A lot of heds diss Kurt because he was the first commercially succsessful Emcee. This Harlem native was the first rap artist to sign to a major label ( Mecrury/Polygram ) . The infamous Russell Simmons was his manager and negotiated this deal .  In fact Russell gave him his name. Kurt says it means " hard hitting like a death blow " .

His first single in ' 79 " Christmas Rappin " was very succsessful , as well as " The Breaks " the same year . Kurtis Blow had many Djs...amongst them Dj Run , AJ , Bill Black and Davy DMX . Kurtis Blow was one of the first real producers in Hip Hop . Not like the so called producers today that rely on samples , Kurtis played several instruments and discovered  the Fat Boys . He produced songs for the Fearless Four , Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde , Sweet G and the Fat Boys . K B was one of the first to use the legendary linn drum on records and the first to loop a sample (Pump Me Up by Trouble Funk) for If I Ruled The World .  

KB was once a member of the Furious 5 , and was also a Dj before becoming an emcee. He used to Dj at Smalls Paradise and the Disco Fever back in the late 70s . Kurt got discovered in 1979 when he was doing a gig with Flash and Lovebug Starski at the Hotel Diplomat on w 43rd st. .  Robert Ford and Jb Moore ; two ex billboard writers  were in the house ; and looking for talent. Kurtis Blow opened up for the Commodores and the great Bob Marley  on the strength of The Breaks.

Kurtis Blow has about 9 full length lps to his credit , and was the first rapper to do a Sprite commercial in ' 85 .  He was the first to merge Go Go and Hip Hop ..in 83 with " Party Time " featuring EU . He moved to LA in 86 and made records with Bob Dylan and a host of others . Peep his performance in the movie Krush Groove .  His best joint is " Aj " and ode to his Dj....other bangers include " Basketball" , " 8 Million Stories " , " The Breaks " and " If I Ruled The World " . In 2002 KB is working on a documentary and a few films...

                                                              HOME

 

© 2005 JayQuan Dot Com  No part may be copied without authors permission