Grandmaster Caz, Rappers Delight and Copyright issues
Rap old school. Subway Rap by Grandmaster Caz:
Speaking of Grandmaster Caz is worth to mention Rappers Delight hit by Sugarhill Gang from 1979:
Big Bank Hank who is actually the leader behind the hit "borrowed" the lyrics from Grandmaster Caz. The words:
"I'm the C-A-S-AN the O-V-A and the rest is F-L-Y"
"Casanova Fly" was Caz name before "Grandmaster Caz" (it was encoded this way in the rhymes) and Big Bank Hank took it as is without understanding (BBH was Caz manager for a while previously). This was so for at least the early versions of "Rappers Delight" until BBH changed the rhymes. Caz was neither paid nor received any credit for the rhymes he contributed. Rappers Delight was very successful and seems like Sugarhill Gang did not produce anything important after.
Not to mention that the main bassline for "Rappers Delight" was "taken" from "Good Times" by CHIC. Not that I think that it was compatible to the lyrics in the first place. Enjoy.
Monday, October 02, 2006 10:42 PM
