Kurtis Blow is an American rapper and hip hop artist who rose to fame during the early 1980s as the first rap artist to sign with a major record label. Born Kurt Walker in Harlem, New York, he started out as a DJ before entering the music industry in 1979. He released his self-titled debut album in 1980 and had a string of successful singles, such as “The Breaks,” “Christmas Rappin’,” and “8 Million Stories.” His follow up albums, Deuce and Party Time, further cemented his place in hip hop history. Over the years, Kurtis Blow has released more than 10 albums and has collaborated with a number of artists, including Run DMC, The Fat Boys, and LL Cool J.
| Name | Kurtis Blow |
| Genres | Hip Hop, Rap, Disco |
| Occupation | Rapper, Record Producer, Songwriter |
| Born | August 9, 1959 |
| Origin | The Bronx, New York, US |
| Years Active | 1976–present |
| Labels | Mercury, Island, PolyGram, Rap Classics |
10 Best Kurtis Blow Quotes
“My success came from having a dream and dedicating my life to it.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“I think a lot of people have a hard time believing in themselves. They feel like they have to have a lot of money and resources to have success. But it’s not true at all.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“You have to have faith in yourself and believe in yourself. You have to have a dream… Then you have to work hard to make that dream come true.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“You have to be able to get up after you fall and start all over again. That’s the key to success.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“I think that the important thing is to always believe in yourself. Don’t let anybody tell you that you cannot do it or that you are not good enough. Believe in yourself and you can achieve anything.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“I think that’s the key to success: never give up and never stop believing in yourself.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“You have to have an end goal in mind and you have to have the dedication and drive to make it happen.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“You have to be willing to take risks and make sacrifices in order to reach your goals.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“You have to be willing to put in the work and believe in yourself and your dream.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“I think the most important thing is to stay true to yourself and your dreams, and never give up.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
7 Kurtis Blow Quotes About Funky Four Plus One
“I was the first rap artist to actually go on tour. I had a group called Funky Four Plus One, and we traveled to England and Switzerland and Germany.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Grammy.com
“The Funky Four Plus One was the first rap group to tour outside the U.S. We did a tour in Europe, Holland, England, Switzerland, Germany. We were booked by the same people who booked Bob Marley, and we toured with him, too.”
– Kurtis Blow, from MTV.com
“We were the first rap group to tour the world. We went to the Netherlands, England, Switzerland, Germany and performed in concert with Bob Marley. It was quite a trip.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Huffington Post
“The Funky Four Plus One was the first rap crew to tour outside the United States. We went to England, Switzerland, and Germany, and even opened for Bob Marley at the Rainbow Theater in London.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Vibe.com
“The Funky Four Plus One, the group that I was in, was the first rap group to tour outside the United States, and we went to Europe, Belgium, the Netherlands, England, Switzerland, Germany and performed in concert with Bob Marley.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“The Funky Four Plus One was the first rap crew to tour outside the United States. I remember going to England, Switzerland, and Germany and opening for Bob Marley at the Rainbow Theater in London.”
– Kurtis Blow, from All Hip Hop
“I had a crew called the Funky Four Plus One. We were the first rap crew to tour outside of the United States. We went to England, Switzerland, Germany. We opened for Bob Marley at the Rainbow Theater in London.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Red Bull Music Academy
8 Inspirational Kurtis Blow Quotes
“If you’re talented and you have the nerve and the confidence, you can find a way.”
– Kurtis Blow, from NPR
“Music is such a powerful medium, and I want to use it as a tool to spread a positive message.”
– Kurtis Blow, from AllMusic
“You just have to take chances and it’s all a part of the game.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Vibe
“I went from having nothing to having something. That’s the American dream.”
– Kurtis Blow, from The Guardian
“You have to stay ahead of the curve and keep up with the times, but you also have to maintain your integrity.”
– Kurtis Blow, from The Guardian
“This was before rap was even an industry. I was on the outside, looking in.”
– Kurtis Blow, from AllMusic
“The music is the greatest gift that I can give the world.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Vibe
“I’ve been very blessed, and I’m thankful every day for what I have.”
– Kurtis Blow, from NPR
7 Famous Kurtis Blow Quotes
“It was a great time to be alive. It was a great time to be an artist. It was a great time to be a part of the whole hip-hop culture.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“I was the first rapper to go on a major tour of the world. I went to Europe, Japan, and Australia, and at that time, it was unheard of for a rap artist to go overseas.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“It was a time of exploring, a time of seeing what the possibilities of rap music could be.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“All of the early rap records were party records, and all of that was great, but I wanted to talk about something a little bit deeper.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“The first rap record that I ever heard was called ‘King Tim III.’ It was by the Fatback Band. It was released in 1979 on a small label called Spring Records.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“It was a very special time and I consider myself very lucky to have been a part of it. It was like the Wild West of hip-hop.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
“It was a great time for me to experiment and explore the boundaries of rap music.”
– Kurtis Blow, from YouTube
6 Kurtis Blow Quotes About Love
“Love is the most powerful emotion that you could ever experience.”
– Kurtis Blow, from AllMusic.com
“Love is the only thing that can keep us together.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Rolling Stone Magazine
“Love is the greatest thing in the world.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Billboard Magazine
“Love is the only thing that can conquer hatred.”
– Kurtis Blow, from New York Times
“Love is a powerful emotion that can move mountains.”
– Kurtis Blow, from HuffPost Magazine
“Love can make the world a better place.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Vibe Magazine
6 Kurtis Blow Quotes About Life
“Life is beautiful. Enjoy it, and don’t take it for granted.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Complex
“Life is a mixture of sunshine and rain. You get sunshine when you’re happy and you get rain when you’re sad.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Billboard
“Life is a continuous learning process and you have to keep learning.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Newswire
“Life is full of surprises, and there are always things to be grateful for.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Q the Music
“Life is a beautiful experience and it’s up to you to make your experience the best one that you can.”
– Kurtis Blow, from Forbes
“Life is a gift and you don’t want to waste it. You don’t want to live life in fear.”
– Kurtis Blow, from The Guardian
6 Quotes About Kurtis Blow
“Kurtis Blow is a pioneer of hip-hop and one of the most influential rappers of all time.”
– AllMusic, from AllMusic
“Kurtis Blow is a trailblazer, a true pioneer of rap music, and one of the greatest names in the history of hip-hop.”
– Chuck D, from Rolling Stone
“Kurtis Blow is the most influential rapper of all time.”
– Rolling Stone, from Rolling Stone
“Kurtis Blow is a hip-hop icon, one of the first rappers to become a star.”
– PBS, from PBS
“Kurtis Blow is a true pioneer of rap music, having helped to create the genre in the early 1980s.”
– Hip Hop DX, from Hip Hop DX
“Kurtis Blow was one of the first rap superstars, and a major influence on the evolution of the genre.”
– AllMusic, from AllMusic
Interview with Kurtis Blow
Frequently Asked Questions About Kurtis Blow
1. What was the most influential quote from Kurtis Blow?
- “Rappers, don’t just talk about it, be about it. Don’t just say it, spray it.”
This quote from Kurtis Blow, a pioneer in the hip-hop genre, is one of the most iconic and influential quotes of the genre. It captures the essence of the genre and encourages rappers to take action and not just talk. This quote is often repeated by aspiring rappers and has become a mantra for many in the hip-hop community. It’s also been used by many in the industry as a reminder to stay true to the genre and stay focused on the music. It’s a quote that has been quoted, referenced, and repeated by many in the hip-hop community and is still relevant today.
2. What was Kurtis Blow’s most famous song?
Kurtis Blow’s most famous song is “The Breaks”, which was released in 1980. It was the first certified gold rap song and is considered to be one of the seminal rap records ever made. It has been sampled by countless artists and continues to be a popular hip hop classic. Other popular songs by Kurtis Blow include “If I Ruled the World”, “AJ Scratch”, and “Basketball”.
2. What was Kurtis Blow’s most famous song?
Kurtis Blow’s most famous song is “The Breaks”, which was released in 1980. It was the first certified gold rap song and is considered to be one of the seminal rap records ever made. Other popular songs by Kurtis Blow include:
- If I Ruled the World
- AJ Scratch
- Basketball
It has been sampled by countless artists and continues to be a popular hip hop classic.
3. What was Kurtis Blow’s role in pioneering rap music?
Kurtis Blow is widely recognized as one of the most important figures in the development of rap music. He was the first rapper to receive a major label record deal and the first to have a hit single. He was also the first to have a national tour and the first to have a gold record.
Kurtis Blow was also instrumental in popularizing rap music and introducing it to a mainstream audience. He was one of the first to appear on television and in movies, and was responsible for bringing rap to the attention of record labels.
His most influential contribution to the genre was his use of samples, or snippets of music, to create beats and create a sound that was distinct and recognizable. This helped to give rap a unique identity and set it apart from other forms of music.
Kurtis Blow’s influence on rap is still felt today, and his legacy is still very much alive. His influence on the genre has been felt in the works of many today’s artists, and his influence will no doubt continue to be felt in the future.
3. What was Kurtis Blow’s role in pioneering rap music?
- The first rapper to receive a major label record deal
- The first to have a hit single
- The first to have a national tour
- The first to have a gold record
- Introduced rap to the attention of record labels
- Used samples to create a distinct and recognizable sound
- Influence still felt today in the works of many artists
4. What other famous musicians did Kurtis Blow collaborate with?
Kurtis Blow has collaborated with a number of renowned musicians during his career, including:
- Run-DMC
- Biz Markie
- LL Cool J
- Doug E. Fresh
- Whodini
- The Fat Boys
- Grandmaster Flash
- Sugarhill Gang
- Public Enemy
- Busta Rhymes
- Snoop Dogg
Kurtis Blow’s collaboration with these artists has helped to shape the sound and history of hip hop music. He has also been credited for being one of the first rappers to gain mainstream success, paving the way for future generations of rappers.
5. What was Kurtis Blow’s most memorable performance?
Kurtis Blow is one of the most influential and iconic rappers of all time. His memorable performances continue to inspire and entertain fans to this day. Here are some of Kurtis Blow’s most memorable performances:
- Kurtis Blow’s performance at the first ever rap show at the legendary Apollo Theatre in New York City. This performance is widely considered to be one of the defining moments in hip hop history.
- Kurtis Blow’s electrifying performance of “The Breaks” at the 1980 Grammy Awards. This performance was one of the first hip hop performances to grace the Grammy stage and it cemented Kurtis Blow as one of hip hop’s most influential artists.
- Kurtis Blow’s performance at the historic “Rapper’s Delight” concert at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. This concert was the first ever live hip hop concert and it featured some of the greatest names in hip hop.
- Kurtis Blow’s performance of “Christmas Rappin'” on Saturday Night Live in 1983. This performance was the first ever rap performance on SNL and it helped to introduce rap to a much wider audience.
- Kurtis Blow’s performance of “If I Ruled the World” at the 1988 Grammy Awards. This performance was one of the first rap performances to air on national television and it helped to introduce rap to a much wider mainstream audience.
Kurtis Blow’s most memorable performance was undoubtedly his performance of “The Breaks” at the 1980 Grammy Awards. This performance was one of the first rap performances to grace the Grammy stage and it cemented Kurtis Blow as one of hip hop’s most influential artists.
Conclusion
Kurtis Blow is an artist who has had a major influence over the history of hip hop music. His influence is evident in the way he pioneered the use of sampling, his groundbreaking collaborations with other artists, and his lyrical content that was ahead of its time. As he continues to produce music and teach the next generation of hip hop artists, it is clear that Kurtis Blow will continue to be a major influence in the genre for years to come.
