Hip-Hop Legend: Kurtis Blow
(Kurtis Blow publicity photo. Image Courtesy of Thehowardtheartre)
Background
Kurtis Blow is the first commercially successful rapper and the first rapper to sign to a major record deal with Mercury records.
Blow was born as Kurtis Walker on August 9, 1959 in Harlem, New York City, New York. In 1979, at 20 year-old. He attended The City College Of New York (CCNY) and Nyack College studying communications and then ministry. Blow has been in the rap industry from 1979 to now. He was also the first American rapper to perform internationally.
Throughout his career he has released 15 albums with Mercury and is currently an ordained minister.
Mercury Records founded in 1945 by Irving Green is an American-based record label owned by Universal Music Group. Mercury records over the years has signed stars like Elton John, Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift, Johnny Cash and Chuck Berry and more famous names.
(Interview with Kurtis Blow about performing internationally)
(Kurtis Blow performing hit single "The Breaks" on Soul Train in September 1980)
Accomplishments
- In 1979, he was the first rapper to ever sign to a major record label with Mercury Records.
- "The Breaks" first rap song to be certified gold in 1980.
- The Breaks" ranked number 40 hip hop song of all time. (Greatest song of all-time)
- His album "Christmas Rappin" sold more than 400,000 copies in 1980.
- In 1985, "If I Ruled the World." The song cracked the Top 5 on the Billboard charts on first release.
Impact
Kurtis Blow had a huge impacted on African - Americans across the country. He showed the world that being an Hip-Hop artist could lead you in stardom not only in the United States but also internationally. His influence on hip-hop was so profound that rapper Run of the seminal trio Run-D.M.C. initially called himself the "Son of Kurtis Blow" when just starting his career. "If I Ruled the World." The song cracked the Top 5 on the Billboard charts on first release, and returned (in sample form) a decade later when Nas's version debuted at No. 1. Blow also produced albums for artists like The Fat Boys, Run-D.M.C., Russell Simmons and Wyclef Jean.
(Kurtis Blow performing in 2015. Image courtesy of Wikipedia Page )
Famous Quotes
I've recorded over two hundred songs and I have never used a profanity and I always thought that was just me trying to have some dignity, some integrity," Blow said. "I knew that in order for this thing [hip-hop] to last and spread all around the world, it had to be wholesome, it had to be something that families could listen to, something people could play for their kid, something you could sing in church and I can sing all my songs in church."
(Page researched and written by Gerard Gray.)
