Kurtis Blow

Kurtis Blow

Kurtis Blow, born Curtis Walker, is a rapper from the Bronx in the United States and one of the early mainstream figures in recorded hip hop. He is associated with east coast hip hop, electro, hip hop and pop rap. He begins his career in New York City in the mid-1970s, first as a breakdancer, then as a DJ under the name Kool DJ Kurt, and later as an MC and recording artist.

Early career and breakthrough

Blow becomes an MC around 1977. His manager, Russell Simmons, suggests the name Kurtis Blow, taken from the idea of a body blow. He records his first single, Christmas Rappin', and then becomes the first rapper to release a full-length album on a major label in 1979. At a time when hip hop is often treated as a passing fad, this makes him a central figure in the genre's move into the wider music industry.

The Breaks, released in 1980, becomes one of hip hop's best-known early records and is noted for its disco-influenced backing and rapped delivery. He is also influenced by DJ Hollywood.

Work, collaborations and appearances

In 1980, Kurtis Blow opens for Bob Marley at Madison Square Garden and performs to an audience of 20,000. He appears in feature films including Krush Groove and The Show. He also co-writes songs with The Fat Boys, including Fat Boys and The Fat Boys Are Back.

His 1986 album Kingdom Blow includes the duet Street Rock with Bob Dylan, arranged through Wayne Garfield, who also co-writes Reasons For Wanting You with Blow and Debra Byrd. He later records Hey Everybody with Max C and Bomfunk MC's for their album Reverse Psychology.

Other activity

Kurtis Blow becomes the first hip hop musician to appear in a mainstream advertising campaign through a Sprite commercial. He also works as a DJ on Backspin 43, the old-school hip hop station on Sirius Satellite Radio. He is reported as a theology major at Nyack College, with an aim of entering the ministry.

Associated acts

He is linked with Legends of Hip Hop and The Krush Groove All-Stars.