See all 14 pictures

Play Kurtis Blow Radio

Kurtis Blow

On Tour

278,696 plays (72,216 listeners)
In your library (0 plays)

51 shouts

Add to my Library Share

Curtis “Kurtis Blow” Walker, (born on August 9, 1959, in Harlem, New York) is one of the pioneer rappers in the recording industry, and hip hop’s first mainstream star. “The Breaks” (1980) is one of hip hop’s undisputed classics, with its catchy disco tune and rapping style. Blow was influenced by DJ Hollywood.

He became an MC in his own right around 1977, and changed his name to Kurtis Blow (as in a body blow) at the suggestion of his manager, future rap mogul Russell Simmons. Blow began his career in New York City in the mid-1970s, when he was a breakdancer until switching to DJing under the name Kool DJ Kurt and then finally rapping. He was the first rapper to record a full length album on a major label (1979). This occurred after recording “Christmas Rappin”, his first single; during this time, “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang became the first hit for hip hop. The whole field was derided as a fad, though, and thus there was much resistance to signing Blow. In 1980 he opened for reggae legend Bob Marley at the Madison Square Garden where he performed for an audience of 20,000.

He has appeared in several feature films, including Krush Groove and The Show. A duet with rock icon Bob Dylan called “Street Rock”, appeared on Blow’s 1986 album, Kingdom Blow[1] by special arrangement of Wayne Garfield (Garfield and Blow co-wrote, “Reasons For Wanting You” on Kingdom Blow)[2] and Debra Byrd, American Idol’s head vocal coach and former Dylan backup singer (see album credits).

Tagged as:

hip-hop, rap, old school, hip hop, 80s
See more…

Similar Artists

Top Albums

The Best Of Kurtis Blow
Kurtis Blow
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.49
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $10.28
- eBay Search
Kurtis Blow
Kurtis Blow
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes $8.91
- Buy Album
- Amazon $6.98
- eBay Search
Mercury
Kurtis Blow
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
Kingdom Blow
Kurtis Blow
Buy
- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $17.18
- eBay Search

Top Tracks

1	The Breaks	827
2	Basketball full track	138
3	Christmas Rappin' full track	95
4	If I Ruled The World full track	89
5	The Breaks (Re-Recorded / Remastered) full track	60
6	Hard Times full track	57
7	Party Time full track	37
8	8 Million Stories full track	34
9	Starlife full track	31
10	Aj Scratch full track	28
11	Throughout Your Years full track	26
11	Tough full track	26
13	Daydreamin' full track	21
14	I'm Chillin' full track	19
14	The Breaks (Part 1)	19

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).

Cruzzzz wrote:
last month

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_shxzlTRK44 AMEN ;)

View Profile | Leave Cruzzzz a shout
Davviid wrote:
last month

Legend

View Profile | Leave Davviid a shout
Katisdope wrote:
last month

break it up break it up break it UP!!! :D

View Profile | Leave Katisdope a shout
vjsupersaint wrote:
November 2009

Come join us at Unsigned Christmas. A group designed for raising awareness of new artists taking Christmas & all music into a new decade. The Unsigned Christmas album has the top tunes to be heard this Christmas. http://www.last.fm/group/Unsigned+Christmas

View Profile | Leave vjsupersaint a shout
AjLoffDisGejm wrote:
October 2009

These are the breaks !!

View Profile | Leave AjLoffDisGejm a shout
thejokerhstnlv wrote:
October 2009

Classic!

View Profile | Leave thejokerhstnlv a shout
girugammesh wrote:
July 2009

lol, he is a preacher now.

View Profile | Leave girugammesh a shout
Tigerboyce wrote:
May 2009

Breaks on a bus brakes on a car, Breaks to make you a superstar, Breaks to win and breaks to lose, But these here breaks will rock your shoes

View Profile | Leave Tigerboyce a shout
FiyahG wrote:
April 2009

clap yo hands everybody!

View Profile | Leave FiyahG a shout
Heike-Dedke wrote:
April 2009

Klasse! Bester Jahrgang

View Profile | Leave Heike-Dedke a shout
Sted-Milano wrote:
March 2009

R35P3C7

View Profile | Leave Sted-Milano a shout
BurntFingers wrote:
February 2009

thats the breaks! thats the breaks!

View Profile | Leave BurntFingers a shout
benthepirate wrote:
January 2009

break it up break it up break it up

View Profile | Leave benthepirate a shout
theoryjean wrote:
January 2009

so old school

View Profile | Leave theoryjean a shout
Kamilv333 wrote:
November 2008

He's amazing!

View Profile | Leave Kamilv333 a shout
Andre91195 wrote:
November 2008

Learn your roots son.

View Profile | Leave Andre91195 a shout
ARNOLDLEFTY wrote:
November 2008

SIMON JAMON!!

View Profile | Leave ARNOLDLEFTY a shout
_tsk_ wrote:
November 2008

Kurtis Flows!

View Profile | Leave _tsk_ a shout
MusicGeneration wrote:
November 2008

Its Like A Jungle Sometimes ! Respect

View Profile | Leave MusicGeneration a shout
BassheadT wrote:
October 2008

Kay you Are Ti I eS Bi eL O Double-you, whatcha wanna do? i bought my first vinyl back in 1983/84. Name of Album: Egotrip - still my fav of all time ever Under Fire, Basketball, 8 mio. Stories, AJ Scratch, If i rule the World, Hello Baby... THANK YOU Kurtis Blow THANK YOU

View Profile | Leave BassheadT a shout

See all 51 shouts

Videos

Events

Feb 17 THE FURIOUS FIVE feat KURTIS BLOW La Bellevilloise, Paris, France
Add shout | 3 attendees
Feb 20 LEGENDS 2 LEGENDS Case-à-Choc, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Add shout | 1 attendee

Add event See more

News

KB Tour

31 Jan 2008 | from blog.myspace.com/kurtisblow3

..> We are now taking dates for the states!!!! May and JuneSugar Hill GangKurtis BlowMele MelGrand Wizard TheodoreWhodiniBig Daddy KaneHiphopanniversary. …

Add comment