True Hip Hop Stories
Rappers Delight
Grandmaster Caz vs Big Bank Hank
Back story:
It is now common knowledge in Hip Hop that Big Bank Hank's lyrics in Hip Hop's first mega song were not written by him. The lyrics were written by Grandmaster Caz. It is also common knowledge that Big Bank Hank was the manager of Grandmaster Caz's group called "The Mighty Force" As Hank worked at a pizza parlor Sylvia Robinson of Sugar Hill Records was looking for a third person to complete a group she was putting together walked in. She heard Hank "rapping" and asked him to repeat it for her son who was helping her put the group together. He was instantly made a member of the group that included Master Gee and Wonder Mike. The song "Rappers Delight" was recorded in one take and included a 14:35 long version, 6:30 short version, and a 4:55 shortened single version. The Sugar Hill Gang became Hip Hop's first stars.
Controversy:
In numerous interviews Caz has given various different stories on how Hank "got those lyrics" He has stated "Hank said to me they want me to rap and asked if he could use some of my rhymes. I gave him a copy book full of rhymes and said USE WHAT YOU WANT" In other interviews he has stated that Hank "stole the book out of the studio" or "I never told Hank he could use those exact lyrics" To his credit till the day he passed Big Bank Hank never said anything other than "I can understand why he would feel that way as I was not able to bring him in or because he did not get the same amount of success"
Our Opinion:
Grandmaster Caz like many early rappers had no real concept or understanding of copyrighting lyrics or publishing. Despite what he now says he GAVE Hank the lyrics. Hank is not blameless but it is not as if Hank knew about publishing or copyrighting and purposely "jerked" Caz. With Hank's passing this story has come back into the spotlight Caz is now doing a new round of interviews. In our opinion Caz should just let it go!
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