The music industry is like a sponge, soaking up everything an artist has to offer and in the case of many doesn’t leave them with much. Them are The Breaks (sorry, couldn’t resist). So it’s heartwarming when an artist is remembered reverently over 30 years later and is still keeping the faith, literally. Such is the case of hip hop’s first true superstar, Kurtis Blow. Emoting like a horse racing announcer, perm dripping oil and espousing nuggets of wisdom, the man born Kurt Walker was a breath of fresh air to a rather stale industry still mired in soft rock. Despite the almost sudden emergence of this dynamic new sound, the pioneer states, “We didn’t encounter much opposition really – people were really supportive.”
Before him the likes of the Sugar Hill Gang and Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five jumpstarted the hip hop revolution in the mainstream, however they were yet to find their solo male star until 19-year-old Kurtis swaggered in. While it may be hard to believe now, Blow was the LL Cool J of his time, a heartthrob highly criticized by the still-macho hip hop crowd for appearing on his album cover bear-chested and attempting to sing.
Managed by future Def Jam Records mastermind Russell Simmons, Blow shot to the top in fairly meteoric fashion, striking a major deal with Mercury and selling millions of copies. “It was pretty much a glorious time for me at 19 years old,” Kurt tells me. “We had no idea it was going to be as big as it was, but I feel blessed everyday since.”
He talked of Basketball, delivered 8 Million Stories from the seedy part of town with protégés Run-DMC and hung out with Santa. Yes it was a time of whimsy, optimism and probably a lotta’ drugs (but not for the ironically named Blow). His engaging spoken word patter nestled snugly with the disco-funk instrumentals of the time, but always a pioneer he was quick to embrace the changing technology and started experimenting with drum machines and helped usher in the use of the sample. He even tried his hand at rap ‘n’ rock, a formula perfected later by Run-DMC and Aerosmith, with a cover of Bachman Turner Overdrive’s Takin’ Care Of Business.
After struggling to repeat the success of his self-titled debut on his second effort, Kurt tried to revamp his image a little with the aptly titled Tough, the cover depicting him standing amongst the decay of a New York housing project, most likely in his backyard of Queens. Unable to help himself though, Kurt manages to not be wearing a shirt under his jacket, doing his best to exude ‘ebony adonis.’
Using his experience to keep the hip hop game thriving, Kurtis took some fresh-faced youngsters looking for an opportunity, just as he was several years earlier, and guided them to the promise land. Along with the aforementioned Run-DMC, the king of Queens also mentored those obese party monsters the Fat Boys and hard-edged R&B crew Full Force (later the bullies from the House Party franchise). The former took things to heights even Kurtis couldn’t have dreamt of, collaborating with the Beach Boys and Chubby Checker. That’s some legitimacy for yo’ ass. He also in his way had a hand in the career of a young Nas, who covered his anthem If I Ruled The World.
The devoutly Christian Kurtis, who is a founder of the Hip Hop Church, opted to bow out of the industry in the late 80s as the scene turned darker. Discussing the church and his work in the community, the newly ordained minister shares, “Like the culture it rises from, the Hip Hop Church is relevant and bold. And it speaks to the heart. It’s like a traditional church service; we have a processional, we have scripture readings, responsive reading, sermons, altar calls, offerings, benediction and a whole lot of gospel rap.” If you’re looking for motivation to praise the Lord, Kurt could have the antidote right there.
While Blow himself is very much up-front about his Christian beliefs, the way faith is expressed throughout the hip hop scene eschews traditional practices. Then you have artists like those crazy Odd Future kids, who have been accused of being devil worshippers. “I can’t tell people what to do, I’m a rapper and I have my style. Coz I’m different to other rappers doesn’t mean there should be any negativity to anyone of any style. They have the freedom of speech to say whatever they want to say.”
Now in 2011 he has a renewed passion and is proud to be an ambassador for what has become a global phenomenon. “Apart from those years I took out, it’s all about keeping the scene fresh with as many flavas as possible,” the man says. Keeping his family in the business, he says “I’m currently working with my son – he keeps me on my toes.” He then explained that he is recording a collaboration with his son, the imaginatively named Kurtis Blow Jnr. They’ll be dropping an album called The Legacy’ “So go check it when it comes out!” he laughs.
When asked what makes for a great live show for him, he exclaims “The fans, genuine lovers of this music and the culture, and the love we should have for each other man. As long as we got that right we got a party!”
