| Interview by Rob Schwartz
WHO?MAG: How do you feel about hip-hop right now verse how it was back in the day?
Grandmaster Caz: Hip-hop is the same as it was back in the day. What it is, is that what they call hip-hop isn’t really hip-hop. What you have is the rap industry and the rap business that is the business of selling rap music. That is only one element of hip-hop. The culture of hip-hop is alive and well throughout the nation and other parts of the world. Hip-hop is cool, it’s free, and it’s b-boys, it’s graffiti, and it’s turntablists. Then you have the rap industry which just selling rap. That’s a 30 billion dollar industry itself. It has its own problems because it doesn’t run on morals or on ethics. It’s just money driven. The culture of hip-hop is alive and well.
WHO?MAG: If you could change one thing about hip-hop right now, what would that be?
Grandmaster Caz: I would change the whole mentality of the “out with the old, in with the new”. This is a mentality that the younger generation has with their attitude about hip-hop, hip-hop artists, and hip-hop music. Hip-hop is an art form. The originators of the art form are still around and should be heralded for still being around. So if I could change anything, that would be to change the attitude of how people see hip-hop artists.
WHO?MAG: So I see you have your crew with you today at this event. Who do you have here behind you?
Grandmaster Caz: Oh, this is my staff. I have GMC Entertainment. This is my road manager Easy T and my assistant Puerto Rico, and my DJ, DJ Holiday. We just roll and come out to support.
WHO?MAG: I noticed you got these dope shirts on. Can you tell us about your clothing line Sedgwick & Cedar.
Grandmaster Caz: Sedgwick & Cedar is pretty much based of off where hip-hop started from in the Bronx on Sedgwick Avenue That is where the first hip-hop jam, outdoor hip-hop jam, was given out in Cedar Park. Hence the name Sedgwick and Cedar. Our gear consists of flyer t-shirts, original flyers from all the parties from back in the days, photo tees of the pioneers of hip-hop including myself, DJ Cool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Melle Mel, Grand Wizard Theodore, Shy Rock, the first lady of hip-hop. We’re going forward with that.
WHO?MAG: I think I want to get one of those shirts.. Where can I go to get one?
Grandmaster Caz: You can go to www.segdwickandcedar.com so you can check out all of the clothing that we have. Plus we are in stores. We’re in a variety of the urban stores around the city. Either way, you can check on us and see what’s happening with Sedgwick & Cedar.
WHO?MAG: What’s next for Grandmaster Caz?
Grandmaster Caz: Just pushing the clothes line. Also, I am getting ready to do an album and a book. I try to stay busy and keep it moving. Plus I keep performing and give speeches at colleges around the country. |
