He became an MC in his own right around 1977, and changed his name to Kurtis Blow (as in a body blow) at the suggestion of his manager, future rap mogul Russell Simmons. Blow 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. He was the first rapper to record a full length album on a major label (1979). This occurred after recording "Christmas Rappin", his first single; during this time, "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang became the first hit for hip hop. The whole field was derided as a fad, though, and thus there was much resistance to signing Blow. In 1980 he opened for reggae legend Bob Marley at the Madison Square Garden where he performed for an audience of 20,000.
He has appeared in several feature films, including Krush Groove and The Show. A duet with rock icon Bob Dylan called "Street Rock", appeared on Blow's 1986 album, Kingdom Blow[1] by special arrangement of Wayne Garfield (Garfield and Blow co-wrote, "Reasons For Wanting You" on Kingdom Blow)[2] and Debra Byrd, American Idol's head vocal coach and former Dylan backup singer (see album credits).[citation needed]
And in 2004, he recorded the song "Hey Everybody" with Max C and Bomfunk MC's for their album, Reverse Psychology. He also co-wrote songs with The Fat Boys, including their signature songs, "Fat Boys" (1984) and "The Fat Boys Are Back" (1985).
Kurtis Blow also became the first hip hop musician embraced by the mainstream advertising industry with his appearance in a commercial for the soft drink Sprite.
He is currently a DJ on Backspin 43, which is the old school hip hop station on the Sirius Satellite Radio service. According to an interview with I Suppose Productions, he is also currently a theology major at Nyack College working to enter the ministry. According to Blow, "Man's real telos... the real purpose in life, is to serve God."
Starlife
Kurtis Blow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you make the scene
If you've got the jones
For a limousine
Forget your worries
And the wya things are
Spend a day in the life
Of a superstar!
Star life
Staarraarraarr life
Star life
Staarraarraarr life
On Monday morning, he checks the news
He's number one in rhythm and blues
From record to record he tops the sheet
And the other stars cannot compete
He hits the notes that are so high
The men just stare and the women cry
They come to see him from near and far
The man they made a superstar
The genuine owner of twenty cars
Spends all his days among the stars
And when he's got to cool out and chill
Got a brand new house at the top of the hill
One of a kind, not even two
Push button down with an open view
And every room's got a new TV
And every dog's got a pedigree
Livin' every day in the life of a star
Star life!
Star life!
Huh!
He's got a mansion up in Beverly Hills
With a great big swimming pool
Got a townhouse back in old New York
Where he used to go to school
And some folks say
He's got his own chalet
If he wants to go and ski
And a house in France
For a little romance
Outside of gay Pari!
Ha ha, ha ha!
Star life
Staarraarraarr life
Star life
Staarraarraarr life
Star life
Staarraarraarr life
Star life
Staarraarraarr life
Wherever he goes, he sets the mood
With the fly, fly clothes and the fancy food
All over the town with the pretty girl
He makes the scene and he rocks the world
He's makin' money, maybe even the most
With the bass that's known from coast to coast
He gets the best; he gets it all
He's got fifty gold records up on the wall!
The song "Starlife" by Kurtis Blow is a celebration of the luxurious and lavish lifestyle that comes with being a superstar. The lyrics suggest that if you are someone who loves to party, make an appearance at every event, and have a taste for the high life, then a day in the life of a superstar is just what you need to forget your worries about the way things are. The song paints a picture of a life filled with endless riches, adoration from fans, and the most extravagant possessions.
As the song progresses, it highlights the daily routine of a successful musician, who checks the news and sees himself topping the charts. The lyrics also mention the superstar's impressive collection of cars, lavish homes in different parts of the world, and the ability to travel wherever he wants. Despite all the glitz and glamour, the song suggests that being a superstar also comes with a lot of hard work, with the musician constantly pushing himself to perform at his best.
Line by Line Meaning
If you party hearty
If you enjoy partying and having a good time
If you make the scene
If you socialize and attend popular events
If you've got the jones
If you have the strong desire or craving
For a limousine
For a luxury car typically associated with wealthy or famous people
Forget your worries
Stop worrying about your problems or concerns
And the wya things are
And the current situation or circumstances
Spend a day in the life
Experience what it's like to be
Of a superstar!
Of someone who is extremely popular, successful, and famous
He's number one in rhythm and blues
He is the top artist in the rhythm and blues music genre
From record to record he tops the sheet
He consistently has hit songs that rank number one on the music charts
And the other stars cannot compete
Other famous musicians are unable to match his success
He hits the notes that are so high
He can sing very high-pitched notes
The men just stare and the women cry
His fans are in awe of his talent and are emotionally moved by his music
They come to see him from near and far
His fans travel a long distance just to see him perform live
The man they made a superstar
His fans made him into a celebrity and gave him his fame and success
Spends all his days among the stars
He spends all of his time with other famous people
Got a brand new house at the top of the hill
He recently acquired a luxurious mansion located at the highest point in the area
One of a kind, not even two
His house is unique and one-of-a-kind, there is no second one like it
Push button down with an open view
There is a button that lowers a screen with a magnificent view
And every room's got a new TV
Each room in the house has a new television
And every dog's got a pedigree
Even the dogs in his house are purebred and come from a distinguished ancestry
Livin' every day in the life of a star
Experiencing the lifestyle of someone who is extremely famous and successful
He's got a mansion up in Beverly Hills
He owns a large and luxurious house located in a wealthy area of Los Angeles
With a great big swimming pool
The house also includes an expansive and impressive pool
Got a townhouse back in old New York
In addition to his mansion, he also owns a smaller and more modest house in New York City
Where he used to go to school
This is where he attended school in his younger years
And some folks say
There are rumors that suggest
He's got his own chalet
He also has a private and luxurious cottage located in the mountains
If he wants to go and ski
He can go skiing whenever he wishes to do so
And a house in France
He also owns another house located in France
For a little romance
This is where he can go to spend time with a significant other
Outside of gay Pari!
The house in France is located outside of Paris
Wherever he goes, he sets the mood
People's attitudes and feelings are influenced by his presence and actions
With the fly, fly clothes and the fancy food
He wears stylish and fashionable clothing, and only eats high-quality and luxurious food
All over the town with the pretty girl
He is frequently seen around town with an attractive female companion
He makes the scene and he rocks the world
He is very popular and influential in his industry
He's makin' money, maybe even the most
He is earning an incredibly large sum of money, possibly more than anyone else
With the bass that's known from coast to coast
His music is popular and recognized across the entire United States
He gets the best; he gets it all
He has the best of everything and always gets exactly what he wants
He's got fifty gold records up on the wall!
He has achieved an incredible amount of success by earning fifty gold records, which are awards for selling millions of copies of a single or album
Contributed by Hunter J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jeff Carter
on Rappin' Blow
Those aren't the full lyrics. What are the lyrics after the "Ho, ho's"?