Kurtis Blow is, remarkably, only 67 years old. To place that in perspective, Jay-Z, who released his debut album in 1996, is approaching 57, while Run—who famously introduced himself to the world as “the Son of Kurtis Blow”—is 61. Yet, the Harlem native’s influence remains foundational. At the close of the 1970s, he became the first rapper to sign with a major label, setting a precedent for the industry.
His debut single, “Christmas Rappin’,” served as a narrative counterpoint to the ubiquitous and more freeform “Rapper’s Delight.” While the track was overtly comical, the man born Kurtis Walker was drawing from a deep well of cultural history. His communications studies at CCNY had focused on West African griots, who traveled from village to village, reimagining the narrative power of song—a tradition he effectively translated into the burgeoning medium of hip-hop.
This weekend, the Paid In Full Foundation will honor Kurtis Blow in Las Vegas, celebrating a career that bridged the gap between oral tradition and modern commercial music. His journey remains a testament to the enduring power of the genre he helped build.