COLUMBIA, SC – July 1, 2023 – Love, Peace & Hip-Hop announced the legendary Kurtis Blow as the 2023 headliner for the long-anticipated return of World Famous Hip Hop Family Day on August 19.

Hailing from Harlem as the first commercially-successful rap artist, Kurtis Blow is a towering figure in hip-hop history. He was the first rapper to sign with a major label, the first with a single certified gold 1980 landmark-hit "The Breaks,” and the first to embark on a national and international concert tour.

Born Kurtis Walker in Harlem in 1959, Kurtis Blow was an integral part of hip-hop culture from its origins -- first as a breakdancer, then as a block-party and club DJ. He became an MC in his own right around 1977 and changed his name to Kurtis Blow.

Blow's second single, "The Breaks," was an instant smash and it still ranks as one of old school rap's greatest hits. Blow followed up “The Breaks” with an appearance in the cult hip-hop film Krush Groove, in which he performed "If I Ruled the World.”

World Famous Hip Hop Family Day returns to the Columbia festival scene at the Koger Center for the Arts at University of South Carolina on Saturday, August 19, 2023 in commemoration of the 50th birthday of hip-hop culture, whose origin date is widely recognized as August 1973.

World Famous Hip-Hop Family Day

Honored by Family Circle Magazine as the Top Family-Friendly Festival in South Carolina and among the Top 50 in the nation, World Famous Hip-Hop Family Day is an unforgettable celebration of music, art, and dance. A FREE, family-first event, this black-owned and operated festival has partnered with respected national, state, and local entities like the City of Columbia, WellCare, HeadCount, AARP, US Army, Columbia Museum of Art, EdVenture Children’s Museum, and Richland Library, the Koger Center for the Arts at the University of South Carolina, and the Ernest A. Finney, Jr. Cultural Arts Center.