This guy can't rap for beans, The breaks is so stupid its not even funny, Plus he sounds like one of the Muppets.
August 21, 2005this album sounds more like a disco album then a rap album but its still good to me as its one of the FIRST FIRST RAp artist to be solo. and since i bought it only for 6.99 not so bad.
May 14, 2005 |  | An important artifact from hip-hop history |  |
In addition to being one of the first rap albums, this was the first rap album to have any kind of impact on the album charts. This album contains "The Break," which was the album's hit, as well as other notable tracks, such as "Hard Times," which was covered a few years later by the Son of Kurtis Blow's group, Run-DMC, on their first album. This album establishes Kurtis Blow as one of rap's first hit makers (by 1980 standards), and though the music on the album is generally disco-styled music played by a live band, rather than a DJ, this album gives a good insight into what was growing in the streets of New York. Also, an interesting track here is Kurtis's take on the BTO song, "Taking Care of Business".
February 26, 2005Kurtis Blow was one of the first rappers to have a full album and this was the first rap record to come out on a major label (Mercury). 1980 also saw the release of the Sugar Hill Gang's classic "Rapper's Delight". A few years later, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five would release "The Message" and in 1984, RUN DMC "said a DJ could be a band" (to quote Chuck D) and the rest is history. If you're looking to start or expand your old school rap collection, Kurtis Blow must be in it somewhere. This his is debut album which originally featured only 7 songs. Only 5 were actually rap tracks, but the ones that are here are all great. "The Breaks" is one of Blow's most classic. "Throughout" & "Rappin Blow, pt 2" are definite standouts. You may recognize "Hard Times" because RUN DMC did another version of it on their debut. "All I Want in This World" is a sappy soul song and "Takin' Care of Business" is Blow's take on the BTO hit. Both of these seem to slow down the album, but the remastered version with bonus tracks "Christmas Rappin" and an instrumental version of "The Breaks" makes it end on a much better note. For those new to Kurtis, I recommend you start with a hits collection, the best of them being Funk Essential's 1994 release "The Best of Kurtis Blow" which features 14 of his most essential music including 3 from this album, not to mention later hits like "Basketball" & "If I Ruled the World". In fact, that may be the definitive Kurtis Blow album and it's definitely the place to start with him. I don't want to take emphasis away from his debut because it's a great album and there's no question of it's historical importance.
A Few Highlights from the 1980s Rap Timeline:
1980 - Kurtis Blow & Sugar Hill Gang
1982 - Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5
1984 - Run DMC & Jam Master Jay
1985 - LL Cool J
1986 - The Beastie Boys
1987 - Public Enemy
1989 - De La Soul
October 26, 2004 | | You had to have been there for this | |
Since Kurtis Blow's vocal talents were considerably limited, this CD will appeal primarily to people who, like myself, were teenagers at the time who grooved to this the first time around. "Throughout Your Years" sounded great when I was 15, but the Bullwinkle-style delivery makes it sound unbearably corny today. One listen to this makes it clear why Run-DMC were more successful with their version of "Hard Times." Fortunately, the full-length version of "Christmas Rappin'" (arguably his best record) and the second-runner up "The Breaks" is here. Both of these tunes are/were a lot of fun, but as for the rest-you've been warned!
October 17, 2001More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(11 reviews)