Cazwell
| Cazwell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Luke Cazwell |
| Born | June 27, 1972 |
| Origin | Worcester, Massachusetts |
| Genres | Rap, dance, electronica, house, homo hop |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, producer, DJ |
| Instruments | Vocals, synthesizer, percussion |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | West End Records, Peace Bisquit |
| Associated acts | Amanda Lepore, Avenue D, Jonny Makeup, Colton Ford, Ladyfag, Manila Luzon, Lady Gaga |
| Website | [http://www.cazwell.com |
Luke Caswell (born June 27, 1972), better known as Cazwell, is an American rapper and songwriter.[1] He has released the three studio albums Get Into It in 2006, Watch My Mouth in 2009 and Hard 2 B Fresh in 2014, along with several music videos and singles.
Career
1999–05: Career beginnings
Starting in the late 1990s, under the name Caswell, he was part of the hip-hop duo Morplay, which also included female MC Crasta Yo. Morplay started in Boston and moved to New York in 1999.[2] In 2003, Cazwell released his very first single The Sex That I Need with Avenue D.
2006–08: Get Into It
In 2006, Cazwell released his debut studio album Get Into It featuring lead single "All Over Your Face" and the four follow up singles "Do You Wanna Break Up", "I Buy My Socks On 14th Street" and "Watch My Mouth". Cazwell was also featured as a guest rapper on Colton Ford's "That's Me" along with Stephen Reed and Peppermint's "Servin' it Up". During the summer of 2007, Cazwell was a part of the multi-artist True Colors Tour which traveled through 15 cities in North America. The tour, sponsored by Logo, was hosted by comedian Margaret Cho and headlined by Cyndi Lauper and included Deborah Harry, Rufus Wainwright, The Dresden Dolls, Rosie O'Donnell, Indigo Girls, Stephen Reed and other special guests. Profits from the tour helped to benefit LGBT organizations Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG and The Matthew Shepard Foundation.
2009–12: Watch My Mouth
His second album, Watch My Mouth was released on September 1, 2009, containing all of his previous singles, except "Do You Wanna Break Up". The album was preceded by the single "I Seen Beyoncé" featuring Jonny Makeup, released back in September 2008. The video was directed by Francis Legge and Bec Stupak. In 2009, he released "Tonight," which sampled "Give Me Tonight" by Shannon. In 2010, he released the single, "Ice Cream Truck", which was featured in the film Spork as well has been included on a Watch My Mouth deluxe edition re-release. The video of the song was directed by Marco Ovando, premiered on YouTube on July 30, 2010 and received over 1 million views in its first week. The singles "Get Into It" featuring guest vocals by Amanda Lepore and "Get My Money Back" featuring Lost Daze followed in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Cazwell frequently hosts and DJs parties such as BoysRoom in New York City featuring guests such as Ladyfag, Amanda Lepore, Dj Adam, Raquel Reed and Stephen Reed. In 2012, Cazwell appeared on the variety show She's Living for This, hosted by the drag queen Sherry Vine. On the show, he performed his single "Get My Money Back."[3] In 2012, He appeared on "Something For Everybody", a song by DAB & Get Far along with Jonathan Mendelsohn.
2013–present: Hard 2 B Fresh
Cazwell collaborated with Peaches on the single "Unzip Me", released back in November 8, 2011. On June 19, 2012, "Rice and Beans" was released. The songs will supposedly appear on Cazwell's upcoming third studio album Hard 2 B Fresh. In 2013, the single "Guess What?" has been released, featuring the singer Luciana. "No Selfie Control" has been released in the late of 2013. The single and music video for "Helen Keller" featuring Drag Race superstar Manila Luzon, Roxy (known for underground House classics "Get Huh" and "Accident") and Richie Beretta has recently been released. In August 22, Cazwell announced that his third studio album Hard 2 B Fresh is going to be released in September 30 and posted the track listing and the cover art on his official site. In summer of 2015, Cazwell released another single from Hard 2 B Fresh entitled "The Biscuit". Its video featured Middle-Eastern imagery including pyramids, camels, a snake charmer, tan-skinned models wearing keffiyehs, and original music from South African DJ Naaldekoker's track "Ek Smaak Jou".[4]
Artistry
Cazwell is openly gay and his work focuses on gay and bisexual urban themes and content, and his music and videos are frequently played on Logo, a US cable channel geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. His music comprises the genres Hip Hop, Rap, dance, electronica, house and homo hop.
Ban
- His debut single "All Over Your Face" was banned from Logo due to explicit lyrics and sexual imagery portrayed in the music video.
Discography
Albums
- 2006: Get Into It
- 2009: Watch My Mouth
- 2014: Hard 2 B Fresh
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance [5] | |||
| 2003 | "The Sex That I Need" (with Avenue D)[6][7] | — | Get Into It |
| 2006 | "All Over Your Face" | 31 | |
| "Do You Wanna Break Up" | — | ||
| "I Buy My Socks On 14th Street" | — | ||
| 2007 | "Watch My Mouth" | — | |
| 2008 | "I Seen Beyoncé" (feat. Jonny Makeup) | 23 | Watch My Mouth |
| 2009 | "Tonight" | 40 | |
| 2010 | "Get Into It" (feat. Amanda Lepore) | — | |
| "Ice Cream Truck" | — | Spork | |
| 2011 | "Get My Money Back" (feat. Lost Daze) | 31 | Watch My Mouth |
| "Unzip Me" (feat. Peaches) | 31 | Hard 2 B Fresh | |
| 2012 | "Rice and Beans" | — | |
| 2013 | "Guess What?" (with Luciana)[8] | 14 | |
| "No Selfie Control" | — | ||
| 2014 | "Helen Keller" (with Manila Luzon, Roxy & Richie Beretta) | — | |
| "Dance Like You Got Good Credit" (feat. Cherie Lily) | — |
Featured singles
- 2006: Colton Ford feat. Cazwell & Stephen Reed – "That's Me"
- 2006: Peppermint feat. Cazwell – "Servin' it Up"
- 2009: Amanda Lepore feat. Cazwell – "My Hair Looks Fierce"
- 2010: Amanda Lepore feat. Cazwell – "Marilyn"
- 2012: DAB & Get Far vs. Jonathan Mendelsohn & Cazwell – "Something For Everybody" [9]
Filmography
Television
- 2013: Watch What Happens: Live
- 2012: She's Living for This
- 2009: RuPaul's Drag Race
Music videos
- 2009: "Cotton Candy" (Cameo appearance in Amanda Lepore music video)
- 2009: "I Seen Beyoncé at Burger King"
See also
References
- ↑ Ochalla, Bryan (December 26, 2006). "Ten Minutes with Cazwell". GayWired.com. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
- ↑ Kiritsy, Laura (June 7, 2001). "White and gay -- and trying to make it in the highly homophobic world of rap". Bay Windows. Boston.
- ↑ ""She's Living for This" The Cazwell Episode (TV Episode 2012)". IMDb. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- ↑ Lawrence, Matthew (August 13, 2015). "VIDEO: Cazwell Mixes Middle-Eastern Studs And Stereotypes In "The Biscuit"". Unicorn Booty. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
- ↑ Cazwell - Chart history: Dance/Club Play Songs. Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media. Accessed on August 5, 2013.
- ↑ "Avenue D And Cazwell / Kid America - Sex That I Need / Dancin' (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
- ↑ "Avenue D - Bootleg (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Guess What? - EP by Cazwell & Luciana". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-06-18. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
- ↑ "DAB* & Get Far Vs Jonathan Mendelsohn & Cazwell - Something For Everybody (File, MP3) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2013-03-07.