Flavor Flav

Famous Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flav, co-star of an upcoming reality series on VH1, owes it all to the romance he began with actress Brigitte Nielsen on ''''The Surreal Life.''''

The unlikely pair will be seen in their own reality show, '''strange Love,'''' which debuts Jan. 9 on VH1.

''''The only love life I really have is with me and my kids,'''' the rapper says. '''' ''The Surreal Life'' was a good thing, but it was just a vehicle. My main purpose moving to Los Angeles from New York in the first place was to switch over into television. I''m happy to have been part of the biggest and highest-rated show VH1 has ever had. I have goals I want to reach, so hopefully TV can help me reach them.''''

Flav is working on a new album with Public Enemy colleague Chuck D as well as a solo disc. A new single, ''''Flavor Man,'''' will be out soon.

Of the as-yet-untitled solo effort, the Viking-helmeted Flav says, ''''The only people I really feature on it are the Beatnuts. I ran into the great, great, great Ce Ce Peniston, and we''re talking about doing a song together. I''m not going to remake one of her songs -- I''m going to remake a song and have Ce Ce on it. I want to help bring my girl back to the surface.''''

After years of turbulent relationships with record labels, Flav insists, ''''I''m going independent right now. Right now, I''m going to release it. I will spend my own money to press it up until someone picks it up. I don''t want to sign with another record company. All companies I sign to make money off of me. Now it's my turn to make some money off of me!''''

Public Enemy's label status is also up in the air. The group's most recent album, ''''Revolverlution,'''' was released in 2002 by Koch, and the band is scheduled to headline tonight's "Legends of Hip-Hop" show at the Arie Crown Theater.

''''Me and Chuck have an album brewing up right now,'''' Flav says. ''''It's really almost done. Honestly, this album is way better than our most recent albums. But I''m not sure exactly what label it will come out on -- to be determined.''''

For the time being, fans can absorb a dose of Flav on the track ''''Come on Down,'''' from De La Soul's new Sanctuary album, ''''The Grind Date.''''

Source