| Kurtis Blow |
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Kurtis Blow, one of the founders and creators of recorded rap, stands as an emerging leader in a new
generation of rappers with street sense, social criticism, and commercial savvy, a timeless artist and hip
hop legend, Kurtis Blow has been instrumental in raising up a generation of MC’s, and he will soon carry
the torch for hip hop music into new arenas.
In 1979, at the age of twenty, Kurtis Blow became the first Rapper to be signed by a major label. Mercury
released “Christmas Rappin,” and it sold over 400,000 copies and it became an annual classic. Its gold
follow?up “The Breaks” helped ignite a still?spreading international “Rap Attack.” He released 10 Albums
over 11 years -- The first entitled “Kurtis Blow”, his full length debut and his second, a Top 50 Pop Album
“Deuce,” a big hit across Europe; “Party Time” which featured a pioneering fusion of Rap and Go?Go; “Ego
Trip,” which includes the hits “8 Million Stories”, “AJ”, and “Basketball” and in 1985, “America.” “America’s
video innovation received a MTV Monitor Award. From this album, the song “If I Ruled the World” became
a top 5 hit on Billboard’s R & B chart. Columbia/Sony recording artist Nas debuted at # 1 on the Billboard’s
Pop Album chart with a cover of the song in 1997.
He was honored to coordinate “King Holiday”, along with Dexter Scott King, a song to celebrate Dr. Martin
Luther King’s Birthday. The Mercury/Polygram single co?produced by Kurtis Blow includes the
collaborative efforts of Whitney Houston, New Edition, Stephanie Mills, El Debarge, James “JT” Taylor of
Kool & the Gang, The Fat Boys and Run DMC among others. It has become an annual Holiday Classic.
Besides his own work, Kurtis has been responsible for Rap hits by The Fat Boys and Run DMC. Run began
his career billed as “The son of Kurtis Blow.” Love Bug Starski, Sweet Gee, Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, Full
Force, Russell Simmons and Wyclef Jean all have been produced or have worked with Blow in the past.
Additionally former label mates Rene & Angela had their chart topping debut “Save Your Love for # 1” gift
wrapped by Kurtis Blow.
Kurtis Blow's acting performances and music coordination in several movies including Leon Kennedy’s
“Cry of the City” and the hit film “Krush Groove” has won him continual praise. The New York Daily News
called his cinematic works “Noteworthy, A Dynamic Presence.” As host and co?producer for “Das Leben
Amerikanischer Gangs” an international film production's focus on the West Coast gang scene, Kurtis Blow
crossed international waters for inner city justice (1995). As host and associate producer for "Rhyme and
Reason” a Miramax film, KB gives an informative account of the present status of Hip?Hop (1998). "The
History Of Rap" Produced and written by Kurtis, is soon coming to a theatre near you.
Kurtis Blow speaks out emphatically against racism. His raps, with cinematic sensibilities, open the world's
eyes and ears to inner city truth as much as they celebrate the purer pleasure of modern living. He was
also an active participant in the blistering Artist Against Apartheid Record “Sun City.” Kurtis Blow speaks
out emphatically against Alcohol and Drugs. Kurtis' innate ability to reach people is also evident in his
selection as spokesperson for The National Ad Counsel. He is an integral part of its youth campaign and
can be seen and heard in print, radio and television nationwide as the first to “Say No To Drugs.” He has
also been involved with Phoenix House of California, a substance abuse organization with Black community
emphasis.
In 1995 Kurtis Blow started working on-air in radio. Power 106 the # 1 CHR. Radio station in Southern
California had Kurtis Blow on-air Sunday nights with The Old School Show, a highly rated specialty show
that features Blow playing the hits from the past. The show was rated # 1 for 4 years. Kurtis is now working
for Sirius Satellite Radio on the Classic Old School Hip Hop station Backspin 43.
In 1996 Kurtis Blow was featured in a Hip Hop display at the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame. The display still
stands. In 1998 the group Next released “Too Close,” in which the music of “Christmas Rap” was sampled
for the #1 pop songs background track. “Too Close” was the longest running #1 song of 1998 for
Billboards Pop Chart. ASCAP honored Blow and Next at a gala affair on May 26, 1999. In 2002 after 9/11,
Kurtis went overseas to the Middle East to tour the Armed Forces Bases for 17 shows to bring a little bit of
back home to the troops stationed there. The tour consisted of shows in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi
Arabia, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman “It was a tour I will never forget,” Blow says, “I did
the Bob Hope thing.”
Here are many of the firsts credited to Kurtis Blow:
· First rapper to sign to a Major label
· First certified gold record for rap (“The Breaks”)
· First rapper to tour US & Europe (w/ The Commodores, 1980)
· First rapper to record a national commercial (Sprite)
· First rapper to use the drum machine, sample & sample loop
· First rap music video (“Basketball”)
· First rap producer (Rap's producer of the year in 1983-85?)
· First rapper featured in a soap opera (“One Life to Live”)
First rap millionaire
Kurtis Blow helped legitimize Hip Hop, and now, he intends to help redeem it. Having made a deep
commitment to the ways and teachings of Jesus Christ, Kurtis has began attending Ministry classes at
NYACK College Class of 2009. As Co-founder of the Hip Hop Church, Kurtis serves as rapper, DJ and
worship leader. “Don't get it twisted, God has always existed,” says Kurtis, “and in terms of these young
people out here who love God but do not like to go to church, only Hip Hop can bring them back to the
church.” |
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| NEWS |
| 30th Anniversary Breaks Tour feat Kurtis Blow & Kurtis Blow Jr.
Europen Tour 2010
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| 30th Anniversary Breaks Tour |
| Kurtis Blow with Kurtis Blow Jr, will be touring in Europe between the months of Sept & Oct of 2010! Performing classic Hip Hop Songs such The Breaks, Basketball, Christmas Rappn, Tough, If I Ruled the World, and many more. This Hip Hop Classic Rap show is guranteed to be a winner. |
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