Artist Dossier
Kurtis Blow
Origin: Harlem, New York City, New York, USA · Active Years: 1979-present
A detailed catalogue profile for Kurtis Blow.
In this archive
3 album / credit record(s) · Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop / Electro-Funk
American rapper, songwriter and producer (born Kurtis Walker, August 9, 1959 in Harlem, New York City) who in 1979 became the first rapper signed to a major label, Mercury Records. His single 'The Breaks' became the first certified gold rap record, and his 1980 self-titled debut album made him hip-hop's first solo star; he went on to release ten albums through the 1980s and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.
Campaign routes
Follow record campaigns, fan prompts, and published stories connected to this artist’s catalogue.
Open Campaign Engine →Watch & listen
No verified official video linked here yet — we only embed sources confirmed against the official channel, never a guessed upload. Jump to a YouTube search to find an official session or clip.
Search YouTube ↗Photo & Visual Gallery
Complete 1980s Studio Discography
8 studio albums released from 1980–1989 by Kurtis Blow. Archived records link directly to full dossiers; remaining releases are queued for harvesting. MusicBrainz source.
80s discography & production credits in the archive
How to use this dossier
Start with a record, follow its campaign into a fan action, then return to the Fan Zone with the production detail, pressing question, or discography connection worth discussing.