KURTIS BLOW (Special Guest MC) is one of Hip-Hop’s founding architects and its first superstar. A recording artist, songwriter, producer, DJ, dancer, actor, minister, and advocate, he helped carry Hip-Hop from New York City to the world. In 1979, he became the first rapper signed to a major record label, joining Mercury Records. His debut, “Christmas Rappin’,” sold more than 480,000 copies, and his landmark 1980 single, “The Breaks,” became the first rap recording certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

His catalog includes “Basketball,” “If I Ruled the World,” “AJ Scratch,” “Hard Times,” and “King Holiday.” He has released more than ten albums and contributed to the production of more than 200 recordings. His influence extends to Wyclef Jean, The Fat Boys, and Run-DMC. Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons began as his DJ, “The Son of Kurtis Blow.” His starring role in “Krush Groove” helped bring Hip-Hop to the big screen, and he became its first national commercial spokesman through Sprite. For more than a decade, Kurtis has been MC and special guest performer for The Hip Hop Nutcracker. In 2019, the production featuring Kurtis earned a New York Emmy Award, recognizing his role as host. Connecting Tchaikovsky’s score and contemporary Hip Hop dance with the culture’s history and authenticity, Kurtis brings “Christmas Rappin’” to a new generation.

An ordained minister, he led the Hip Hop Church movement for nearly two decades. He is founder and Executive Director of the Hip Hop Alliance and helped establish The Hip Hop Museum, where he serves as Chairman Emeritus. He received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 and was named a Hip Hop Grandmaster Honoree by the Paid In Full Foundation in 2026. His work reflects a lifelong commitment to creativity, service, and Hip-Hop’s future.