The 53-year-old rap star, whose given name is William Drayton Jr, also threatened the woman's teenage son with a knife, police said in a statement.

Police received a call before dawn from a residence in Las Vegas regarding the incident, police said.

"The caller advised she had been involved in a physical altercation with her fiancé, who was identified as William Drayton," the police statement said.

Flavor Flav, who was arrested and charged with battery domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon, was held on bail, according to an online database for Clark County.

The rapper is best known for his work with the politically oriented group Public Enemy, which rose to fame in the 1980s with albums such as "Yo! Bum Rush the Show" and "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back."

His attention-grabbing wardrobe features a giant clock that he wears around his neck and a Viking helmet. In recent years, he has starred in a number of reality shows, including "Flavor of Love," in which he searched for a suitable romantic match.

(Reporting By Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Cynthia Johnston)

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