He’s the first commercially successful rapper as well as the first to sign with a major record label. It sold over 400,000 copies. Its followup, “The Breaks”, sold over half a million copies. He was also the very first rapper to do abroad. He released ten albums during the following eleven years. His first record was Kurtis Blow, while his second was the Top 50 pop record Deuce. Party Time featured a fusion of rap and gogo. Ego Trip contained the hits: “8 Million Stories,” “AJ Scratch,” and “Basketball”. His 1985 record, America, garnered praise because of its title track’s music video. From this record, the tune “If I Ruled the World” became a Top 5 hit on Billboard’s R&B chart. In 1996, fellow rapper Nas debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 using a cover version of the tune. Besides his own work, Kurtis continues to be responsible for hits by The Fat Boys and Run DMC. Run started his profession billed as ‘The Son of Kurtis Blow’. Lovebug Starski, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Total Power, Russell Simmons and Wyclef Jean all have been made by, or have worked with, Kurt. Former label teammates Ren & Angela had their R&B chart topping debut “Save Your Love (For #1)” present rapped by Kurt. Along with Dexter Scott King, Kurt coordinated “King Holiday,” a tune to observe Martin Luther King’s birthday.
Record producer, Disc jockey, Musician, Rapper, Pastor, Actor
Education
City College of New York, Nyack College
Nationality
United States of America
Siblings
Joseph Blow
Nicknames
Curtis Blow , Kurt Walker , Kurtis Walker
Movies
Rhyme & Reason, Breaking Out
TV Shows
Hip-Hop Evolution
Star Sign
Leo
#
Fact
1
Has not released an album since 1988's "Back by Popular Demand".
2
One of the personalities mentioned in the song Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club. The others mentioned were James Brown, Bob Marley, Smokey Robinson, 'Hamilton Bohannon', Bootsy Collins, and Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar (as Sly and Robbie) and 'Robert 'Robbie' Shakespeare' (as Sly and Robbie).
3
Changed his name to Kurtis Blow (as in a body blow) at the suggestion of his manager, future rap mogul Russell Simmons.
4
Currently a DJ on Backspin 43, which is the old school hip hop station on the Sirius Satellite Radio service.
5
The first hip hop musician embraced by the mainstream advertising industry with his appearance in a commercial for the soft drink Sprite.
6
He co-wrote songs with The Fat Boys, including their signature songs, "Fat Boys" (1984) and "The Fat Boys Are Back" (1985).
7
He has duet with rock icon Bob Dylan called "Street Rock", which appeared on Blow's 1986 album, Kingdom Blow.
8
In 1980, he opened for reggae legend Bob Marley at the Madison Square Garden where he performed for an audience of 20,000.
9
He was the first rapper to record a full length album on a major label (1979).
10
He 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.
11
Was the first hip-hop MC to be signed by a major label, which in this case was Mercury/PolyGram Records.
12
Hip-hop artist
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Goldbergs
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2016 writer - 1 episode, 2016
Danville 2nd Ward Young Men
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2014 writer - 1 episode, 2014
22nd Annual Trumpet Awards
2014
TV Special performer: "The Breaks" / writer: "The Breaks"
One Hit Wonderland
2012
TV Series documentary writer - 1 episode
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap
2012
Documentary performer: "The Breaks" / writer: "The Breaks"
Dance Central 2
2011
Video Game performer: "The Breaks"
It's Kind of a Funny Story
2010
performer: "The Breaks" / writer: "The Breaks" - as Kurt Walker
Angel Camouflaged
2010
performer: "I'm Tired" Angel Camouflaged Remix, "Gimme Three Steps"
Welcome to the 80's
2009
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Notorious
2009
writer: "The Breaks" - as Kurt Walker
Beautiful Losers
2008
Documentary performer: "The Blow"
Everybody Hates Chris
TV Series performer - 4 episodes, 2005 - 2007 writer - 3 episodes, 2005 - 2007
Scarface: The World Is Yours
2006
Video Game "The Breaks"
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
2002
Video Game performer: "The Breaks" / writer: "The Breaks"
Like Mike
2002
writer: "Basketball" - as Kurt Walker
Empire
2002
writer: "Games People Play"
Saturday Night Live
2000
TV Series writer - 1 episode
In Dark Places
1997
performer: "Let's Dance" / writer: "Let's Dance", "I Wanna Freak You"
Soul Food
1997
performer: "The Breaks" / writer: "The Breaks" - as Kurt Walker
The Jerky Boys
1995
performer: "Dial a Jam" / writer: "Dial a Jam" - as Kurt Walker
Knights of the City
1986
performer: "Kurtis Blow Rap"
Krush Groove
1985
lyrics: "If I Ruled The World" / music: "If I Ruled The World", "Pump It Up - Let's Get Funky", "All You Can Eat", "Fat Boys" / performer: "If I Ruled The World", "Krush Groovin'" / writer: "Krush Groovin'" - as K. Blow
Top of the Pops
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1980 writer - 1 episode, 1980
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Da Jammies
2015
TV Series
Kurtis Flow / Momo's Security #1
California Dreamers
2013
King Kurtis
The Benita Show
2011
TV Series
Kings of Hip Hop: The Founders
2004
Video
In Dark Places
1997
Piano Player
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Slippin': Ten Years with the Bloods
2005
Documentary associate producer
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Krush Groove
1985
music supervisor
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
G-Funk
2016
Documentary filming
Hip Hop Evolution
2016
Documentary
Himself
The Power of Soul
2015
Documentary
Himself
22nd Annual Trumpet Awards
2014
TV Special
Himself
Reach Around Radio
2013
TV Series
Himself
The Hot 10
2011
TV Series
Himself - Guest
2011 Soul Train Awards
2011
TV Special
Himself
Way Black When: Primetime
2011
TV Series
Himself - Performer
Unsung
2010
TV Series documentary
Himself
White Lines and the Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug
$5 million
