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. Jekyll 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, Krgystan, 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.
(from
http://www.kurtisblow.net)
