Kurtis Blow

Kurtis Blow

Blow in 2015
Background information
Birth name Kurt Walker
Born (1959-08-09) August 9, 1959
Harlem, New York, United States
Occupation(s) Rapper, record producer, singer, actor, DJ, dancer, minister

Kurt Walker (born August 9, 1959),[1] professionally known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer.[2] He is the first commercially successful rapper and the first to sign with a major record label. "The Breaks", a single from his 1980 debut album, is the first certified gold record rap song. Throughout his career he has released 15 albums and is currently an ordained minister.[1]

Life and career

Originally from Harlem, Walker began DJ'ing under the name Kool DJ Kurt. He was also a disco performer.

In 1979, aged twenty, Kurtis Blow became the first rapper to be signed by a major label, Mercury, which released "Christmas Rappin'".[3] It sold over 500,000 copies.[4] Its follow-up, "The Breaks", also sold over half a million copies.[2] He was also the first rapper to perform overseas.[5] He released ten albums over the next eleven years. His first album was Kurtis Blow, while his second was the Top 50 pop album Deuce. Party Time featured a fusion of rap and go-go. Ego Trip included the hits: "8 Million Stories", "AJ Scratch", and "Basketball". His 1985 album, America, garnered praise for its title track's music video. From this album, the song "If I Ruled the World" became a Top 5 hit on Billboard's R&B chart. Towards the end of the 1980s, his recording career waned and he moved into production.[3]

Besides his own work, Kurtis has been responsible for hits by The Fat Boys and Run DMC.[2] Run began his career billed as 'The Son of Kurtis Blow'. Lovebug Starski, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Full Force, Russell Simmons and Wyclef Jean all have been produced by, or collaborated with, Walker. Former label mates René & Angela had their R&B chart topping debut "Save Your Love (For #1)" was produced by him. Along with Dexter Scott King, Walker co-ordinated "King Holiday", a song to celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday, released in January 1986.

His acting performances and music coordination in several films includes Leon Kennedy’s Knights of the City and the hip hop film Krush Groove.[3] As host and co-producer for Das Leben Amerikanischer Gangs, an international film production's focus on the West Coast gang scene, Kurt crossed international waters for inner city justice (1995). As host and associate producer for Rhyme and Reason Kurtis gave an informative account of the status of hip hop, while he participated in the three volume release The History Of Rap in 1998.[3]

Kurt has spoken out emphatically against racism. He was an active participant in the Artists Against Apartheid record “Sun City”. Kurt has worked with Rev. Jesse Jackson's Operation Push and National Rainbow Coalition in Chicago. Kurt has also worked with Rev. Al Sharpton's Action Network in New York City. In 1995, he started working on-air in radio, Power 106, the #1 CHR radio station in Southern California. He hosted 'The Old School Show' on Sunday nights, featuring hits from the past. He also worked for Sirius Satellite Radio on the Classic Old School Hip Hop station Backspin on Channel 46.

Beginning in 1996, Kurt was featured in a hip hop display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While in the same year, rapper Nas debuted at #53 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his version of "If I Rule The World".[1] In 1998, the group Next released "Too Close", in which the music of "Christmas Rappin'" was sampled. ASCAP honored Kurt and Next at a gala affair on May 26, 1999. In 2002, he traveled to the Middle East to tour the Armed Forces bases performing seventeen shows for the troops. He was a judge for the 8th annual Independent Music Awards.[6]

In October 2016, he suffered a heart attack and was saved by police officers when they arrived on the scene.[7]

Minister

As the founder of The Hip Hop Church, Kurtis serves as rapper, DJ, worship leader and licensed minister.[8] He became an ordained minister on August 16, 2009. In December 2014, Kurt was the Guest MC for the world premiere of "The Hip Hop Nutcracker" at New Jersey Performing Arts Center, a well received update of Tchaikovsky's holiday classic. A national tour of the show will launch in November 2015 and Kurtis will reprise his role as Guest MC opening the show.

Discography

Albums

Other albums

Compilation albums

Singles and EPs

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hess, Mickey (2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide. Santa Barbara (CA): ABC-CLIO. pp. 34–35. ISBN 9780313343216.
  2. 1 2 3 Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 93. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Huey, Steve. "Kurtis Blow - Biography". billboard.com. Rovi. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  4. ↑ George, Nelson (1988). The Death of Rhythm & Blues. New York, NY: Pantheon Books. p. 191. ISBN 0142004081. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  5. ↑ Negro, Benny. "Exclusive Interview with Kurtis Blow". Bcyde Video. YouTube. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
  6. ↑ Independent Music Awards - Past Judges Archived July 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Walker, Angus (6 November 2016). "Kurtis Blow suffers heart attack". Hotnewhiphop. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  8. ↑ News item on NPR.com, 'Rapper Turned Minister Kurtis Blow Is 50,
  9. ↑ "Wastepaper Basketball". YouTube. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. February 27, 2014.
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