Funkmaster Flex Net Worth: How Rich is the DJ Actually?

Funkmaster Flex is an American disc jockey, rapper, and host. He is best known as a host of New York City’s Hot 97 radio station. Funkmaster has been hosting the New York City’s radio station since the early 1990s. He was the first to host New York’s first-ever hip-hop radio show. As of 2023, Funkmaster Flex net worth is roughly around $7 million.

Early Life

Funkmaster Flex was born on the 5th of August, 1968 in New York City. He was born to Jamaican immigrant parents. His dad, Aston George Taylor Sr. was a DJ and a sound system professional. Flex grew up in a strict and religious household. He was 16 when he started working as DJ at local nightclubs.

Funkmaster Flex Net Worth & How He Made Money?

 

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Funkmaster started working at WRKS 98.7 Kiss-FM when he was 18. After working there for some time, he left KISS and served for a brief period at 107.5 WBLS-FM. Later on, he made many club appearances at Vito Bruno’s operated nightclubs in the early 1990s. At that time, Vito Bruno convinced the regional vice president of Hot 97, Joe Salkowitz that they should start airing live broadcasts from clubs.

Hip hop was becoming popular in the 1990s despite its decline in the 1980s. Subsequently, Bruno and Joe increased the hours of urban radio programming. Flex got to host his own show due to the success of that radio programming. Then, he started hosting his own radio show on Hot 97, which was a specialized rap program. With the new show, the radio station Hot 97 became the first pop radio station in New York.

Flex received wide recognition for his signature bomb drop sound effect over records. He has been associated with Hot 97 since the 1990s and currently working on weeknights and weekends for the radio station. Flex launched a news website, InFlexWeTrust.com in August 2010. On the website, he makes video, audio, and mp3s of artist freestyles from his radio show which is exclusively available on the website. In addition, the website posts entertainment news, models, music, cars, sports, and technology.

In September 2012, the website joined the Complex media network. Besides his hosting job, he has been a talented rapper. The major record label, Loud Records signed him in the mid-1990s. He was signed by a record label for a series of mixtapes titled “60 Minutes of Funk”. The series of mixtapes were certified gold by the RIAA. Then in 1995, he formed the group of hip-hop DJs, The Flip Squad with 7 of the most respected DJs in New York City.

The group of New York City’s DJs, The Flip Squad released their self-titled first LP on MCA in late 1998. Then, he came up with a collaborative album, The Tunnel with Def Jam in 1999. Flex made an announcement of his plans for an upcoming album in October 2020. He dropped the album’s lead song, Lurkin in December. In the early 1990s, he appeared on Yo! MTV Raps.

Flex worked on the first TV series, Ride with Funkmaster Flex in 2003. The series documented the subculture of cars that were popular in hip-hop culture. Later, he developed a one-off Spike TV show race event titled The Funkmaster Flex Super Series Invitational. In 2007, he came up with a second show titled Car Wars with Funkmaster Flex on ESPN. The TV show featured many automotive designers like Patrick Schiavone, Melvin Betancourt, and Louis D’erasmo.

Funkmaster returned to MTV in 2010 for a new show called Funk Flex Full Throttle. In the show, he interviewed many hip-hop artists and customized cars on location during Spring Break, in his garage, and at the New York Auto show. He appeared as a part of the show called This Is Hot 97 in 2014.

Personal Life

Funkmaster Flex was married to Monica Joseph-Taylor for over two decades. He was arrested in 2011 for alleged domestic violence with his wife, Monica. Flex was accused of pushing Monica and sending her threatening texts.

After separating from his wife, he got into a relationship with Haydee Diaz, with whom he became engaged, and has a son named Dante. Flex has reportedly separated from Diaz and currently enjoying single life. As per several news outlets, Flex was involved in a fierce legal battle with Diaz in 2014 over child support payment for their son.

What is Funkmaster Flex Net Worth?

Funkmaster Flex’s personal wealth is estimated to be around $7 million as of 2023. In addition to his hosting career, he has been a featured DJ on The Beat 107.7. Likewise, he was an unlockable in-game narrator and character in a professional wrestling video game, Def Jam Vendetta.