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The legendary Kurtis Blow has been “Takin’ Care of Business” for decades. Not only did he introduce hip-hop to the mainstream, he revolutionized “turntablism” at the same time, while also launching the career of his own Rev Run, the founder of his Run DMC.
curtis blow
Courtesy of Curtis Blow“This ‘Nutcracker’ is a modern take on that classic, with a mouse king, in this case a mouse queen,” Blow said in a phone interview. “All of these pieces are still out there.
Coincidentally, 1980 was also the year Blow first took this revolutionary new art form to the national stage, opening for The Commodores.
“We brought a hip-hop realism to that tour. Two turntables and a mic. My DJ and me. I cried! And by the end of every performance. People were yelling ‘hey’ and ‘ho’ and ‘everyone screaming’. By the middle of the tour, Lionel Richie came out and led people to do it.”
So how can you repurpose a timeless Christmas show from there for dancers everywhere?
“After my show about 12 years ago, I was approached with an idea,” Blow said. They were doing breakdancing, doing headspins and windmills and air twists and backspins and popping and rocking. When I heard and saw I was sold, I had to be a part of it.”
A scene from “Hip-Hop The Nutcracker.”
Sherrill Mann/Contributed PhotoThe holiday mashup for the whole family is arguably better than ever in its tenth year.
“There’s a star-studded list of artists who have modernized this classic story, and Tchaikovsky’s music is still there,” Blow said. “It’s a great fusion of classical music and hip-hop. Classic he has funky beats over an orchestra. It’s really great to hear and see.”
The late Stephen “tWitch” Boss was part of the performance, as was hip-hop legend Lev Ran.
“He was my DJ. We were working in New York City and he was very young at the time. Like 16 or 17.” “He wanted to DJ with one arm, but his father objected and said he had to go to school,” Bro said. We used to play basketball together and they called the group Run DMC. “
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