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CASISDEADis a UK rap and grimeMC,record producerandmusic video directorfrom theUnited Kingdom.[1]
CASISDEAD | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Cas, Castro, Castro Saint, C from T |
| Born | not publicly known |
| Origin | Tottenham,London,England |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2005–2007, 2012–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | https://www.casisdead.com |
He began rapping in 2005 under the name Castro Saint, but retired the moniker in 2007 when he took a five-year hiatus from the music business.[2]When he returned in 2012, he adopted the name Casisdead.[3]
CASISDEAD's debut album,Famous Last Words,was released on 27 October 2023 via XL Recordings.[4]The album spent one week at number 7 on the officialUK Albums Chartalong with placing number 1 on the officialUK Hip Hop & R&B Albums Chart.[5]
In 2024 CASISDEAD won the Brit for the bestHip Hop/Rap/Grime ActatThe Brit Awards.[6][7]
Music career
edit2005–2007: Early years
editCASISDEAD began rapping under the name of Castro Saint in 2005. During this period he penned, produced and released tracks such as "Adolescence", "C from T", and "Drugs." These songs were based on Castro's lived experiences in Tottenham and his gradual immersion into a narcotic-centred lifestyle.[3]During this period he was involved in thegrimecommunity, both as a member of a group called Proppa Production and as a recurring guest in work by grime crewIn Da Hood.[8]A bootleg collection of Castro's tracks is available on YouTube.[3]
2012-2013:The Number 23mixtape
editFrom 2007 to 2012, Cas did not release music or perform.[8]He returned to music in 2012 using the name Casisdead. From that time Casisdead regularly collaborated with a group known as the "Dead Team", including creative director and in-house producer Cyrus (1iMediaGroup); DJ Mystry, the DJ of Cas' live shows; Mr Ghostrain, a photographer and videographer. In June 2015, Dead Team member Renea "Mello" Campbell-Russell died at the age of 26. In an interview withLoud and Quietmagazine, Casisdead stated that the pain of Mello's death motivates him and the Dead Team to pursue their artistic vision.[9]
In December 2013, Casisdead releasedThe Number 23mixtape which contains the majority of singles he had released in 2012 and 2013. The first music release of his comeback was the rap "T.R.O.N." this was shortly followed by "Leon Best". The songs that comprise his23mixtape are in various musical styles such as grime, drum & bass, electro, jazz, soul, and theBullittfilm soundtrack.[3]For the singles included from the23mixtape, Cas worked with several producers such as:Tre Mission( "Play" ); Faze Miyake ( "Play" remix); MssingNo ( "Drugs Don't Work" );Skywlkr( "All Hallows" ); andJme( "Baraka" and "Cheese Slice" remix).
2015–2016: Commercial 2 EP and singles
editIn September 2015, Cas issued a limited release of theCommercial 2EP, which was only sold in cassette tape format via his website.[10]Cas provided a further limited release of theCommercial 2cassettes in December 2015 via his website.[11]
Casisdead released the single "Simon" in January 2016 with an accompanying video.[12]The track is produced bySkywlkrand the video is directed by Cas.
In May 2016, Casisdead released the upbeat single "Before This" with a highly stylised video directed by the rapper set around the domestic theme of grocery shopping and cooking.[13][14]The track is a collaboration between Cas and Later – a duo comprising London producer Dominik Binegger and Norwegian singer/songwriter Linn Carin Dirdal.[14]
Casisdead features on two tracks on Giggs albumLandlordreleased on 5 August 2016.[15]Cas raps on "501 Hollow & Heston" and also on "Lyrical Combat". The two rappers first collaborated in November 2015 when Giggs featured on a remix of Casisdead's "What's My Name?"[16]Giggs released "501" as the second single from his album with a video directed by Casisdead featuring the rappers in a car mechanic's workshop.[17]
Cas featured onTricky's EPObiareleased on 30 September 2016: he contributes his lyrics to a reworked version of "Does It" (the single is originally from Tricky'sFalse Idolsalbum).[18]
2023:Famous Last Words
editOn 27 October 2023, Casisdead released his first studio album,Famous Last Words.Seven of the album's 23 tracks had been previously released as singles.[8]Johnny Jeweland MSM have been identified as the album's primary producers, though a variety of other people have been credited for production on parts of the album, includingStranger Thingscomposer Kyle Dixon.[19]Famous Last Wordshas been described as "a work of vivid storytelling and dense world-building" that "marr[ies] '80ssynth-popinfluences with a bleak lyricism ".[8][19]
Music videos
editCasisdead has directed several of his music videos. The artist has said that he perceives himself to be both, in equal measure, a music video director and rapper.[9]Casisdead has directed the music videos for: "Cheese Slice"; "All Hallows"; "Charlotte"; "What's My Name?"; "Simon"; "Before This"; "501 Hollow & Heston"; "The XXIII – Weekend"; "The Grid"; and "Matte Grey Wrap".
Critical reception
editWordPlay MagazinepraisedThe Number 23mixtape, stating that they felt that it was "in the top 3 UK releases" for 2013.[3]In May 2015, UK producer The Purist praised Cas as a rapper.[20]
In December 2015,Mixmagcompared the artist favorably toMike SkinnerandGiggs,stating that he was "quite possibly one of the best things to ever happen in British rap music."[21]During a 2016 interview on US radio,Dizzee Rascalpaid tribute to Casisdead, for being the "best lyricist and pristine".[22]
In an interview withGlobal Rockstar Magazinein March 2016,Trickylauded Casisdead for his originality stating.[23]
During a 2017 interview with theEvening Standardnewspaper,ASAP Rockyendorsed Casisdead as his favourite UK rapper, stating: "my favourite of all of them, my favourite UK rapper, [is] CASisDEAD."[24]
Personal life
editCasisdead consistently wears a mask in his public appearances. He has described himself as having a variety of motives for doing so, including his creative passions, personal struggles, and his desire to retain his anonymity in a hyper-exposed world. Casisdead is a boyhoodNewcastle Unitedfan.[9]
Selected discography
editStudio albums
edit- Famous Last Words(2023)
Mixtapes
edit- The Number 23(2013)
Extended plays
edit- Commercial 2(2015)
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Seein' Double" | 2014 | Non-album singles |
| "What's My Name" | 2015 | |
| "Simon" | 2016 | |
| "Before This" (Later x Casisdead) |
Famous Last Words | |
| "The XXIII – Weekend" (featuring Maso and KingRico) |
Non-album singles | |
| "Too Much Drugs" (featuringChase & Status) | ||
| "The Grid" | 2017 | |
| "Danger" (with Shola Ama) | ||
| "The Code" | ||
| "Pat Earrings"[25] | 2018 | Famous Last Words |
| "Sugar Free" | ||
| "Drive You Home"[26] | Non-album singles | |
| "Park Assist" (featuringLa Roux) |
2021 | |
| "Traction Control" | 2022 | Famous Last Words |
| "Matte Grey Wrap" | 2023 | |
| "Venom" |
Guest appearances
edit| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "501 Hollow & Heston" (Giggsfeaturing Casisdead) |
2016 | Landlord |
| "Lyrical Combat" (Giggs featuring Casisdead and Dubz) | ||
| "Does It" (Tricky featuring Casisdead) |
Non-album singles | |
| "Do it Again" (Mineo featuring Casisdead) |
2017 |
References
edit- ^"casisdead, the mysterious masked rapper emerging from the shadows of British music".i-D.Archived fromthe originalon 29 November 2015.Retrieved22 December2015.
- ^"Pourquoi vous devriez vous intéresser à Casisdead".BBoyKonsian - Webzine - Shop - Boutique - Webradio - Productions - Hip-Hop - Reggae.Archivedfrom the original on 12 December 2015.Retrieved30 December2015.
- ^abcde"CASisDead: The Number 23".Wordplay Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon 7 February 2016.Retrieved29 December2015.
- ^"CASISDEAD announces new album on XL Recordings, 'Famous Last Words': Listen".DJMag.com.14 September 2023.Retrieved14 October2023.
- ^"Famous Last Words – Casisdead".Officialcharts.com/albums.Retrieved6 November2023.
- ^"Winners".BRIT Awards.Retrieved5 March2024.
- ^"Brit Awards 2024: The complete list of winners and nominees".3 March 2024.Retrieved5 March2024.
- ^abcdDavies, Sam (26 October 2023)."An extremely rare interview with Casisdead".The Face.Retrieved1 November2023.
- ^abc"Loud And Quiet 73 (Vol. 3)".Issuu.Archivedfrom the original on 6 May 2016.Retrieved22 December2015.
- ^"Exclusive: CASISDEAD talks 'Commercial 2', releasing his debut album and more".www.sbtv.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2015.Retrieved29 December2015.
- ^CASISDEAD [@casisdead] (9 December 2015)."Im honoured that you guys are willing to pay so much for a copy of Commercial 2 but stop buyin from these mugs. I've decided to release more"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
- ^"CASISDEAD Shares What Could Be His Most Harrowing Video Yet:" Simon "".Complex UK.Archived fromthe originalon 13 October 2016.Retrieved26 September2016.
- ^dontfckabout (30 May 2016)."LATER X CASISDEAD –" Before This "".dontfckabout.Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2016.Retrieved27 September2016.
- ^ab"LATER And CASisDEAD Team Up For The Surprisingly Smooth" Before This "Video".Complex UK.Archivedfrom the original on 10 June 2016.Retrieved27 September2016.
- ^"Giggs reveals tracklist and features from forthcoming 'LANDLORD' album | RWD".rwdmag.com.Archivedfrom the original on 13 October 2016.Retrieved27 September2016.
- ^"CASisDEAD Links Up With Giggs For The Director's Cut Of" What's My Name "".Complex UK.Archived fromthe originalon 2 October 2016.Retrieved28 September2016.
- ^"Giggs & CASIsDEAD cook up a visual for '501 (Hollow & Heston)' | RWD".rwdmag.com.Archivedfrom the original on 14 September 2016.Retrieved27 September2016.
- ^"Hear" Does It ", a Depraved and Beautiful Song from Tricky and CASISDEAD - Noisey".noisey.21 September 2016.Retrieved26 September2016.
- ^abKeith, James (30 October 2023)."CASISDEAD Puts Fans Out Of Their Misery With Debut LP 'Famous Last Words'".Complex UK.Retrieved1 November2023.
- ^"A Pyrex Scholar: An Interview with UK Producer The Purist..."Passion of the Weiss.12 March 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 7 February 2016.Retrieved7 February2016.
- ^"- - Mixmag".Mixmag.Archivedfrom the original on 17 February 2016.Retrieved31 December2015.
- ^SwaysUniverse (18 January 2016),Dizzee Rascal on Making Hits & Absolutely Smashes the 5 Fingers of Death,archivedfrom the original on 15 February 2016,retrieved26 September2016
- ^"Tricky in Interview".magazine.globalrockstar.com.Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2016.Retrieved26 September2016.
- ^MacBain, Hamish (28 September 2017)."Why A$AP Rocky is music's most exciting star".Evening Standard.Retrieved14 October2023.
- ^"Pat Earrings – CASisDEAD Song".BBC Music.British Broadcasting Corporation.2018.Archivedfrom the original on 17 December 2018.Retrieved17 December2018.
- ^"Drive You Home – CASisDEAD Song".BBC Music.British Broadcasting Corporation.2018.Archivedfrom the original on 17 December 2018.Retrieved17 December2018.