Episode 219: Kurtis Blow Show/Hide Search
00:00 / 56:24
Kurtis Blow was the first rap superstar. He was the first rapper to be signed to a major label and the first one to have a gold single with “The Breaks.” But his career is a whole lot more than just that song and “Christmas Rappin’.” Even before stardom, Blow was a busy DJ and performer who was sharing bills with the likes of old-school legends DJ Hollywood and Eddie Cheeba.
And after he broke big—with the help of his manager Russell Simmons—Blow stayed on top, releasing a long string of albums through most of the 1980s and also producing for other artists like the Fat Boys and Oran “Juice” Jones.
Tracks featured in this episode:
- Full Force, “United”
- Run-DMC, “King of Rock”
- Fat Boys, “Fat Boys are Back”
- Fat Boys, “Hard Core Reggae”
- Fat Boys, “Rock ‘N’ Roll”
- Fat Boys, “Human Beat Box”
- Kurtis Blow, “Basketball”
- Kurtis Blow, “Christmas Rappin’”
- Kurtis Blow, “Party Time”
- Kurtis Blow, “America”
- Kurtis Blow, “Christmas Rappin’”
- Kurtis Blow, “Way Out West”
- Kurtis Blow, “Takin’ Care of Business”
- Irene Cara, “Fame”
- Eddie Cheeba (Live)
- DJ Hollywood and Starski live at The Armory, 1979
- Melba Moore, “This Is It”
- Fats Waller & His Rhythm, “The Joint Is Jumpin’”
- Love Bug Star Ski & The Harlem World Crew, “Positive Life”
- Dennis Coffey, “Scorpio”
- James Brown, “Funky Drummer - Pt. 1 & 2”
- Kurtis Blow, “Christmas Rappin’”
- Kurtis Blow, “Christmas Rappin’”
- Kurtis Blow, “Christmas Rappin’”
- Kurtis Blow, “Christmas Rappin’”
- Kurtis Blow, “The Breaks”
- Kurtis Blow, “Basketball”
- Kurtis Blow, “Basketball”
- Kurtis Blow, “Basketball”
- Kurtis Blow, “Tough”
- Prince, “When Doves Cry”
- a-ha, “Take On Me”
- Kenny Loggins, “Danger Zone”
- Deniece Williams, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy”
- Bananarama, “Cruel Summer”
- Berlin, “Take My Breath Away”
- Falco, “Rock Me Amadeus”
- Harold Faltermeyer, “Axel F”
- Mr. Mister, “Broken Wings”
- The Pointer Sisters, “Neutron Dance”
- Tears for Fears, “Everybody Wants To Rule The World
- Wham!, “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go”
- Kurtis Blow, “AJ Scratch”
- Trouble Funk, “Pump Me Up”
- Kurtis Blow, “If I Ruled The World”
- Orange Krush, “Action”
- Eric B. & Rakim, “I Know You Got Soul”
- Kurtis Blow, “Suckers in the Place”
- Kurtis Blow, “I’m True to This”
- Kurtis Blow, “Only the Strong Survive”
- Alyson Williams, “Just Call My Name”
- Kurtis Blow, “Street Rock”
- Aerosmith, “Walk This Way”
- Run-DMC f/Aerosmith, “Walk This Way”
- The Whole Darn Family, “Seven Minutes of Funk”
- Kurtis Blow, “Street Rock”
Show notes: