Kurtis Blow Net Worth

Publish date: 2024-06-15

Kurt Walker net worth is
$5 million

Kurt Walker Wiki Biography

Kurt Walker was born on 9 August 1959, in Harlem, New York City USA, and is a record producer and rapper, best remembered for having been the first rapper to sign with a major record label, and the first rapper to find commercial success. His 1980 debut album which contains the song “The Breaks” is the first ever certified gold rap song. All of his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it is today.

How rich is Kurtis Blow? As of mid-2016, sources estimate a net worth that is at $5 million, mostly earned through a successful career in the rap music industry. Throughout his career, he’s released over 15 albums, and then later on found his calling as a minister. All of these have ensured the position of his wealth.

Kurtis Blow Net Worth $5 million

Kurtis started off as a DJ under the name Kool DJ Kurt, while also working as a disco performer. In 1979, he signed with the label Mercury and became the first rapper in history to be signed under a record label; his initial song entitled “Christmas Rappin” sold over 500,000 copies, and later his follow up “The Breaks” which was under his debut album also sold over 500,000. Thanks to his popularity, he then performed overseas and became the first rapper to ever do so. Over the next eleven years, he would continue to release more albums. These include “Deuce” which reached top 50 in the charts, “Party Time” which was a rap fusion song and the album “Ego Trip” which had several hit songs. The song “If I Ruled the World” would become successful and reached the fifth spot on the Billboard R&B Chart. However, as the 1990s grew nearer, his rap career started to decline and he moved on to production work.

After transitioning to production, he started working with other groups and helped make hits for Run DMC. He also worked with The Fat Boys, Full Force, Wyclef Jean, and Rene & Angele. In 1986, he helped release the song “King Holiday” which was created to celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday. Kurtis then tried his hand at acting, becoming part of “Knights of the City” and “Krush Groove”. He also became the co-producer of “Das Leben Amerikanischer Gangs” which was about West Coast gangs. In 1998, he participated in “The History of Rap” which was a three volume release.

Around this time in the 1990s, he began working with various groups and churches, becoming a spokesperson against racism. Kurtis was also honored for his music achievements and in 2002, travelled to the Middle East to perform for the Armed Forces in numerous shows. In 2009, he became an ordained minister and founded The Hip Hop Church which he uses his talents as a musician; he serves as a worship leader, DJ, rapper, and minister of the church. One of his latest projects is “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” which is a production that toured during November 2015.

For his personal life, there is no public information on any relationships urtis may have had. It is known that Kurtis became such an icon in the rap and music industry that he is regularly featured in pop culture. He’s been referenced by Ice Cube, Notorious BIG, 50 Cent, and Snoop Dogg. His music is also still featured in various forms of media such as video games. Aside from these, Kurtis is the first rapper to ever break the million dollar mark, making him the first millionaire rapper.


Full NameKurtis Blow
Net Worth$5 million
Date Of BirthAugust 9, 1959
Place Of BirthHarlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
ProfessionRapper
EducationCity College of New York, Nyack College
NationalityAmerican
SiblingsJoseph Blow
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/kurtisblow1
MySpacehttps://myspace.com/kurtisblow3
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0089423/
MoviesRhyme & Reason; In Dark Places; Breaking Out: The Alcatraz Concert; Hip Hop Legends; Kurtis Blow: The Hip Hop Anniversary Tour: Live in Cologne 2008 2008
TV ShowsHip-Hop Evolution
#Fact
1Has not released an album since 1988's "Back by Popular Demand".
2One of the personalities mentioned in the song Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club. The others mentioned were James Brown, Bob Marley, Smokey Robinson, 'Hamilton Bohannon', Bootsy Collins, and Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar (as Sly and Robbie) and 'Robert 'Robbie' Shakespeare' (as Sly and Robbie).
3Changed his name to Kurtis Blow (as in a body blow) at the suggestion of his manager, future rap mogul Russell Simmons.
4Currently a DJ on Backspin 43, which is the old school hip hop station on the Sirius Satellite Radio service.
5The first hip hop musician embraced by the mainstream advertising industry with his appearance in a commercial for the soft drink Sprite.
6He co-wrote songs with The Fat Boys, including their signature songs, "Fat Boys" (1984) and "The Fat Boys Are Back" (1985).
7He has duet with rock icon Bob Dylan called "Street Rock", which appeared on Blow's 1986 album, Kingdom Blow.
8In 1980, he opened for reggae legend Bob Marley at the Madison Square Garden where he performed for an audience of 20,000.
9He was the first rapper to record a full length album on a major label (1979).
10He began his career in New York City in the mid-1970s, when he was a breakdancer until switching to DJing under the name Kool DJ Kurt and then finally rapping.
11Was the first hip-hop MC to be signed by a major label, which in this case was Mercury/PolyGram Records.
12Hip-hop artist

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The GoldbergsTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2016 writer - 1 episode, 2016
Danville 2nd Ward Young MenTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2014 writer - 1 episode, 2014
22nd Annual Trumpet Awards2014TV Special performer: "The Breaks" / writer: "The Breaks"
One Hit Wonderland2012TV Series documentary writer - 1 episode
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap2012Documentary performer: "The Breaks" / writer: "The Breaks"
Dance Central 22011Video Game performer: "The Breaks"
It's Kind of a Funny Story2010performer: "The Breaks" / writer: "The Breaks" - as Kurt Walker
Angel Camouflaged2010performer: "I'm Tired" Angel Camouflaged Remix, "Gimme Three Steps"
Welcome to the 80's2009TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Notorious2009writer: "The Breaks" - as Kurt Walker
Beautiful Losers2008Documentary performer: "The Blow"
Everybody Hates ChrisTV Series performer - 4 episodes, 2005 - 2007 writer - 3 episodes, 2005 - 2007
Scarface: The World Is Yours2006Video Game "The Breaks"
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City2002Video Game performer: "The Breaks" / writer: "The Breaks"
Like Mike2002writer: "Basketball" - as Kurt Walker
Empire2002writer: "Games People Play"
Saturday Night Live2000TV Series writer - 1 episode
In Dark Places1997performer: "Let's Dance" / writer: "Let's Dance", "I Wanna Freak You"
Soul Food1997performer: "The Breaks" / writer: "The Breaks" - as Kurt Walker
The Jerky Boys1995performer: "Dial a Jam" / writer: "Dial a Jam" - as Kurt Walker
Knights of the City1986performer: "Kurtis Blow Rap"
Krush Groove1985lyrics: "If I Ruled The World" / music: "If I Ruled The World", "Pump It Up - Let's Get Funky", "All You Can Eat", "Fat Boys" / performer: "If I Ruled The World", "Krush Groovin'" / writer: "Krush Groovin'" - as K. Blow
Top of the PopsTV Series performer - 1 episode, 1980 writer - 1 episode, 1980

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Da Jammies2015TV SeriesKurtis Flow / Momo's Security #1
California Dreamers2013King Kurtis
The Benita Show2011TV Series
Kings of Hip Hop: The Founders2004Video
In Dark Places1997Piano Player

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Slippin': Ten Years with the Bloods2005Documentary associate producer

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Krush Groove1985music supervisor

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
G-Funk2016Documentary filming
Hip Hop Evolution2016DocumentaryHimself
The Power of Soul2015DocumentaryHimself
22nd Annual Trumpet Awards2014TV SpecialHimself
Reach Around Radio2013TV SeriesHimself
The Hot 102011TV SeriesHimself - Guest
2011 Soul Train Awards2011TV SpecialHimself
Way Black When: Primetime2011TV SeriesHimself - Performer
Unsung2010TV Series documentaryHimself
White Lines and the Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug2010Documentary shortHimself - Hip-Hop Icon
VH1 Rock Docs2010TV SeriesHimself
The Mo'Nique Show2009TV SeriesHimself
Welcome to the 80's2009TV Series documentaryHimself
Baisden After Dark2007TV SeriesHimself
The (White) Rapper Show2007TV SeriesHimself
Breaking the Rules2006DocumentaryHimself
Disco: Spinning the Story2005Video documentaryHimself
Showtime at the Apollo2005TV SeriesHimself - Musical Guest
Sex 'n' Pop2004TV Mini-Series documentaryHimself
Il segreto del giaguaro2000Himself
Breaking Out: The Alcatraz Concert1998Documentary
Soul Train1980-1997TV Series documentaryHimself / Guest
Rhyme & Reason1997DocumentaryHimself
The Show1995DocumentaryHimself
Rapmania: The Roots of Rap1990TV Movie documentaryHimself
Square One Television1987TV SeriesHimself
Sun City: Artists United Against Apartheid1986Video documentaryHimself
Knights of the City1986Himself
New American Bandstand 19651986TV SeriesHimself
Artists United Against Apartheid: Sun City1985Video shortHimself (uncredited)
Krush Groove1985Himself
New York, New York1981TV SeriesHimself
Top of the Pops1980TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2003Black ReelBlack Reel AwardsBest SongLike Mike (2002)
1989Kids' Choice AwardKids' Choice Awards, USAFavorite Male Singer/Group
1986Razzie AwardRazzie AwardsWorst Original SongKrush Groove (1985)

Known for movies


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