Kurtis Blow - Christmas Rappin' (Mercury Records 1979)



A collaboration of Russell Simmons and Kurtis Blow in 1979, this came about as a need by Russell to make money and the easiest way yo make money back then was through music. 

It was released on December 7th and also the first Hip Hop song to be released on a major record label. 

Kurtis Blow recorded it with the help of producers Robert Ford and J.B. Moore. They took it to Mercury Records, who signed Kurtis to a two-single deal, under the condition that if both singles were successful, he would get an album deal. "Christmas Rappin'" was the first single, and it did very well, selling about 400,000 copies and proving there was a viable market for the upstart genre. The second single was "The Breaks," which became the first rap song certified Gold for selling over 500,000 copies. Kurtis got the album deal and became the first rapper signed to a major label.

The first Christmas rap with the story outline of Santa dropping in at a house party and joining in the fun.