-Diana Kost
His name is Cazwell and he wants to put it all over your face. If you don't know what
it is, then you’re probably not old enough to be reading this article. Let’s continue, shall we?
Surprisingly down-to-earth, Cazwell rubs elbows and much more with the
crème-de-la-crème of gay nightlife and club hops as a second profession. In his debut album, you can probably find some mention of his lifestyle, if not all of it, yet the hard partying rapper/DJ/host claims to be uncomfortable with the seedy sex scene that can be found in most gay clubs. Oh, well. He still wants to put it all over your face and I’m thinking you should let him.
Clubplanet: Your video for All Over Your Face is very creative. Where did you get the idea?Cazwell: I wanted to film everyone getting ready. It’s so exciting. I love watching women put on their makeup—I always have. I’d watch my mom do it and thought if I like it, I can’t be the only one being fascinated by this.
Your video got 50,000 hits on YouTube in the first week? Why do you think people relate? Cazwell: What I really wanted to show was that this is New York and this is my life. I was very conscious of this because if I show people my style of life and they like it, it becomes part of selling the record, too. It’s like selling a lifestyle. People want that because they would rather buy food than a gold chain. People are looking at money a little differently right now.
Were you aware of the club scene in New York before you came here? Had you ever heard of Amanda Lepore or Sofia Lamar? 
Cazwell: I was pretty oblivious. I had a boyfriend in Boston and I remember him telling me about
Michael Alig and I was like, “Who’s that?” I was more into the band scene and live shows. The only reason I ever looked at clubs was to see if I could get a gig.
Were you prepared for the scene when you came to New York in 1999? Cazwell: When I moved here, there was such a connection between the gay artists and nightlife. I didn’t really assimilate into the nightlife culture until I moved to New York. But Amanda has been a huge inspiration and a great friend. Some of the greatest artists are part of the scene—I’m really lucky.
What would you say defines the downtown club scene of this generation? Cazwell: The fight to be thin? That’s probably part of it.
I would have to agree with you on that one. Do you see any changes in nightlife since you first came to New York? Cazwell: There are two different kinds of clubs in the city that I’ve been to. One is really rich and blingy—it’s all about wearing the right outfit to get in. Guys have to wear shoes and a suit and the ladies have to be hot with big tits. People have to express a certain wealth they may or may not have. That’s especially the hip hop clubs.
And the other type?Cazwell: In the clubs that I go to, whether it’s Happy Valley on Tuesdays or Boysroom, it’s not about what you can acquire as much as what you can create. And that’s what really gets you respect and that’s what gets you in the door. People know you may have taken the train to get there or work in a coffee shop, but they also know you made that outfit or you glued that stuffing into your shoulder. There's more respect on an artistic level, which always inspires me.
Which do you think will ultimately dominate nightlife, the bling or the creativity? Cazwell: It seems to go back and forth all of the time. Right now, creativity is coming back. I think people are finding a need for it.
When did you, a white boy, decide you wanted to be a rapper?Cazwell: I started rapping because I can’t sing—and that’s the truth. I didn’t come from the projects or anything like that. I didn’t grow up rich either, but I knew I wanted express myself through music.
How did you start?Cazwell: I started because I liked being on stage and I couldn’t sing and I wanted to be in a band. I think that’s pretty common. I think it’s more common then people admit it to be. If I had a great singing voice, it would have gone in a different direction.
How does being from Worcester, Massachusetts translate into your music? Cazwell: Worcester is really trashy. For instance, Dennis Leary is from Worcester. The fact that he swears, smokes a lot of cigarettes and drinks coffee non stop really captures what the city is all about. I think that if I’m trashy or shady at all, it comes from my Worcester upbringing.
Wow. So you’re someone to look out for. Cazwell: Not that I consider myself to be street or hood, but it’s always part of me.
Obviously money doesn’t inspire you too much—where does it come from? Cazwell: I get a lot of inspiration from just walking around in the city and watching what people are wearing or talking about. I'm able to write a lot faster if I walk through the city without listening to my iPod. Generally, due to myspace and the internet, I have access to other artists and what they’re doing. Whatever is going on in my life is what inspires me to write, whether it’s a breakup or about the scene in general. Sometimes I get really antsy and I just have to rhyme. It satisfies me.
What would you say your musical style is right now? Cazwell: I would say that its disco meets Deee-Lite meets Missy meets Biggie Smalls. I know I’m not as good as him, but I also come from the storytelling perspective. I try to throw some of that in when I can. When I want people to dance I try to keep it really light and hold myself back.
So, what do you like to do when you’re not working?Cazwell: I like to sleep as much as I can. I throw parties at Boysroom on Friday and Saturday—that’s an obligation that I have. I also like to work out, hang out with my friends, watch movies, jerk off on the computer and stuff.
Oh my God, me too! But where do you like to go when you’re not jerking off on your computer? Cazwell: I like to go out with Amanda a lot—I go to
Hiro at the Maritime with her on Sundays. On Mondays at
Boysroom, there’s this hot hustler party. I like it because it’s so seedy there. On Wednesdays, I DJ at
Posh in Hell’s Kitchen. On Thursdays, I like
Mr. Black—that’s a hot party. I take Mondays off sometimes.
Amanda is famously and fabulously drag. Do you ever dress up? Cazwell: I don’t do drag or makeup—I’m pretty casual. I like jeans if they’re nice. If I’m working at the party as a host or performer, I’ll put together a look. Lately, I’ve been into decor
