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'''Curtis Brown''' (born April 18, 1960), better known by the stage name '''Grandmaster Caz''' or '''Casanova Fly''', is a Black American rapper, songwriter, and DJ. He worked with Debra Harris as a celebrity tour guide for [[Hush Hip Hop Tours]], a hip-hop cultural sightseeing tour company in [[New York City]], and is a board member of [[The Kennedy Center]]'s Hip-Hop Council, Hip-Hop Ambassador and board member for Windows of HipHop and CEO of GMC Entertainment Inc.<ref>[http://www.hiphopfederation.net/the-team.asp The Hip Hop Federation Team Roster, retrieved July 30, 2011]</ref>
'''Curtis Brown''' (born April 18, 1960), better known by the stage name '''Grandmaster Caz''' or '''Casanova Fly''', is a Black American rapper, songwriter, and DJ. He worked with Debra Harris as a celebrity tour guide for [[Hush Hip Hop Tours]], a hip-hop cultural sightseeing tour company in [[New York City]], and is a board member of [[The Kennedy Center]]'s Hip-Hop Council, Hip-Hop Ambassador and board member for Windows of HipHop and CEO of GMC Entertainment Inc.<ref>[http://www.hiphopfederation.net/the-team.asp The Hip Hop Federation Team Roster, retrieved July 30, 2011]</ref>



==Career As of November 2021 Grandmaster Caz is Presently Working at the Bells Radio. Working with A & E, MTV, Paramount, De La Calle, History Channels and other Documentary. On April 18, 2022 (which is Grandmaster Caz birth day) new Borough President, Vanessa Gibson Proclaimed April 18th "GrandMaster Caz Day" HiStory Continues.==
Caz first encountered rap in 1974 at a [[Kool Herc]] block party.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hiphop-network.com/articles/djarticles/grandmastercaz.asp |title=Hip Hop Network biographies, retrieved July 29, 2011 |access-date=July 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613153326/http://www.hiphop-network.com/articles/djarticles/grandmastercaz.asp |archive-date=June 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shortly after, he teamed with [[DJ Disco Wiz]] under the name Casanova Fly to form one of the first DJ crews, Mighty Force. Caz was also the first rapper to perform both DJ (record) and MC (vocal) duties.<ref name="hess">{{Cite book |first=Mickey |last=Hess |title=Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide |year=2009 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |page= xxxiii |isbn=978-0-313-34323-0 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphoppress.com/2011/04/hip-hop-legend-grand-master-caz-joins-rapathon-5.html|title=hiphoppress.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Sanchez|first=Ivan|author2=Luis Cedeño|isbn=978-1-57687-494-3|title=It's Just Begun|date=28 April 2009|publisher=Perseus Books Group|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/itsjustbegunepic00djdi}}</ref>
Caz first encountered rap in 1974 at a [[Kool Herc]] block party.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hiphop-network.com/articles/djarticles/grandmastercaz.asp |title=Hip Hop Network biographies, retrieved July 29, 2011 |access-date=July 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613153326/http://www.hiphop-network.com/articles/djarticles/grandmastercaz.asp |archive-date=June 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shortly after, he teamed with [[DJ Disco Wiz]] under the name Casanova Fly to form one of the first DJ crews, Mighty Force. Caz was also the first rapper to perform both DJ (record) and MC (vocal) duties.<ref name="hess">{{Cite book |first=Mickey |last=Hess |title=Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide |year=2009 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |page= xxxiii |isbn=978-0-313-34323-0 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphoppress.com/2011/04/hip-hop-legend-grand-master-caz-joins-rapathon-5.html|title=hiphoppress.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Sanchez|first=Ivan|author2=Luis Cedeño|isbn=978-1-57687-494-3|title=It's Just Begun|date=28 April 2009|publisher=Perseus Books Group|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/itsjustbegunepic00djdi}}</ref>


Revision as of 18:07, 6 May 2022

As of November 2021, Grandmaster Caz started working with and for LL Cool J at Rock The Bells Radio. Partnering with MC Sha Rock HipHop's First Ladie, name of the show, Monday through Friday, 11am-1pm. is "That's The Joint. April 18, 2022, on Grandmaster Caz Birthday, newly appointed Bronx Borough President, Vanessa Gibson Proclaimed, April 18th, "Grandmaster Caz Day" At present Grandmaster Caz is working with and for A&E, MTV, Paramount, De La Calle, history Channel, on Documentary, Podcast and more, His Story Continues.

Grandmaster Caz
Grandmaster Caz in 2007
Grandmaster Caz in 2007
Background information
Birth nameCurtis Brown[1]
Also known asCasanova Fly
Born (1960-04-18) April 18, 1960 (age 64)
The Bronx, New York City, New York
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)DJ, songwriter, MC, author, Host actor, CEO & President of GMC Entertainment Inc.
Instrument(s)Turntables, vocals
Years active1978–present[2]
LabelsTuff City (US), Ol' Skool Flava (US), Jazz Child Records(US), Chrysalis (US), Toshiba EMI Ltd]] (US), Beyongolia (US), 360° Records(US)
Websitewww.coldcrushbrothers.com

Curtis Brown (born April 18, 1960), better known by the stage name Grandmaster Caz or Casanova Fly, is a Black American rapper, songwriter, and DJ. He worked with Debra Harris as a celebrity tour guide for Hush Hip Hop Tours, a hip-hop cultural sightseeing tour company in New York City, and is a board member of The Kennedy Center's Hip-Hop Council, Hip-Hop Ambassador and board member for Windows of HipHop and CEO of GMC Entertainment Inc.[3]


Caz first encountered rap in 1974 at a Kool Herc block party.[4] Shortly after, he teamed with DJ Disco Wiz under the name Casanova Fly to form one of the first DJ crews, Mighty Force. Caz was also the first rapper to perform both DJ (record) and MC (vocal) duties.[5][6][7]

In the late 1970s, he joined The Cold Crush Brothers. Caz admits that he himself stole new equipment during the New York City blackout of 1977.[8]

He currently hosts Hush Hip Hop Tours, the official sightseeing tour of Harlem and The Bronx.[9]

Caz was interviewed for the documentary Just to Get a Rep released in 2004.

In 2008, he was one of the participants at the Cornell University Library conference on Hip Hop.[10]

Artists who cite Grandmaster Caz as an influence include Will Smith,[11] Rakim, Big Daddy Kane,[12] Jay-Z[13] and many more.

In 2015, Caz featured on a single by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis named "Downtown".

Sugarhill Gang controversy

A 2009 book claims that the lyrics for The Sugarhill Gang's seminal "Rapper's Delight" were plagiarized from the then-unpublished Caz's lyrics.[14] In 2000, he set his account of the controversy in the song "MC Delight". He claims in the song that he wrote the lyrics of Big Bank Hank (Henry Jackson), who had been the manager of his band, but never received any royalties or thanks for it. Jackson himself substantiated these claims as he neglected to change his verse on "Rapper's Delight" to reflect his own stage name, instead of beginning his verse with the now famous, "Check it out, I'm the C-A-S-A-, N-O-V-A, and the rest is F-L-Y". Casanova Fly is Grandmaster Caz's alternate moniker.

This controversy is referenced in episode 3 of part 2 of The Get Down. While listening to Rapper's Delight on the radio, The Get Down Brothers' member, Boo, tells his date that Grandmaster Caz is rapping the line and says that Caz is the "nicest MC around".

Legacy

In 1998, Caz was listed #11 out of Blaze Magazine's Top 50 MCs of all Time. He was also inducted into the Technics DJ Hall of Fame in 1999.[citation needed]

In June 2008, Grandmaster Caz was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame.[15] A street plaque bearing his name is now on permanent display on the Grand Concourse, the most famous thoroughfare in the Bronx.

Grandmaster Caz was portrayed by Jaleel White in the Drunk History episode "American Music".

Discography

Albums

  • The Grandest Of Them All (LP) Tuff City 1992
  • You Need Stitches: The Tuff City Sessions 1982-1988 (LP) Ol' Skool Flava 2004
  • Rare & Unreleased Old School Hip Hop '86-'87 (LP) Ol' Skool Flava 2006
  • Mid Life Crisis (CD, Album) Jazz Child Records 2008

Singles & EPs

  • Grandmaster Caz & Chris Stein - Wild Style Theme Rap 1 Chrysalis 1983
  • Grand Master Caz & Chris Stein - Wild Style Theme Rap No.1 (12", Promo) Toshiba EMI Ltd 1983
  • Yvette / Mister Bill (12") Tuff City 1985
  • Count Basey (12") Tuff City 1986
  • Get Down Grandmaster / I'm Caz (12") Tuff City 1987
  • You Need Stitches (12") Tuff City 1989
  • Star Search (12") Tuff City 1992
  • Grandmaster Caz with Whipper Whip* - To All The Party People (12") Tuff City 1994
  • 45 King Old School Remixes Vol. 4 (12", EP) Ol' Skool Flava 1996
  • Grandmaster Caz & Chris Stein - Wild Style Theme Rap 1 / Wild Style Subway Rap Beyongolia 1998
  • DJ Parker Lee Presents: Grandmaster Caz (12") Jazz Child Records 1999
  • MC Delight (Casanova's Revenge) (12") Jazz Child Records 2000
  • Grandmaster Caz & DJ Signify - Untitled (7") Grandgood Records 2003
  • Grandmaster Caz & DJ Haitian Star - Move The Crowd / Scene Of The Rhyme (12", Ltd) 360° Records (2) 2005
  • Capitol 1212 and Grandmaster Caz - Encore, Sure you Want More 12" Kool Kat records 2008

Compilations

  • Wild Style Original Soundtrack 1982
  • Crotona Park Jams (CD, Comp, Mixed) (Grandmaster Caz Self-released) 2008
  • RareHipHop.com & Grandmaster Caz - Underground Heat Vol 1

References

  1. ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/they-took-grandmaster-cazs-rhymes-without-giving-him-credit-now-hes-getting-revenge/2016/09/29/f519c35a-7f3e-11e6-8d0c-fb6c00c90481_story.html
  2. ^ Steve Huey. "Grandmaster Caz". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
  3. ^ The Hip Hop Federation Team Roster, retrieved July 30, 2011
  4. ^ "Hip Hop Network biographies, retrieved July 29, 2011". Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  5. ^ Hess, Mickey (2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide. ABC-CLIO. p. xxxiii. ISBN 978-0-313-34323-0.
  6. ^ "hiphoppress.com".
  7. ^ Sanchez, Ivan; Luis Cedeño (28 April 2009). It's Just Begun. Perseus Books Group. ISBN 978-1-57687-494-3.
  8. ^ Mars, Roman; Hall, Delaney (October 16, 2014). "Was the 1977 New York City Blackout a Catalyst for Hip-Hop's Growth?". Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  9. ^ "Hush Hip-Hop Tours. Celebrity Guides. Famous Hotspots. One Company. One Official Experience". Hush Hip Hop Tours.
  10. ^ "The Cornell University Hip Hop Collection". cornell.edu.
  11. ^ Dj Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Live At The Union Square (Complete Full Version). YouTube. 5 June 2014.
  12. ^ "doublexxposure". Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  13. ^ Carter, Mr (2017-06-15). "Lauryn Nicki lite latifah common ye drake and meek . Run caz LL chainz cam tip (both of them) thought pharaoh , face . De la . Ice T. Wait". @S_C_. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
  14. ^ Hess, Mickey (2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide: Volume 1: East Coast and West Coast. Greenwood. ISBN 978-0-313-34323-0.
  15. ^ "I Love the Bronx - Bronx Tourism Council". ilovethebronx.com.
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