Grandmaster Caz

Grandmaster Caz

Grandmaster Caz in 2007
Background information
Birth name Curtis Fisher
Also known as Casanova Fly
Born (1961-04-18) April 18, 1961
Bronx, New York, US
Origin The Bronx, New York, US
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) DJ
Singer-songwriter
MC
Instruments Turntables
Vocals
Years active 1974–present
Labels Tuff City (US), Ol' Skool Flava (US), Jazz Child Records(US), Chrysalis (US), Toshiba EMI Ltd]] (US), Beyongolia (US), 360° Records(US)
Associated acts The Notorious 2
Mighty Force
Cold Crush Brothers
Website www.coldcrushbrothers.com

Curtis Fisher (born April 18, 1961), better known by his stage name Grandmaster Caz, is an American rapper, songwriter and DJ. He currently works 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 Universal Federation for the Preservation of Hip Hop Culture.[1]

Career

Caz first encountered rap in 1974 at a Kool Herc block party.[2] 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.[3][4][5]

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 [6]

Currently hosts Hush Hip Hop Tours the official Sightseeing Tour of Harlem and The Bronx.[7]

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.[8]

Artists who cite Grandmaster Caz as an influence include Will Smith,[9] Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, [10] Jay-Z [11]and Cory Gunz.[12]

In 2015, Caz featured on a single by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis named Downtown (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis song).

Sugar Hill Gang controversy

A 2009 book claims that the lyrics for The Sugar Hill Gang's seminal Rapper's Delight were plagiarized from the then-unpublished Caz's lyrics.[13] In 2000, he set his account of the controversy in the song "MC Delight".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 beginning his verse with the now famous, "Check it out, I'm the C-A-S-A, the N-O-V-A, And the rest is F-L-Y." Casanova Fly being Grandmaster Caz's alternate moniker.

This controversy is referenced in episode 3 of part 2 of The Get Down. Whilst listening to Rapper's Delight on the radio, hip-hop enthusiast Ezekial tells his girlfriend Marlene that Grandmaster Caz is rapping the line and says that Caz is the "nicest MC around".

Recognition

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.

In June 2008, Grandmaster Caz was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame.[14] 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

Singles & EPs

Compilations

References

  1. ↑ The Hip Hop Federation Team Roster, retrieved July 30, 2011
  2. ↑ Hip Hop Network biographies, retrieved July 29, 2011
  3. ↑ Hess, Mickey (2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide. ABC-CLIO. p. xxxiii. ISBN 978-0-313-34323-0.
  4. ↑ "hiphoppress.com". hiphoppress.com.
  5. ↑ Sanchez, Ivan; Luis Cedeño. It's Just Begun. Perseus Books Group. ISBN 978-1-57687-494-3.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ "Hush Hip Hop Tours. Celebrity Guides. Famous Hotspots. One Company. One Official Experience.". Hush Hip Hop Tours.
  8. ↑ "The Cornell University Hip Hop Collection". cornell.edu.
  9. ↑ Dj Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Live At The Union Square (Complete Full Version). YouTube. 5 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "doublexxposure". doublexxposure.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ "mlcmag.com". mlcmag.com.
  13. ↑ Hess, Mickey (2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide: Volume 1: East Coast and West Coast. Greenwood. ISBN 0-313-34323-3.
  14. ↑ "I Love the Bronx - Bronx Tourism Council". ilovethebronx.com.
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