton, who’s the person that created the character of Flav,” he explained. “And now I want fans to see the real serious, parental and mentor side of me – the William Drayton side. I’m going to be much more in mentor mode.”

The hip-hop legend added, “There will definitely be some wackiness too! I’m going out for the band, and the basketball team, and the football team. I’m still gonna keep Flavor Flav… the man, around! If the football team is losing the game, I’m gonna put on a jersey, and I’m gonna go out there and win the game for my school!”

Flav sees this show as the chance to send reality TV in a new direction.

“I think right now the direction of reality TV needs to change. I started out the trend for the dating shows on reality TV. My heart is saddened about the murder that happened within the course of that. I am going to change the course of things. People want something more right now; they want something smarter.”

Flav continued, “Another reason why I don’t have my diploma though is because I cut classes hanging out in the band room. But on this show, you’re definitely gonna see me out there as the drum major leading the band.”

“So my message for kids is, ‘Get your diploma right now.’ Believe me, I had a rough life without it. There are a lot of guys on the corner right now, hustling drugs because they can’t get the jobs they want because they don’t have their diplomas,” he concluded.

Flavor Flav of Public Enemy is celebrating the big 5-0 today. Check out the former Public Enemy hypeman performing on NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Monday night.

In a new interview with Complex Magazine, Flavor Flav has revealed that he lost his virginity at the age of six.

Complex: What would you consider to be your superpower?

Flavor Flav: That’s right early start and guess what and I have a great finish right now. [Laughs] Yessir!

It looks like Flavor Flav has finished his reality show search for love. The gold-toothed hip hop hype man dumped Flavor of Love 3 winner Thing (just like Hoopz and Deelishis before her) and proposed to longtime love Liz, the mother of his seventh child, the adorable Karma on the FOL 3 Reunion Show this weekend. Check out how the drama unfolds in the vid above.

Latresha a.k.a Thing 2 won the heart of eccentric hip hop hype man Flavor Flava on Monday night’s finale of Flavor of Love 3. Latresha, a twenty-six year old healthcare worker from Artesia, California is the identical twin of ousted FOL 3 contestant Latrisha (Thing 1).

VH1 reality star Flava Flav has joined forces with Dr Pepper. The former Public Enemy hypeman will appear in a series of upcoming commercial promos for the soft drink king.

In his commercial debut, Flav will lend his voice to one of Dr Pepper’s
23 flavors.

“Dr Pepper is flavorlicious like me. Just like Dr Pepper, I add more to it,” Flav says.

“With 23 flavors in every Dr Pepper, you can find something new in every sip,” says Jaxie Alt, Dr Pepper brand director. “There’s more to Dr Pepper, and we believe this commercial delivers that message to soda drinkers in a fun and relevant way.”

Flavor Flava Conan O’Brien Video

Flavor Flav on Jimmy Kimmel

Flavor of Love star Flavor Flav has landed his own sitcom, Under One Roofm, to debut on MyNetworkTV this Spring.

In Under One Roof, Flav plays ex-convict Calvster Hill, who moves in with his wealthy, conservative brother Walter played by Kelly Perine. Of course, along with Calvster come his prison buddies and his wild ways.

“I’m real excited,” Flav says of the venture. “I want to thank MyNetworkTV for believing in your boy because we are about to blow this out of the water. I am about to take MyNetworkTV and make it MY network.”

FooFoo is back. Flavor of Love 3 hits VH1 on Monday February 11, 2008 at 9/8c.

VH1.com Videos