Kurtis Blow Appointed to New York City’s New Nightlife Advisory Board
Hip-hop pioneer Kurtis Blow has been appointed to the new Nightlife Advisory Board of New York City by Mayor Bill de Blasio.
According to a July 12 report from the New York Daily News, the board, which is made up for 14 volunteer members, will work closely with the Office of Nightlife to reform regulations and polices that impact bars, clubs, music venues and more. Along with Blow, the panel includes DJs, hospitality advocates and lawyers.
“New York City’s nightlife is second to none. It attracts visitors from around the world and is an economic engine across the five boroughs,” de Blasio said in a statement. “The new Nightlife Advisory Board reflects the diversity that makes our city and our nightlife great. Working together, we will ensure the industry continues to thrive.”
Blow celebrated the news on Twitter, tweeting, "Great news from Mayor de Blasio! Praise God!!!"
Other appointees to the advisory board include Brooklyn-based DJ Tikka Masala, José Francisco Ávila, founder and managing member of Garufina Afro-Latina Entertainment and Luisa Torres, owner of Mojitos Restaurant Bar.
As part of their new job, members of the board will offer recommendations to de Blasio on topics such as the regulatory structure of the nightlife industry, as well as common complaints about venues and public safety concerns. Board members will serve two-year terms.
With a career that dates back to 1979, Kurtis Blow is no stranger to New York City's nightlife. Raised in Harlem, Blow made a name for himself in New York, thanks to songs such as "Christmas Rappin'" and "The Breaks."
The old-school MC has also been an outspoken supporter of some of rap's newer names such as Future, Kendrick Lamar and David Banner. In a 2018 Reddit AMA, Blow said, “I’d say Future should get more respect than he does. He’s an incredible rapper that doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Maybe even David Banner, whose activism doesn’t get enough attention.”
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