Grandmaster Caz

He’s the C-A-S-AN, the O-V-A and the rest is F-L-Y: Grandmaster Caz, aka DJ Casanova Fly. The veteran MC from the Bronx has been there from the beginning and is one of hip-hop’s originators—and an undisputed and real OG.

Caz began DJing after seeing DJ Kool Herc, “the father of hip-hop,” perform at a block party in 1974. After teaming up with Jerry Dee Lewis to form The Notorious 2, he became the first DJ to rap while handling records on the turntables in 1978. He joined the Cold Crush Brothers in 1979.

His most notable lyrics were ones he isn’t known for, namely those rapped by Big Bank Hank of the Sugarhill Gang on their big hit “Rapper’s Delight” (Hank even refers to himself as “Casanova Fly”):

Check it out, I’m the C-A-S-AN, the O-V-A and the rest is F-L-Y
You see, I go by the code of the doctor of the mix and these reasons I’ll tell you why