Local Legend: Producer Danny Caiazzo Finds Brooklyn's Rare Quiet

SHEEPSHEAD BAY, BROOKLYN — Wu-Tang Clan producer Danny Caiazzo will never forget running for his life on 9/11. It's a big part of why he loves Sheepshead Bay.

Caiazzo, credited as an essential voice behind the Wu-Tang Clan's recent solo work, is also former stockbroker who appreciates moments of peace. And nothing is quiet as peaceful, he says, as walks along the quiet Brooklyn waterfront.

The Sheepshead Bay native began his career as a hip-hop producer after 9/11, teaching himself the skills he needed, and has produced nearly all of Ghostface Killah and Inspectah Deck’s latest albums.

Caiazzo's latest projects include work with Spit Gemz, 2 Chill Will and a Remedy vs. Wu-Tang album with most of the clan on it, he says.

Patch spoke with the producer as part of our Local Legends series, where people who make New York City great discuss the neighborhoods they call home.

(Does your neighborhood have a Local Legend we should feature? Nominate them here.)

Here's what Caiazzo had to say about his Brooklyn neighborhood:

Describe Sheepshead Bay in three words.

Always my home.

What food does Sheepshead Bay do best? Where do you find it?

A few of my favorites are Brennan & Carr for amazing roast beef, Roll-N-Roaster for comforting, late-night snacks, Randazzo’s Clam Bar for delicious seafood and Wheelers for the best wings.

What's your quintessential Sheepshead Bay story?

My girlfriend and I used to go to Wheeler’s on Friday nights for wings and drinks. It was our go-to place. In 2009, there was a reunion held at Wheeler’s for the Brighton Beach Baths, a beach club that we went to growing up. The reunion was the night that I proposed in Wheelers, our favorite spot right in Sheepshead Bay.

Still to this day, we always make sure to stop in for wings and relive the excitement of that night.

What spot (local business, landmark, building, etc.) do you wish still existed in Sheepshead Bay?

I wish that Lundy’s and El Greco were still there. Both restaurants were special spots for our family, and we always felt good when we went in for a celebration or just a quick bite to eat.

What makes Sheepshead Bay New York's best neighborhood?

Many only know of Sheepshead Bay because of its proximity to Coney Island and must-visit food destinations, such as Randazzo’s Clam Bar. What I think makes Sheepshead Bay special, and the best is the feeling of calm and peace when walking along the bay. It’s something that’s rare in a borough as alive as Brooklyn.