Charlie Chase

Born in New York City, Charlie Chase was raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, until the age of 12. Then he moved to the Bronx, where he became a musician and true Hip Hop Pioneer during the early years of the movement in 1975. Chase was the first Latino DJ to officially emerge and establish Latinos as a force in Hip Hop.

Despite a lot of negative criticism in the beginning from African-Americans and Hispanics for being a Puerto Rican DJ playing Hip Hop and B-Boy music, Chase played in the streets, parks, clubs and schools of New York City with other pioneers such as Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grand Wizard Theodore, Grandmaster Flash and many others. He became a force to be reckoned with, entertaining the masses and representing Latinos everywhere by playing Breaks, Hip Hop, Salsa, R&B, House, Disco and Rock. Playing everything was how he gained respect as a DJ and stayed focused on his music.

Chase co-founded the World Famous Cold Crush Brothers with his partner Tony Tone. Together they recruited Grandmaster Caz, Hut Maker JDL, Almighty KG and Easy AD, becoming and continuing to be one of the primary influences emulated by many DJs, MCs and Rappers in Hip Hop. In 1981 Chase got his first movie role. Playing himself in the first Hip Hop movie ever made. In the cult hit ‘Wild Style’ Chase had a small speaking part and performed with his group the Cold Crush Brothers. His role in this movie was the break he needed to take his talent to countries all around the globe.

In 2003 Chase was inducted into the Technics, DMC DJ Hall Of Fame, joining the ranks of Afrika Bambaataa, Jazzy Jay, Jazzy Jeff, Grand Wizard Theodore, Grandmixer DXT, Jam Master Jay, Grandmaster Flash, DJ Red Alert, DJ Premier, Mixmaster Ice, Grandmaster Caz and more. In 2019 & 2023 he was inducted into the Smithsonian African American History Museum, The Smithsonian American Art Museum and The National Hip Hop Museum in Washington DC.

Today, Chase continues to play for his fans and B-Boys all over the world extending his djaying and producing talents to motion picture productions and has truly become a true Hip Hop DJ icon