Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flav (né William Jonathan Drayton Jr.) donated his famous clock around his neck to Harvard University’s Hiphop Archive & Research Institute.
In a video from TMZ, Flav explained that he had a clock necklace made for the school but decided to donate the one on his neck. He handed the clock to Finding Your Roots host Henry Louis Gates, Jr., an Alphonse Fletcher University professor at the prestigious school.
“It was pretty cool…Being here at Harvard is big. And for me to be able to come and donate one of my clocks to the University, I’m honored,” Flav told his audience.
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Music industry executive Jason Flom was present and posted photos of the occasion, writing in the caption, “One of my basic philosophies is that any chance you get to spend time with a genius, a revolutionary or both…….take it! Today I checked both of those boxes and was thrilled to spend the day with @lupefiasco and @flavorflavofficial talking about music and justice while we made the rounds at M.I.T. and Harvard.”
The rapper shook hands with some of the ivy league students and professors and even appeared on PBS Poetry in America, an associate of an Extension School comprising students discussing American Literature, sometimes with a celebrity present, according to the Harvard Gazette.
Flav conversed with the class about Emily Dickinson and read (along with Professor Elisa New and songwriter Sam Hollander) “A Clock Stopped — Not The Mantel’s,” “Publication — is the Auction” and “I’m Nobody! Who are you?”
Dickinson is known for using symbolism in her written works, which is why many people resonate with the poet. Flav told the students that he incorporated symbolism in his music and image.
“The reason why I wear this clock is because every single second that the minute hand goes around — we have to use each second to the best value,” Flav said. “Once we stop, it still keeps going anyway.”
