Kurtis Blow

“To have a gold record for a rap song was unheard of.”

“I was the first rapper to sign to a major label, Mercury Records.”

“The DJ is the backbone of hip-hop.”

“We were the first generation of hip-hop.”

“When you're rapping, you're not just saying words; you're telling a story.”

“Rap is something you do, hip-hop is something you live.”

“You could be a kid from the ghetto, you could have no education, you could be a dropout, but if you had a rhyme and a beat, you could be a star.”

“Basketball is my favorite sport, and I'm a crazy Knicks fan.”

“You gotta keep it real, you gotta be true to yourself.”

“Hip-hop has always been about peace, love, unity, and having fun.”

“I wanted to be the biggest star in the world, not the biggest rapper.”

“Hip-hop is a cultural music. It is a way of life.”

“Hip-hop saved my life, man. It's the only thing I've ever been good at.”

“Clap your hands everybody, if you got what it takes, 'cause I'm Kurtis Blow and I want you to know that these are the breaks!”

“I'm a minister now, so I try to bring a positive message to the music.”