Caushun (born Jason Herndon 1957 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American rapper, often erroneously referred to as the first black, openly gay male hip-hop artist to be signed to a major record label in the United States. Diagnosed with AIDS in 1994, he was determined to change his life. He was said to have almost been signed to Kimora Lee Simmons' Baby Phat Records (the major label distribution status of which is yet unverified), and no record was ever released. Trained as a hairdresser, he worked as an assistant hairstylist to Oscar Blondie for Jennifer Lopez, Kim Cattrall, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Rosie O'Donnell In an interview in Allhiphop.com, Ivan Matias revealed that he created Caushun and that he wrote and performed all of the work attributed to Caushun. He says that the Caushun persona started out as a prank when he called into a radio station as a flamboyantly gay rapper. After a series of call-in performances that became increasing popular, he decided that Caushun needed a face. He contacted Jason Herndon who agreed to play the role of Caushun in public. According to him, Jason has no musical talent. While Herndon is is gay, Matias is straight.
