Kurtis Blow

Kurtis Blow is an American rapper and producer who became one of hip-hop’s first commercially successful recording artists. His 1979 single “The Breaks” was the first certified gold rap song.

The Breaks: A 1980 Kurtis Blow single and the first rap song certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Its success made Blow the first rapper with a gold-certified single.
Rapper’s Delight: A 1979 Sugar Hill Gang single that helped introduce recorded rap to a broad audience. Its success came just before Blow’s first releases and offers a landmark comparison.
Russell Simmons: An American entrepreneur and record executive who co-founded Def Jam Recordings and managed early hip-hop artists. Simmons managed Blow and helped guide his transition into a major-label career.
Gold record: A music-industry certification recognizing sales or equivalent consumption above a specified threshold. “The Breaks” became the first rap song to receive this commercial certification.
Christmas Rappin’: A 1979 Kurtis Blow single that became one of the earliest commercially successful rap records. Its release established Blow as a recording artist before “The Breaks.”
The Message: A 1982 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five single known for its vivid account of urban hardship. It represents the socially observant rap that gained prominence alongside Blow’s party-oriented hits.
J. B. Moore: An American songwriter and producer known for collaborating with Kurtis Blow on early rap records. Moore co-wrote and produced songs that shaped Blow’s first hit recordings.
Hip-hop culture: A cultural movement encompassing rap, DJing, breaking, graffiti, and associated forms of expression. Blow’s records carried one part of this wider movement into mainstream music markets.
Mercury Records: An American record label founded in 1945 and later part of the PolyGram and Universal Music Group label systems. The label released Blow’s early records, bringing rap to a major-label audience.
Krush Groove: A 1985 musical film inspired by the early years of Def Jam Recordings and New York hip-hop. Blow appeared in the film, extending his presence beyond records and stage performance.

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