Flavor Flav has revealed that there was a time in his life when he spent over $2,000 a day on drugs.
During an appearance on Akademiks’ Off The Record podcast, the Public Enemy legend spoke about his journey to sobriety and just how serious his addiction got.
“I kinda maintained myself very well while I was on that shit,” Flav said of his drug habit. “I kinda kept it hidden so a lot of people didn’t really know. They were trying to figure it out, ‘Yo, is he on something?’ Because I never let people know what I was doing. I started letting people know what I was doing when I was getting tired of being like that.”
He continued: “There was a time that I was spending $2,400 to $2,600 a day for six years straight. You do the math. That’s how much I spent on drugs. I ain’t gonna lie. I sold a lot, but I was my best customer. I had a lot of money at the time too. I was just doing wrong things with my money. I guess God wanted me to live.”
The Long Island native noted that he opened up about his crack addiction in his 2011 book, Flavor Flav: The Icon The Memoir, and that he now feels like a “mouthpiece” to help people avoid similar mistakes.
He also said kids are looking up to rappers more and more these days, and that it’s important artists send the right message.
Flavor Flav is now three years fully sober and previously celebrated his second year of sobriety on social media last October.
“Today is October 19,” Flav said in a video posted on Instagram. “And guess what? I am two years, no cigarettes. Two years, no alcohol. And you know what? I feel real good y’all, just to let you know. And I don’t care what nobody say, I look good y’all.”
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The 63-year-old added that while he is committed to staying sober, he is focusing on taking it “one year at a time.”
Flav announced his first year of sobriety in 2021, posting a side-by-side comparison of his face before and after getting off drugs.
The news was met with tons of support from peers and fans, including The Roots’ Questlove who wrote: “Proud of you bro,” while DJ Premier said enthusiastically: “That’s how you do it Flav!”
Xzibit was even more encouraging in his comment by writing: “Love you G!! You’re one of my hero’s. Glad you are feeling powerful in your sobriety. Keep going.”
