An American rapper and record producer. He is the first commercially successful rapper and the first to sign with a major record label. ‘The Breaks,’ a single from his 1980 debut album, is the first certified gold record rap song. ~ Wikipedia: Kurtis Blow ~ retrieved August 8, 2013 © Wikipedia

For that matter, he was really the first significant solo rapper on record, and as such he was a natural focal point for many aspiring young MCs in the early days of hip-hop. For all his immense importance and influence, many of Blow's records haven't dated all that well; his rapping technique, limber for its time, simply wasn't as evolved as the more advanced MCs who built upon his style and followed him up the charts. But at his very best, Blow epitomizes the virtues of the old school: ingratiating, strutting party music that captures the exuberance of an art form still in its youth. ~ Allmusic: Kurtis Blow ~ retrieved August 8, 2013 © Allmusic