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 is a very important figure in early hip hop music.
He was a member of the famous hip hop group The Cold Crush Brothers from 1979 to the mid-1980s. Grandmaster Caz is also well-known for writing most of the raps for the song "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang. This song was a huge hit in 1979 and helped make hip hop popular around the world.
Today, he works as a tour guide for Hush Hip Hop Tours in New York City. He also helps guide the Hip-Hop Council at The Kennedy Center. He is a Hip-Hop Ambassador and the CEO of GMC Entertainment Inc.
Contents
Early Hip Hop Career
Grandmaster Caz first discovered rap music in 1974. He heard it at a block party hosted by Kool Herc, who is often called the "father of hip hop." Soon after, Caz teamed up with DJ Disco Wiz. They formed one of the first DJ groups, called Mighty Force.
Caz was special because he was one of the first artists to both DJ (play records) and MC (rap on the microphone) at the same time. In the late 1970s, he joined The Cold Crush Brothers, a very influential hip hop group.
In 2015, Grandmaster Caz was featured on the song "Downtown" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. This showed his lasting influence on music.
Other Projects and Appearances
Grandmaster Caz continues to be active in the hip hop community. He hosts Hush Hip Hop Tours, which takes people on a sightseeing trip through Harlem and The Bronx. These tours explore the history of hip hop.
He has also appeared in several documentaries about hip hop. He was a main feature in Ice-T's 2012 documentary "Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap." He was also interviewed for the 2004 documentary Just to Get a Rep.
In 2008, he was part of a special conference about hip hop at Cornell University Library. In November 2021, Grandmaster Caz and female MC Sha-Rock began hosting a radio show. Their show, That's The Joint, is on the Sirius XM channel Rock The Bells Radio, run by LL Cool J.
Currently, Grandmaster Caz is working with major entertainment companies. These include A&E, MTV, Paramount, De La Calle, and the History Channel.
Awards and Special Honors
Grandmaster Caz has received many awards and honors for his contributions to hip hop. In 1998, Blaze Magazine listed him as #11 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of all Time. He was also inducted into the Technics DJ Hall of Fame in 1999.
In June 2008, Grandmaster Caz was honored in his home borough. He was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame. A special street plaque with his name is now on display on the Grand Concourse. This is a very famous street in the Bronx.
On April 18, 2022, which is Grandmaster Caz's birthday, the Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson made a special announcement. She officially declared April 18 as "Grandmaster Caz Day" in the Bronx.
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. His style and lyrics helped shape the sound of hip hop for future generations.
In the TV show The Get Down, a character named Boo talks about "Rapper's Delight." He tells his friend that Grandmaster Caz was the real writer of the lyrics. He also says that Caz was the "nicest MC around." This shows how much respect Grandmaster Caz has in the hip hop world.
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
