Today in 1959,hip hop trailblazer Kurt Walker was born … but you probably wouldn't know that unless you heard his stage name Kurtis Blow. What kind of firsts were credited to this musical icon?
- First rapper to sign to a Major label (1979, Mercury Records for "Christmas Rappin")
- First certified gold record for rap ("The Breaks" in 1980)
- 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
Need more proof? Joseph Simmons, better known as Reverend Run of Run-DMC, started his career billed as "The Son of Kurtis Blow." He's worked with or produced tracks for Lovebug Starski, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Full Force, Russell Simmons, Rene and Angela and Wyclef Jean. He was central to the classic hip hop film Krush Groove and has been featured in a display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 1996, honoring his legacy of eight albums and many, many collaborations. Here's a little taste of why he's awesome …
Today he turns 52 years old, and we salute his life, his career and his legacy.
[Source: Wikipedia, Kurtis Blow official website, YouTube and Elder of the Soul Review Board, Paradise Gray]