Cold Crush Brothers

The Cold Crush Brothers were undoubtedly one of the most talented Hip-Hop groups of all time. Formed in the Bronx, New York in 1978, the Cold Crush (Charlie Chase, DJ Tony Tone, Easy AD, J.D.L., Almighty KG, and Grandmaster Caz) utilized strong emceeing skills, harmonies, and a great stage presence to form their show routines, which usually led to victories in rap battles.

It was groups like the Cold Crush Brothers who created the mix tape market as they received worldwide fame and notoriety through the sale of their underground live performances.

The Cold Crush forced groups to step their skills up to another level. They had a very strong reputation for creating great routines and performing with strong showmanship, and never allowed that image to be tarnished.

The Cold Crush Brothers recorded several singles throughout the early 1980s, including “Punk Rock Rap” and “Fresh, Wild, Fly & Bold”. “Punk Rock Rap” was historic for two reasons. First, it was the first record to use Hip-Hop and rock music together. Secondly, because it was recorded on Tuff City Records and distributed by CBS Records, it was the first time an independent Hip-Hop label and a major record company worked together.

“Fresh, Wild, Fly & Bold” was a certified street anthem. The song was the Cold Crush’s best selling recording. With the recording, the Cold Crush took in-your-face bravado up a few notches.

While the Cold Crush Brothers never attained sales figures that matched their talent level, the crew was legendary on the streets. Many of the most respected lyricists of all time fully acknowledge Grandmaster Caz as one of their greatest influences. Caz is known as one of the greatest of the early MC’s. Caz was never compensated on one of his biggest contributions to Hip-Hop history.

Part time club bouncer and Caz’ former manager, Big Bank Hank, caught the attention of Joey Robinson (son of Sylvia Robinson, founder of Sugar Hill Records) while he rapped over a tape of Caz’s lyrics. Robinson offered Hank a position in a group he was forming called the Sugar Hill Gang. Hank, in need of lyrics since he wasn’t an MC, went to Caz and asked for material. Caz told Hank to take what he wanted from his prized rhyme book. Hank went on to record Caz’s lyrics on the breakout Hip-Hop hit “Rapper’s Delight”.

The Cold Crush Brothers are recognized as one of the elite groups of the founding days of hip-hop. They were fearless battlers who intimidated many groups just by their mere presence. It was their sound, along with groups like Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five that carried hip-hop through its early days and laid the foundation which future groups would build upon.