CASE CLOSED

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Chas Case graduated from Flagler Palm Coast High School in 2005. Six years later, he has established a name for himself in the Florida modern hip-hop scene — all while wearing flip flops and a fedora.

Chas Case wears his emotions on his sleeve — or in his case, it would have to be on his arm.

Earlier this month, a sleeveless Case, 24, competed in a rap competition at a venue in downtown Orlando — and he did it all wearing board shorts, flip flops, a tank top and a fedora.

“That’s how we did it,” Case said in an interview Tuesday. “We were definitely the only ones who looked like that. I think we took people by surprise.”

The competition, 2Racks Rap Contest, has taken place in such cities as Chicago, Atlanta, Honolulu and San Francisco.

Case, who goes by the stage name “Case Closed,” showed up with high school friend and fellow musician Mikey Terranova (stage name “Mike T”).

The contest featured 32 artists, and was five rounds of head-to-head performing. One artist would perform for 1 minute, 30 seconds and then the competitor would perform.

Then, the three judges would determine who won the battle. The winner advanced.

When it was all over, Case walked away with the title, $2,000 and a lot more confidence.

But rocking laidback clothing plays into Case’s lyrical style — he lived in Flagler County through high school and Flagler Beach was a large part of his growing up.

But winning big is something new to Case.

From Case to Case Closed
Case has been entrenched in the hip-hop music industry since his first rap battle at 19 years old, when he was attending school at North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Case played football at FPC and continued playing his freshman year of college. But after his first season, he realized his future wasn’t on the gridiron.

“I had participated in talent shows and rapped on the back of the school bus and at lunch tables,” Case said.

But his first legitimate competition came in North Carolina. It was a freestyle competition, and Case won second place, which got him studio time. It was then that he started taking his rap skills seriously.

“It’s weird because I grew up listening to country music and old school rock and roll,” he said, citing bands such as Journey and Kiss, both of which his parents listened to during his childhood.

But he admits as a young teenager, Eminem caught his attention.

“I liked the competitive nature of hip-hop at the time,” he said.

And after earning second place, Case began writing music as much as he could — as Eminmen does in the movie, “8 Mile.”

“I would write on napkins, paper, my hands,” Case said.

He estimates he’s written hundreds of songs, recording about 55 in the last five years.

A lot has changed in those five years, including his stage name. He used to go by “Case,” but after he finished spitting out lyrics in a freestyle battle, a member of the audience shouted out, “Case Closed!”

The name stuck — and the case was closed when he performed a few weeks ago, in Orlando.

On the come up
On The Come UP Entertainment was formed in 2010 by John Fitzpatrick.

Case met Fitzpatrick when he was interviewing for a telemarketing job a few years ago. Case said that job has been a large part of his lyrical motivation.

“I was lying to people, and I was using the best words possible to trick them into getting whatever services I was selling,” he said. “I was good at it, but it was a bad feeling when I went home at the end of the day.”

On The Come UP Entertainment fosters any artist in any genre, and puts the artists’ music into rotation streaming online. Other Flagler County artists include Terranova and Caroline Kiefer.

Case understands he has a lot of work ahead to help make a difference in the world. But he knows his outlet to do so is through his music.

“No one respects my opinion, but I want that voice,” he said.

And on his path, Case expects to live every moment of his life to the fullest — and then channel it into a few minutes through a song.

Much like he does in his song “Change the World,” when he said: “I’m trying my hardest, but it’s tough to change the world on the salary of an underpaid teacher and a starving artist.”

Visit Case at www.facebook.com/caseclosedmusic or www.onthecomeupentertainment.com.