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Grandmaster Caz

 
Artist: Grandmaster Caz
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Similar Artists:

Kool DJ Herc

Followers:

Pete Rock, DJ Krush
  • Active: '70s, '90s
  • Genres: Rap
  • Instrument: Vocals
  • Representative Songs: "Wild Style Theme Rap 1", "Yvette", "Mister Bill

Biography

The first simultaneous DJ and MC in hip-hop history, Grandmaster Caz is perhaps best known for rhymes he didn't even perform -- namely, the uncredited verses that Big Bank Hank borrowed for the groundbreaking Sugarhill Gang single "Rapper's Delight." The fact that neither Caz nor his group the Cold Crush Brothers ever recorded an official full-length album also doesn't help shed much light on his legacy -- an unfortunate injustice, considering he was one of the most important and influential pioneers of old school rap. Grandmaster Caz was born Curtis Fisher and grew up in the Bronx, where DJ Kool Herc began playing block parties in the early '70s. Caz attended his first Herc party in 1974, and was amazed by the huge, booming sound system and the way Herc worked the crowd. Inspired to try doing the same thing, he immediately purchased some equipment and adopted the DJ name Casanova Fly (which later morphed into Grandmaster Caz). After honing his skills, Caz teamed up with JDL (aka Jerry Dee Lewis) to form the Notorious Two, and during this period became the first DJ to rap while handling records on the turntables. Both Caz and JDL joined the Cold Crush Brothers circa 1978-1979, with Caz becoming a full-time MC. In 1979, former R&B singer and label head Sylvia Robinson discovered Caz's friend Big Bank Hank rapping along with one of Caz's practice tapes. Impressed, she invited him to become the third member of a studio rap group called the Sugarhill Gang, which was set to record the first rap single. Without revealing the true author, Hank went to Caz and asked to borrow the rhymes for the record; Caz agreed, hoping for an eventual favor in return -- which never materialized, and neither did songwriting credit or royalties. Despite that mishap, Caz did find a measure of underground success with the Cold Crush Brothers. They recorded several singles for the Tuff City label during the early '80s (compiled in 1996 on Fresh Wild Fly & Bold), and became one of the most popular live rap groups in New York during the pre-Run-D.M.C. era. Most prominently, the Cold Crush Brothers appeared in the 1983 old school hip-hop film Wild Style, which has since become a cult classic; they recorded the theme song and engaged in an MC battle with their chief rivals, Grand Wizard Theodore and the Fantastic Five. Like most other old school artists, the Cold Crush Brothers didn't survive the advent of Run-D.M.C., and Caz launched a brief solo career in the late '80s. Again recording for Tuff City, his singles included "Mr. Bill," "Yvette," "Count Basie," "I'm Caz," "Casanova's Rap," and "Get Down Grandmaster." None of them made much of an impact, and Caz faded from the music scene for a time. With more attention being paid to the roots of hip-hop in the late '90s, Caz's name resurfaced as an early pioneer, and he began making appearances at historical conferences like the one staged in 1999 by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2000, he released a new single titled "MC Delight," which addressed the "Rapper's Delight" controversy. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Grandmaster Caz
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Grandmaster Caz

Grandmaster Caz in New York City 2007.04.10
Background information
Birth name Curtis Fisher
Also known as Grandmaster Casanova Fly
Born 1961
Origin Bronx, New York, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Instruments Rapping
Labels Sugar Hill
Associated acts The Cold Crush Brothers

Grandmaster Caz a.k.a. Grandmaster Casanova Fly, (born Curtis Fisher), was born in the Bronx, New York, USA, and was a part of the hip hop group The Cold Crush Brothers.

Contents

Biography

Old School

After seeing Kool Herc play at a party in the Bronx in 1974, Fisher decided to become a DJ, and purchase the necessary equipment the next day. As "Grandmaster Caz", he teamed up with his best friend, DJ Disco Wiz (Luis Cedeno). He later would team up with JDL (Jerry Dee Lewis) and form The Notorious Two. Caz began incorporating rhymes with his DJing and become known as the first DJ to do so. In 1978 he formed a group called the Mighty Force with Whipper Whip (James Whipper) and Dot-A-Rock (Darryl Mason). In 1979 DJ Charlie Chase (Carlos Mandes) from The Cold Crush Brothers asked Caz to help audition MCs for his group which was really a way for Charlie Chase to trick Caz into joining the Cold Crush Brothers. JDL, Whipper Whip, and Dot-A-Rock were also part of The Cold Crush Brothers before Whipper Whip and Dot-A-Rock left to join The Fantastic Five.

The Cold Crush Brothers began building a reputation in the burgeoning hip hop scene in New York, mostly for Caz's routines and lyrical ability. Around this time, record mogul Joe Robinson, husband of Sylvia Robinson, and, along with his wife, co-founder of Sugar Hill Records, happened to hear part-time club bouncer and manager of the Cold Crush Brothers, Big Bank Hank (Henry Jackson) rapping to a tape of Grandmaster Caz while working at a pizzeria. She asked him be the third member of a group that she was putting together called the Sugar Hill Gang. Hank accepted and, since he wasn't an MC himself, he borrowed a book of rhymes from Grandmaster Caz.[1] Caz figured that if Hank was picked up by a record label, then he would help Caz and the Cold Crush get a contract in turn.

Hank would use Caz's lyrics in the song "Rapper's Delight" which would become a huge hit in 1979 and is the first hip hop single to land on the top 40 charts. This was also the first time the term rapper was used to describe a person who is rhyming to music on the mic, such people had been known only as MC on the hip hop scene at the time. Caz would never receive any credit or compensation for the rhymes that he contributed.[2]

In 1982, The Cold Crush Brothers were featured in the movie Wild Style and would also be on the soundtrack with Grandmaster Caz doing the movie theme song "South Bronx Subway Rap". Caz released some records as a solo artist in the late 1980s.

New School

  • He also released the song "MC Delight" in 2000 which finally sets the record straight about the disputed verse on "Rapper's Delight".
  • He released a 7-inch record in 2005 with DJ Signify featuring Waterbed Kev of the Fantastic Five for GRANDGOOD (http://grandgood.com/releases/gg001/),
  • He also released a vinyl EP "Move the Crowd"/"Scene of the rhyme" with DJ Haitian Star on 360°-Records in 2006.
  • He was also featuring in Kollabo Brothers album For My Peoples in 2006.
  • He was featured on the track "Roll Up" by New Jersey hip hop group Slow Suicide Stimulus in 2006.
  • He was featured as a guest vocalist in Moby's album Last Night, in the song I Love To Move In Here.
  • He currently works as a celebrity tour guide for Hush Hip Hop Tours, which is a hip-hop cultural sightseeing tour company in New York City.
  • In June 2008, Grandmaster Caz was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame. A street plaque bearing his name is now on permanent display on the Grand Concourse, the most famous thoroughfare in the Bronx.
  • In August 2008, Caz performed live with F.I.L.T.H.E.E. at the TNA Hard Justice pay-per-view event.
  • Released an EP on Kool Kat records in August 2008 with Scottish Hip Hop outfit Capitol 1212 which included a cover of Jay-Z's "Encore".
  • He was featured in Grandmaster Flash's album The Bridge - Concept of a Culture, in the song Can I Take You Higher.

References

  1. ^ Explained by Granmaster Caz himself on a Hip-Hop-bus tour through NYC 2007.04.14
  2. ^ See above reference.

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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