Kurtis Walker, professionally known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record/film producer, b-boy, DJ, public speaker and minister. He is the first commercially successful rapper and the first to sign with a major record label. "The Breaks", a single from his 1980 self-titled debut album, is the first certified gold record rap song. Throughout his career he has released 17 albums and is currently an ordained minister.
The Fat Boys were an American hip hop trio from Brooklyn, New York, who emerged in the early 1980s. The group was briefly known originally as the Disco 3, originally composed of Mark "Prince Markie Dee" Morales, Damon "Kool Rock-Ski" Wimbley, and Darren "Buff Love" Robinson.
Krush Groove is a 1985 American musical comedy-drama film distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures that was written by Ralph Farquhar and directed by Michael Schultz. This film is loosely based on the early days of Def Jam Recordings and up-and-coming record producer Russell Simmons, portrayed by Blair Underwood in his feature film debut. Simmons was the film's co-producer and story consultant; he also had a cameo in the film as a club owner named Crocket.
David Franklin Reeves Jr. is an American musician, DJ, and producer best known for his work in cooperation with Run-DMC, Kurtis Blow, The Fat Boys, and Jam Master Jay. An early associate of Russell Simmons and Larry Smith, Dave first made his name in the 1980s.
Likwidation is the third studio album by American hip hop group Tha Alkaholiks. It was released on August 26, 1997 via Loud Records. Recording sessions took place at Enterprise Studio in Burbank, California, at Yo Mama's House and at Sound Castle Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Production was primarily handled by member E-Swift, as well as Madlib, Easy Mo Bee, T-Smoov, and Marley Marl. It features guest appearances from Xzibit, Keith Murray, King Tee, Lootpack, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Phil da Agony, The WhoRidas, with cameos from DeBarge, LL Cool J and Nas. The album peaked at number 57 on the Billboard 200 and number 15 on Top R&B Albums. Its lead single, "Hip Hop Drunkies", became the group's biggest hit in 1997, peaking at #66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Operation: Get Down is the second solo studio album by American rapper Craig Mack. It was released in June 1997 through Street Life Records. Recording sessions took place at Santa Monica Sound Recorders in California. Production was handled by Al West, Demarie "Meech" Sheki, Prince Markie Dee, Johnny "J", Ty Fyffe, and Eric B., who also served as executive producer. It features contributions from Demarie Sheki, PJ DeMarks, La Shawn Monet and Natasha Barr. The album peaked at number 46 on the Billboard 200 and number 17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States. Its lead single "What I Need" was a minor success reaching #103 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #55 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Fat Boys is the self-titled debut studio album by American hip hop group the Fat Boys, released on May 29, 1984, by Sutra Records. It was produced by Kurtis Blow. The album is dedicated to the memory of Rebecca Wimbley and William (Divine) Santos. It peaked at number 48 on the US Billboard 200, and number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on May 6, 1985.
Disorderlies is a 1987 screwball comedy feature film starring the rap group, The Fat Boys, and Ralph Bellamy. The film was directed by Michael Schultz who previously directed The Fat Boys in Krush Groove.
Can You Feel Me is the third studio album by American rapper Dru Down. It was released in 1996 through C-Note/Relativity Records. Recording sessions took place at Infinite Studios in Alameda, at Backroom Studios in Glendale, at Power Play Studios in Oakland, at The Grill in Emeryville, at Umoja Vibe, at Bosko's Digital Chicken And Beats in Los Angeles, and at Blackhole Studio near Los Angeles. Production was handled by DJ Fuze, Alonzo Jackson, Lev Berlak, The Whole 9, Maurice "Butch" Stewart, Big D the Impossible, Bosko, DJ Battlecat, DJ Daryl, Jamiel Hassan, Kenny McCloud, Soopafly and Terry T, with Chris "C&H" Hicks serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Luniz, Bootsy Collins, Eklipze, Knucklehead, L.V., Nick Nac, Poppa LQ and T-Luni. The album peaked at number 54 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 14 on the Top R&B Albums chart in the United States. It spawned two singles: "Can You Feel Me" and "Baby Bubba". Its lead single reached #92 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
Mark Anthony Morales, better known by the stage name Prince Markie Dee, was an American rapper. He was a member of the Fat Boys, a pioneering hip hop group that gained fame during the 1980s. Morales was the vice-president of Uncle Louie Music Group.
"Hold It Now, Hit It" is a song by American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released as the first single from their debut album Licensed to Ill. It is also remixed on the album New York State of Mind.
"Basketball" is a rap song written by William Waring, Robert Ford, Kurtis Blow, J. B. Moore, Jimmy Bralower, and Full Force and recorded by Kurtis Blow, released in 1984 from his album Ego Trip.
America is the sixth album by rapper Kurtis Blow, released in 1985 on Mercury Records. The album includes the song "If I Ruled the World" from the film Krush Groove, Blow's biggest hit since "The Breaks" and one of the last of his musical career. The album was the first album Kurtis Blow produced in a new deal with Polygram Records that gave Kurtis the title, 'Hip Hop's First Millionaire". The album was released in an era when old school hip hop was being overtaken by a harder sound and attitude. The album includes the first sample loop which revolutionized the music industry. The single, "If I Ruled the World", reached number 24 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1986.
Ego Trip is an album by the rapper Kurtis Blow, released in 1984 on Mercury Records. The only charting singles were "8 Million Stories," which peaked at 45 on the Hot Black Singles chart, and "Basketball," which peaked at 71 on the Hot 100.
Juice is the debut album by Oran "Juice" Jones. It was released in 1986 through Def Jam Recordings and was the first R&B album the label ever released. The album peaked at No. 44 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, while the album's lead single "The Rain" reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold on October 7, 1991.
Darren Robinson, also known as Big Buff, Buff Love, Buffy, The Human Beat Box, The Ox That Rocks, and DJ Doctor Nice, was a rapper, beatboxer, and actor who was a member of the 1980s hip hop group The Fat Boys. He, along with Doug E. Fresh and others, were pioneers of beatboxing, a form of vocal percussion used in many rap groups throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Big & Beautiful is the third studio album by the hip hop group the Fat Boys, released in May 1986 through Sutra Records; it was their last release on the label.
Run-DMC was an American hip hop group from Hollis, Queens, New York City, founded in 1983 by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell. Run-DMC is regarded as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture and especially one of the most famous hip hop acts of the 1980s. Along with Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and Public Enemy, the group pioneered new-school hip hop music. The group was among the first to highlight the importance of the MC and DJ relationship.
Coming Back Hard Again is an album by the American hip hop trio the Fat Boys, released in 1988.
h is the debut self-titled album by Japanese producer DJ Honda. It was released on July 1, 1995 via Sony Records in Japan and on July 2, 1996 via Relativity Records worldwide. Audio production of the album was solely handled by DJ Honda, except for two tracks of its Japanese version co-produced with DJ Aladdin. It featured guest appearances from various hip hop artists, including Afrika Bambaataa, Biz Markie, Common, Def Jef, Donald D, Erick Sermon, Fat Joe, Gang Starr, Grand Puba, Kurtis Blow, Melle Mel, Prince Whipper Whip, Redman, Sadat X, Tha Alkaholiks and The Beatnuts among others.
