Two gold albums on Loud Records, host of the top rated New York City radio show heard a mind-numbing 27 hours per week, CEO of Franchise Records, owner of Big Dawg Films and Record Pool, daily MTV veejay, resident mixologist for thousands of guests at The Tunnel in Manhattan, and authorized hawker of Starter gear. With all of his accomplishments,
people still want to player hate on Funkmaster Flex.

Most of us have heard comments like, "He plays the same shit over and over." "That voice is so annoying." "He doesn't care about anything outside of New York." And the favorite of so-called underground heads, "Funkmaster Flex is straight up wack!"

Being at the top of any profession will bring its share of criticism and obviously Flex's case is no exception. So before reading any further, I urge the anti-Flex consortium to heed this word of advice: Flex is a PARTY deejay. With a knack for choosing the right joint at the right time, he would have no problem getting your grandmoms to turn it out on the dance floor. (If you don't believe me, just ask some of his recent clients like Russell Simmons, Puff Daddy, Mariah Carey, LL Cool J, Spike Lee, etc.) You will not see him in the next DMC battle because that is not who he is or who he aspires to be. Flex knows where his skills lie and perhaps more importantly, where they don't. The anti-Flexers may have a case, but the dissenters will have to stay sour because Flex is going nowhere but up.

It's important to mention that Flex was not born with a golden turntable in his hand. He earned his position as one of the world's most popular deejays through years of carrying crates and fill-in work for his mentors Chuck Chillout and DJ Red Alert. These fill-ins became permanent in 1992 when he began at Hot 97 FM with a Friday night mix show. As the station became more urban, Flex was given free reign and just as he does at his weekly Tunnel gig, he got loose. In 1998, the Flex regime has taken over New York City and many other parts of the globe.

On the eve his new album's release, The Mix Tape Volume III: The Final Chapter (Loud), I spoke to the 30-year-old super-deejay about his projects, outlook and philosophy.

HipHopSite.Com: How do you balance everything?

Funkmaster Flex: I really enjoy what I do. I have fun doing it. I'm on the radio every day from 7 o'clock to Midnight. I do the Tunnel on Sunday; I'm working on my album. I just really like what I do.

Looking back on all the shows and mixtapes that you have done, are there any freestyles that come to mind that are so dope that you'd never forget them?

There was a great freestyle I had on the radio with DMX, Canibus and Noreaga. That just happened on the show. It had a lot of energy and the artists were very hungry.

What's the toughest crowd that you were able to rock?

I played in Chicago once, it was the toughest crowd I ever played for…I had to figure out the right records and it took a lot of effort and time to give the people what they wanted. It was trial and error. Pulling back, trying things. A lot of trial and error.

What cut pulled the crowd in that night?

Mona Lisa, Slick Rick.

When did you realize that you could make a living off being a hip-hop deejay?

I think I still haven't made a living off it. I think I could still lose it all. I always feel that it's never enough, so I just try harder.

What dope cuts did you not play when they first came out, but you wish you did?

Protect Ya Neck, Wu-Tang. I didn't like in the very beginning, I had to play it for a little while. The people in the streets started to like it so I played it. Then I was feeling it.

Was there ever a record that you wanted people to feel, but you couldn't make it happen?

Not really. If it's phat, it'll come around.

Mariah Carey said you were the 'ultimate choice' for a party event. Why are you the 'ultimate choice'?

I like to please the crowd, it's important to me to please the crowd. I don't play for myself.

What's the craziest thing you've done to please a crowd?

I hit obscure old school sets. It's kind of a hard question. Just obscure, obscure old school.

What can we expect from the new record?

I got Mariah, Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, Missy, Foxxy Brown, The Wu-Tang Clan. It's a soundtrack to the streets.

Are we ever going to see Flex on a national tour?

I'd like to come out with a big act, you know. So we'd guarantee it being packed.

What mix tape deejays stand out to you right now as being the best?

I think I have two favorites. Doo Wop and Clue.

What about them do you like?

Originality. I think we more or less feed off the business and try to be original, try to be different.

What about technical deejays. Who's your favorite?

DJ Scratch from EPMD.

Have you ever heard the Return of the DJ (Bomb Records) compilation albums?

No. I haven't heard them.

With a lot of deejays now considered turntablists and several scratch crews like the Beat Junkies or the X-Ecutioners coming to the forefront of hip-hop, how do you see yourself fitting in with that movement?

I feel like I'm in my own separate class. My personality, deejay…You know, I kind of like to do a whole lot of different things…I'm a party deejay, a radio deejay.

Do you ever feel like you could battle with those guys or ever feel the urge to?

I just try to keep it going, you know? I just create my own niche…I just like to make it happen. I try to please people and put it together right.

What's the biggest BS that Funkmaster Flex has to deal with?

The phoniness of the industry. Not the consumers and the hip-hop lovers, I just mean like the record companies.

What's the biggest misconception people may have about you?

Some people think I'm pop because I host MTV now. But I'm still street because I do the Tunnel every Sunday for 2,000 screaming Brooklyn, Queens kids, street kids.