Grandmaster Caz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grandmaster Caz
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Grandmaster Caz in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Curtis Brown |
| Also known as | Casanova Fly |
| Born | April 18, 1960 The Bronx, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
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| Years active | 1978–present |
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| Associated acts | The Notorious 2 Mighty Force Cold Crush Brothers |
Curtis Brown (born April 18, 1960), known as Grandmaster Caz or Casanova Fly, is an American rapper, songwriter, and DJ. He was an important member of the hip hop group The Cold Crush Brothers from 1979 to the mid-1980s. He is famous for writing many of the rap lyrics for Big Bank Hank on the classic 1979 hip hop song "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang.
Grandmaster Caz also works as a tour guide for Hush Hip Hop Tours in New York City. He is a board member of The Kennedy Center's Hip-Hop Council. He is also a Hip-Hop Ambassador and CEO of GMC Entertainment Inc.
Contents
Becoming a Hip Hop Pioneer
Grandmaster Caz first discovered rap music in 1973. He was 13 years old and lived near DJ Kool Herc, who was holding a block party. Soon after, he teamed up with DJ Disco Wiz. They formed one of the first DJ groups called Mighty Force.
Caz was also one of the first artists to both DJ (play records) and MC (rap vocals) at the same time. In the late 1970s, he joined The Cold Crush Brothers, a very influential hip hop group. In 2015, Caz was featured on the song "Downtown" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
The "Rapper's Delight" Story
Grandmaster Caz is widely known for writing most of the lyrics for Big Bank Hank on the 1979 song "Rapper's Delight". This song was by The Sugarhill Gang and sold about 5 million copies. It helped introduce hip hop music to many people.
Big Bank Hank, whose real name was Henry Lee Jackson, used to be Grandmaster Caz's manager. He was working at a pizza place when music executive Sylvia Robinson heard him rapping Caz's lyrics. She asked him to join the new group she was forming, The Sugarhill Gang.
Jackson had never rapped before. He used Caz's notebook of lyrics directly for the song. This is clear in his first verse, where 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 another name Grandmaster Caz used. Big Bank Hank's verse about Lois Lane and Superman also came from Caz's notebook.
In 2000, Caz released his own song called "MC Delight." This song was a parody of "Rapper's Delight." It told his side of the story about the lyrics.
Other Projects and Appearances
Grandmaster Caz hosts Hush Hip Hop Tours. These tours explore the hip hop culture of Harlem and The Bronx.
He was also featured in Ice-T's 2012 documentary called "Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap." Caz was interviewed for the 2004 documentary Just to Get a Rep. In 2008, he attended a conference about Hip Hop at Cornell University Library.
In November 2021, Grandmaster Caz and female MC Sha-Rock began co-hosting a radio show. The show is called That's The Joint and airs on the Sirius XM channel Rock The Bells Radio. This channel is run by LL Cool J. The show is on Monday through Friday.
Currently, Grandmaster Caz is working with several media companies. These include A&E, MTV, Paramount, De La Calle, and the History Channel.
Awards and Special Recognitions
In 1998, Blaze Magazine listed Caz as #11 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of All Time. He was also added to the Technics DJ Hall of Fame in 1999.
In June 2008, Grandmaster Caz was honored by being inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame. A special plaque with his name is now on display. It is located on the Grand Concourse, a famous street in the Bronx.
On April 18, 2022, which is Grandmaster Caz's birthday, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson made a special announcement. She declared April 18 to be "Grandmaster Caz Day."
His Influence on Other Artists
Many famous artists say that Grandmaster Caz influenced their music. These artists include Will Smith, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and Jay-Z.
Grandmaster Caz was played by Jaleel White in an episode of ... History called "American Music." In the TV show The Get Down, a character named Boo says that Grandmaster Caz is the real writer of a line in "Rapper's Delight." Boo also says that Caz is the "nicest MC around."
Music Releases
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
