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Interview with Grandmaster Caz
When asked about the origins of rap music, most people look to the 1980s and list artists like Run-D.M.C. and Public Enemy. Few recall that the genre began in the streets of New York City almost 30 years ago. DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash were the true Founding Fathers of rap the ones who laid the foundations for today's hip hop community. Back in the days of neighborhood block parties, MC battles and break dancing displays, a group of six talented tag-team rappers were held in high esteem. They called themselves the Cold Crush Brothers. The original members were Grandmaster Casanova Fly (Caz), The Almighty K.G., Tony Tone, J.D.L., Easy AD and DJ Charlie Chase. The group assembled, practiced and perfected their routines during 1978. By 1979, they were performing at MC battles all over the Bronx, swapping rhymes with groups Spoonie Gee, Busy Bee and Grandwizard Theodore and the Fantastic Five.
The Cold Crush Brothers were also known for the unwitting role they played in the creation of the Sugarhill Gang's classic hit, "Rapper's Delight." As the story goes, in 1979, record producer Sylvia Robinson (head of Sugarhill Records) walked into a pizza shop and heard an employee (and friend of Grandmaster Caz) rapping along to one of Caz's early practice tapes that was playing on the stereo. Robinson liked what she heard, and the rest is history. The pizza shop employee would soon be known to the world as Big Bank Hank of the Sugarhill Gang, and the lyrics he was reciting (and which Caz had written) would later become an integral part of a song called "Rapper's Delight." Though Big Bank Hank took the credit, it was actually Grandmaster Caz who penned the lyrics to hip hop's first "radio-friendly" song.
When and how did you decide to do music professionally?
I started to do music professionally around 1974.I purchased a DJ set and started doing house parties at that time.What were your hopes and plans at that time when you first started off?
I just wanted to be a top hip-hop DJ and at the same time maybe make a few dollars.One of the biggest and early controversies of the old school involved yourself, when Big Bank Hank swiped one of your verses for use on "Rapper's Delight". How did you feel at that time? How did it affect you?
I felt like he was not the one who should've been making an album or record and it affected me more once the record was out and everyone was asking me what happened. For years I'm explaining that it's not me on the record and I'm not making any money off of it.How closely does the persona you depict on records, resemble the personality you have off of it?
The persona I depict live is the part of me that normally I might keep quiet. It's my more aggressive side and the side of me I use to really express what's goin on insideWhat would you say was the one moment which gave you the big breakthrough you needed?
I don't believe I've gotten the big breakthrough yet, my career is one that has grown over the years through constant work and dedication to the culture of Hip-Hop
You were listed #11 out of Blaze Magazine's Top 50 MCs in 1998 and one year later inducted into the Technics DJ Hall of Fame in 1999. Did you ever expect this when you first started off? How did you feel when you found out that you were inducted into the Technics DJ Hall of Fame?
I've always believed that I was one of the best that ever did it, to be recognized for what you do means other people agreeWhat do you think is missing in emcee's, Dj's and hip hop music itself today ?
The heart & soul of what Hip-Hop is all about. Artists need to get back to life's basics as well as the basic foundations upon which Hip-Hop was built.In 2000, you released "MC Delight". Was this as a get back for not recieving credit on Rapper's Delight?
M.C.s Delight is an explanation of what happened with the Sugar Hill fiasco. I'm constantly bombarded with questions about it so I just did a record on it. Twenty years later.You have performed in many places. Which of the performances would you classify as something memorable and left a lasting impression on you?
Harlem World Disco in Harlem N.Y. some of the greatest jams happened right there & Tokyo Japan where we introduced a whole new audience to Hip-HopWhat is your take on all the diss tracks that artists like Jay-Z, Prodigy, Nas, Jadakiss, Beanie Sigel, and Cormega have recently directed at one another? Do you think this is a healthy thing for hip-hop?
I believe in battles when they are used to make an individual better. That's the ultimate test of skill when you go against another man to see who's better. Today's battles are more based on who's hot & who's not & record sales.
Who is Curtis Fisher now ? A Family man? A musician?
Curtis Fisher (Brown) is Grandmaster Caz to the grave. I have 8 chidren but have never been married cause my heart belongs to Hip-Hop. I still have a lot of rhyming to do as well as being a dj, producer, writer and hope to get in to acting.What plans do you have for the future?
My plans at the moment are to continue to do my thing and continue to promote & preserve the pioneer era of Hip-HopIf you get the chance, would you like to come to Malaysia to perform?
I WOULD RELISH THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO MALAYSIA & PERFORM!What would your advice be for upcoming artists?
Practice, practice, practice and love what you do. If you go public get a lawyer and don't sign anything without him looking at it first.
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All Rights Reserved Kugan/The-Bazement.com 2002.