Kurtis Blow

Kurtis Blow (born Kurt Walker) is an American rapper and hip-hop pioneer who rose to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He is widely recognized for early hits including “The Breaks,” one of rap’s first commercially successful singles. Blow is also noted for being the first rapper signed to a major record label, Mercury Records, helping bring hip-hop to a broader mainstream audience. His energetic performances and party-oriented style made him a key figure in rap’s formative years. Beyond recording, he has been credited with influencing later generations of artists through his early visibility and crossover success.