Kurtis Blow

USA, 1976–now

The first commercially successful rapper — 'The Breaks' (1980) was hip-hop's first certified-gold record; Run of Run-DMC was once his teenage DJ, billed 'the Son of Kurtis Blow'.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Kurtis Blow and 1 artist Kurtis Blow influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Kurtis Blow?

• DJ Kool Herc — Kurtis Blow came up in DJ Kool Herc's break-driven Bronx parties — he credits Herc, the 'Father of Hip Hop', as the source of the culture he helped commercialise.
• James Brown — James Brown's funk breaks were the raw material of the block-party sound Kurtis Blow rapped over.

Which artists did Kurtis Blow influence?

• Run-DMC — Run (Joseph Simmons) DJed for Kurtis Blow as a teenager, billed 'the Son of Kurtis Blow' — the direct apprenticeship that grounded Run-DMC in hip-hop.