Biography for
Kurtis Blow More at IMDbPro »

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Hip-hop artist

Was the first hip-hop MC to be signed by a major label, which in this case was Mercury/PolyGram Records.

He began his career in New York City in the mid-1970s, when he was a breakdancer until switching to DJing under the name Kool DJ Kurt and then finally rapping.

He was the first rapper to record a full length album on a major label (1979).

In 1980, he opened for reggae legend Bob Marley at the Madison Square Garden where he performed for an audience of 20,000.

He has duet with rock icon Bob Dylan called "Street Rock", which appeared on Blow's 1986 album, Kingdom Blow.

He co-wrote songs with The Fat Boys, including their signature songs, "Fat Boys" (1984) and "The Fat Boys Are Back" (1985).

The first hip hop musician embraced by the mainstream advertising industry with his appearance in a commercial for the soft drink Sprite.

Currently a DJ on Backspin 43, which is the old school hip hop station on the Sirius Satellite Radio service.

Changed his name to Kurtis Blow (as in a body blow) at the suggestion of his manager, future rap mogul Russell Simmons.

One of the personalities mentioned in the song Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club. The others mentioned were James Brown, Bob Marley, Smokey Robinson, 'Hamilton Bohannon', Bootsy Collins, and Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar (as Sly and Robbie) and 'Robert 'Robbie' Shakespeare' (as Sly and Robbie).

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