The Holy Spirit of Breaks

Though his early career is defined by hits like "These Are the Breaks" (1980) and "If I Ruled the World" (1985), the charismatic Kurtis Blow now defers to a higher authority, preaching the Christian gospel. He co-founded the Hip-Hop Church, held at the Greater Hood Memorial AME Church in Harlem. And while Reverend Run (of Run DMC fame) might have been the first rap star to become a preacher, Blow gave Run his start; in his early DJ days, Joseph Simmons was known as "the son of Kurtis Blow." Blow set some other major precedents in the rap world as well. Among them: First rapper to get a major-label deal, produce his own records, and make a million dollars.

With the exception of Afrika Bambaataa, who is similarly open-minded about crossing boundaries, Kurtis Blow is one of the few of hip hop's old-school legends who has found longevity by embracing the younger breakbeat, electro, and drum 'n' bass sounds of which they were some of the principal architects. Blow's been sampled gazillions of times by hip-hop artists large and small (most notably the Beastie Boys and Public Enemy), but he's also one of the godfatherly voices snatched and pasted onto many a dance tune.

A couple choice examples: Coldcut scratched in a snippet of Blow's "Party Time" for "Say Kids, What Time Is It?" — the whimsically sampladelic song cited as vital in spawning Britain's breakbeat scene. Chemical Brothers sampled "These Are the Breaks" in 2000 for "It Began in Africa," and the next year another U.K. duo, A. Skillz and Krafty Kuts, invited the entertainer to record with them, resulting in "Gimme the Breaks," a spiced-up take on the original that revitalized Blow's place in the new school.

Despite his spiritual direction, Kurtis Blow still knows how to party. His appearance at Mighty this week for a night dedicated to the funkiest of breaks will feature a "free special cocktail on Kurtis for the ladies." That's apparently what would happen if — with respect to the Man Above — he ruled the world.