Caushun

Caushun is an American rapper, often referred to as the first openly gay male artist in music history to be embraced by the music industry and fans globally. Trained as a hairdresser, he worked as a celebrity hairstylist to the stars with clients such as Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Kim Cattrall, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Rosie O'Donnell, Kimora Lee Simmons & Sandra Lee.
It has been reported that he was to be signed to Russell & Kimora Lee Simmons' Baby Phat Records, which was formed for the purpose of releasing/distributing Caushun's album as well as Kimora Lee's album. Neither record was released. "Caushun" sparked huge international interest and was featured in a variety of publications, radio, television programs and documentaries, including MTV as a rapper and celebrity judge, BET, VH1, Newsweek, The New York Times and Interview magazine. Caushun also became a regular on the nationally syndicated Star And BukWild morning show on Hot 97.

With the public endorsement of Hot 97, MTV, Russell Simmons & the hip hop community, many prominent figures took interest and began to endorse Caushun publicly. In a 2007 interview in Allhiphop.com, Ivan Matias revealed that he created Caushun and that he wrote, recorded and performed all of the work attributed to Caushun. Matias revealed that the Caushun persona started out as a prank when he and friends called into the STAR & BUC WILD SHOW on HOT 97 WQHT radio station in New York as a flamboyantly gay rapper. After a series of call-in performances that became increasing popular, Matias agreed to meet with radio host STAR aka Troi Torain at Hot97, where he explained the situation. Together, they decided that Caushun needed a face as the popularity and demand for the character grew. Matias contacted Jason Herndon who agreed to play the role of Caushun. Matias went on to ghostwrite material for Caushun as he has for many multi-platinum artists. Matias & Simmons were unable to come to a contractual agreement on how to proceed with the project & Jason was subsequently released from his deal with Matias & Simmons.