Grandmaster Caz: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|American rapper}} |
{{short description|American rapper}} |
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{{Infobox musical artist |
{{Infobox musical artist |
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'''Curtis Brown''' (born April 18, 1960), better known by the stage name '''Grandmaster Caz''' or '''Casanova Fly''', is an American rapper, songwriter, and DJ. He was a member of the hip hop group [[The Cold Crush Brothers]] from 1979 to the mid-1980s. He is best known as the (uncredited) main writer of [[Big Bank Hank]]'s raps on the seminal 1979 [[hip hop]] single by [[The Sugarhill Gang]], "[[Rapper's Delight]]". |
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⚫ | 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> |
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==Musical career== |
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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> |
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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]].<ref name="Slate podcast">{{cite news|last1=Mars|first1=Roman|last2=Hall|first2=Delaney|title=Was the 1977 New York City Blackout a Catalyst for Hip-Hop's Growth?|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2014/10/16/roman_mars_99_percent_invisible_was_the_1977_nyc_wide_blackout_a_catalyst.html|date=October 16, 2014|access-date=October 21, 2014}}</ref> |
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]].<ref name="Slate podcast">{{cite news|last1=Mars|first1=Roman|last2=Hall|first2=Delaney|title=Was the 1977 New York City Blackout a Catalyst for Hip-Hop's Growth?|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2014/10/16/roman_mars_99_percent_invisible_was_the_1977_nyc_wide_blackout_a_catalyst.html|date=October 16, 2014|access-date=October 21, 2014}}</ref> |
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Grandmaster Caz is generally acknowledged to have been the main writer of the lyrics of [[Big Bank Hank]] (real name Henry Lee Jackson) on the 1979 [[The Sugarhill Gang]] single "[[Rapper's Delight]]", which sold around 5 million copies<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thesource.com/2020/09/16/today-in-hip-hop-history-sugar-hill-gang-releases-rappers-delight-41-years-ago/|title=Today In Hip-Hop History: Sugar Hill Gang Releases 'Rapper's Delight' 41 Years Ago|author=Sha Be Allah|publisher=[[The Source]]|date=September 16, 2020|accessdate=June 8, 2022}}</ref> and introduced hip hop music to the mainstream.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hess|first=Mickey|title=Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide: Volume 1: East Coast and West Coast|isbn=978-0-313-34323-0|publisher=Greenwood|year=2009}}</ref> Jackson had been Grandmaster Caz's manager, and was working at a pizza parlor when music executive [[Sylvia Robinson]] overheard him rapping Grandmaster Caz's lyrics, and asked him to be part of the group she was forming, The Sugarhill Gang. Jackson had never rapped before, and asked Caz for lyrics to use. This is most evident in his opening verse, when, instead of introducing himself as Big Bank Hank, he raps, "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.)<ref>{{cite web |title=They took Grandmaster Caz’s rhymes without giving him credit. Now, he’s getting revenge. |url=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 |first=Geoff |last=Edgers |date=September 29, 2016 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref> Big Bank Hank's rap during the song about seducing [[Lois Lane]] away from [[Superman]] was also lifted from Caz.<ref>{{cite web |title=Say It Ain't So, Hank |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HTMuhxamaFEC&pg=PA130#v=onepage&q&f=false |work=Spin Magazine |date=October 2000}}</ref> |
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In 2000, Caz released the song "MC Delight", a parody of "Rapper's Delight" which told his side of the story. In the song, Caz states about giving away his lyrics, "I gave it to him thinking/ Check books, credit cards, more money/ Than a sucker could ever spend/ But he never gave a nigga a god damn dime/ And was supposed to be my friend". |
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==Other work== |
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⚫ | Artists who cite Grandmaster Caz as an influence include [[Will Smith]],<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8voG_o2g-4&t=1m44s,|title=Dj Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Live At The Union Square (Complete Full Version)|date=5 June 2014|work=YouTube}}</ref> [[Rakim]], [[Big Daddy Kane]] |
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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. |
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In November 2021, Grandmaster Caz and female MC [[Sha-Rock]] started co-hosting the show ''That's The Joint'' on the [[Sirius XM]] channel Rock The Bells Radio, run by [[LL Cool J]]. The show runs Monday through Friday, 11 AM to 1 PM. |
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{{BLP sources section|date=April 2017}} |
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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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hess|first=Mickey|title=Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide: Volume 1: East Coast and West Coast|isbn=978-0-313-34323-0|publisher=Greenwood|year=2009}}</ref> 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. |
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==Awards and honors== |
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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|date=April 2017}} |
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|date=April 2017}} |
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In June 2008, Grandmaster Caz was inducted into the [[Bronx Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilovethebronx.com/?pg=load&loc=walkofame&tab=celebs&year=2008|title=I Love the Bronx - Bronx Tourism Council|work=ilovethebronx.com}}</ref> A street plaque bearing his name is now on permanent display on the [[Grand Concourse (Bronx)|Grand Concourse]], the most famous thoroughfare in the Bronx. |
In June 2008, Grandmaster Caz was inducted into the [[Bronx Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilovethebronx.com/?pg=load&loc=walkofame&tab=celebs&year=2008|title=I Love the Bronx - Bronx Tourism Council|work=ilovethebronx.com}}</ref> A street plaque bearing his name is now on permanent display on the [[Grand Concourse (Bronx)|Grand Concourse]], the most famous thoroughfare in the Bronx. |
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⚫ | Artists who cite Grandmaster Caz as an influence include [[Will Smith]],<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8voG_o2g-4&t=1m44s,|title=Dj Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Live At The Union Square (Complete Full Version)|date=5 June 2014|work=YouTube}}</ref> [[Rakim]], [[Big Daddy Kane]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dxxnyc.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=160|title=doublexxposure|access-date=2011-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328085357/http://www.dxxnyc.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=160|archive-date=2012-03-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Jay-Z]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/S_C_/status/875510146671099905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http://theboombox.com/jay-z-thanks-every-rapper-who-inspired-him-rakim-kane-krs-chuck-cube-jaz-em-andre-nas/|title=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|last=Carter|first=Mr|date=2017-06-15|website=@S_C_|access-date=2017-07-15}}</ref> |
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Grandmaster Caz was portrayed by [[Jaleel White]] in the ''[[Drunk History]]'' episode "American Music". |
Grandmaster Caz was portrayed by [[Jaleel White]] in the ''[[Drunk History]]'' episode "American Music". |
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==Discography== |
==Discography== |
Revision as of 15:47, 5 August 2022
Grandmaster Caz | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Curtis Brown[1] |
Also known as | Casanova Fly |
Born | The Bronx, New York City, New York | April 18, 1960
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) | DJ, songwriter, MC, author, Host actor, CEO & President of GMC Entertainment Inc. |
Instrument(s) | Turntables, vocals |
Years active | 1978–present[2] |
Labels | Tuff City (US), Ol' Skool Flava (US), Jazz Child Records(US), Chrysalis (US), Toshiba EMI Ltd]] (US), Beyongolia (US), 360° Records(US) |
Website | www |
Curtis Brown (born April 18, 1960), better known by the stage name Grandmaster Caz or Casanova Fly, is an American rapper, songwriter, and DJ. He was a member of the hip hop group The Cold Crush Brothers from 1979 to the mid-1980s. He is best known as the (uncredited) main writer of Big Bank Hank's raps on the seminal 1979 hip hop single by The Sugarhill Gang, "Rapper's Delight".
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]
Musical career
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]
In 2015, Caz was featured on the single "Downtown" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.
Sugarhill Gang controversy
Grandmaster Caz is generally acknowledged to have been the main writer of the lyrics of Big Bank Hank (real name Henry Lee Jackson) on the 1979 The Sugarhill Gang single "Rapper's Delight", which sold around 5 million copies[9] and introduced hip hop music to the mainstream.[10] Jackson had been Grandmaster Caz's manager, and was working at a pizza parlor when music executive Sylvia Robinson overheard him rapping Grandmaster Caz's lyrics, and asked him to be part of the group she was forming, The Sugarhill Gang. Jackson had never rapped before, and asked Caz for lyrics to use. This is most evident in his opening verse, when, instead of introducing himself as Big Bank Hank, he raps, "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.)[11] Big Bank Hank's rap during the song about seducing Lois Lane away from Superman was also lifted from Caz.[12]
In 2000, Caz released the song "MC Delight", a parody of "Rapper's Delight" which told his side of the story. In the song, Caz states about giving away his lyrics, "I gave it to him thinking/ Check books, credit cards, more money/ Than a sucker could ever spend/ But he never gave a nigga a god damn dime/ And was supposed to be my friend".
Other work
He currently hosts Hush Hip Hop Tours, the official sightseeing tour of Harlem and The Bronx.[13]
Caz was interviewed for the 2004 documentary Just to Get a Rep.
In 2008, he was one of the participants at the Cornell University Library conference on Hip Hop.[14]
In November 2021, Grandmaster Caz and female MC Sha-Rock started co-hosting the show That's The Joint on the Sirius XM channel Rock The Bells Radio, run by LL Cool J. The show runs Monday through Friday, 11 AM to 1 PM.
At present Grandmaster Caz is working with and for A&E, MTV, Paramount, De La Calle, and the History Channel.[citation needed]
Awards and honors
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.
On April 18, 2022, Grandmaster Caz's birthday, newly-appointed Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson proclaimed April 18th "Grandmaster Caz Day".
Legacy
Artists who cite Grandmaster Caz as an influence include Will Smith,[16] Rakim, Big Daddy Kane[17] and Jay-Z.[18]
Grandmaster Caz was portrayed by Jaleel White in the Drunk History episode "American Music".
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 the real writer of the line and says that Caz is the "nicest MC around".
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
- ^ Geoff Edgers (2016-09-29). "They took Grandmaster Caz's rhymes without giving him credit. Now, he's getting revenge". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
- ^ Steve Huey. "Grandmaster Caz". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
- ^ The Hip Hop Federation Team Roster, retrieved July 30, 2011
- ^ "Hip Hop Network biographies, retrieved July 29, 2011". Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ Hess, Mickey (2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide. ABC-CLIO. p. xxxiii. ISBN 978-0-313-34323-0.
- ^ "hiphoppress.com".
- ^ Sanchez, Ivan; Luis Cedeño (28 April 2009). It's Just Begun. Perseus Books Group. ISBN 978-1-57687-494-3.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Sha Be Allah (September 16, 2020). "Today In Hip-Hop History: Sugar Hill Gang Releases 'Rapper's Delight' 41 Years Ago". The Source. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- ^ Hess, Mickey (2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide: Volume 1: East Coast and West Coast. Greenwood. ISBN 978-0-313-34323-0.
- ^ Edgers, Geoff (September 29, 2016). "They took Grandmaster Caz's rhymes without giving him credit. Now, he's getting revenge". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Say It Ain't So, Hank". Spin Magazine. October 2000.
- ^ "Hush Hip-Hop Tours. Celebrity Guides. Famous Hotspots. One Company. One Official Experience". Hush Hip Hop Tours.
- ^ "The Cornell University Hip Hop Collection". cornell.edu.
- ^ "I Love the Bronx - Bronx Tourism Council". ilovethebronx.com.
- ^ Dj Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Live At The Union Square (Complete Full Version). YouTube. 5 June 2014.
- ^ "doublexxposure". Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
- ^ 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.
External links
- 1960 births
- African-American male rappers
- American hip hop DJs
- Living people
- East Coast hip hop musicians
- Rappers from the Bronx
- 20th-century American singers
- 21st-century American rappers
- 20th-century American male singers
- 21st-century American male musicians
- 20th-century African-American male singers
- 21st-century African-American musicians