Kurtis Blow

About

Kurtis Walker (born August 9, 1959), known professionally by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Walker is the first commercially successful rapper and the first to sign with a major record label. “The Breaks”, a single from his 1980 self-titled debut album, is the first certified gold record rap song. Over his career he released 17 albums. He is an ordained minister. He also serves as leader of the group Hip Hop Alliance.

Walker was raised in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. He attended CCNY and Nyack College, studying communications/film and ministry.

In 1979, at the age of twenty, Blow became the first rapper to be signed by a major label, Mercury, which released “Christmas Rappin'”. It sold over 400,000 copies, becoming one of the first commercially successful hip-hop singles. Its follow-up, “The Breaks”, sold over 840,000 copies. He released ten albums over the next eleven years. His first album was Kurtis Blow, then his second was the top 40 R&B album Deuce. Party Time featured a fusion of rap and go-go. Ego Trip included the hits: “8 Million Stories”, “AJ Scratch”, and “Basketball…