The 45 King
Birth nameMark Howard James
Born(1961-10-16)October 16, 1961[1]
OriginThe Bronx, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 19, 2023(2023-10-19) (aged 62)
East Orange, New Jersey, U.S.[2]
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • disc jockey
Years active1982–2023
Labels
Formerly ofFlavor Unit

Mark Howard James (October 16, 1961 – October 19, 2023), professionally known as The 45 King and also known as DJ Mark the 45 King,[3] was an American hip hop producer and DJ from The Bronx, New York. He began DJing in the mid-1980s. His pseudonym, the 45 King, came from his ability to make beats using obscure 45 RPM records.

Life and career

In November 1989, the re-release of "The King is Here" / "The 900 Number" peaked at #60 in the UK Singles Chart, his only appearance in a UK chart.[4]

In the early 1990s, drug addiction caused him to lose a production deal that he signed with Warner Bros. Records.[5]

In July 1990, Manchester-born DJ Chad Jackson sampled "The 900 Number" on his single "Hear the Drummer (Get Wicked)", which reached #3 in the UK Singles Chart.[6]

In 1996, Washington, D.C.-based go-go artist DJ Kool had a hit with the song "Let Me Clear My Throat". It was call-and-response vocals over a chopped half of the "900 Number" beat. DJ Kool did not just sample the track: he also acknowledged the 45 King as the song's originator.[7]

In 1998, the 45 King produced "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" for Jay-Z. The song was a hit and featured a looped chorus from the original cast album of the Broadway musical Annie. In an interview, Jay-Z spoke on the 45 King's importance to hip hop and called him a true pioneer of the business.[8]

Following the success of Hard Knock Life, the 45 King heard the Dido song "Thank You" in the 1998 film Sliding Doors. He looped the sample and added a bassline, then sent the result to Interscope Records. The recording was later used for the Eminem song "Stan", as the rapper interpreted Dido's lyrics as being about stalking.[9]

The 45 King died on October 19, 2023, at the age of 62.[10]

Selected production credits

  • Chill Rob G – F.U. (Rockin Wit The Best) (featuring Double J, God Lakim, The 45 King) – SpitSLAM Record Label Group, 2022[11]
  • Ghostface Killah – Blood in the Streets (featuring AZ) – Tommy Boy, 2014[12]
  • Fatlip – The Bass Line – Delicious Vinyl, 2005[13]
  • Fatlip – I Got The Shit – Delicious Vinyl, 2005[14]
  • Fatlip – M.I.A. – Delicious Vinyl, 2005[15]
  • Diamond D – U Don't Owe Me – Dymond Mine Records, 2005[16]
  • King Gordy – Nobody Hates Nothin' - Web Entertainment, 2003[17]
  • Biz Markie – Turn Back the Hands of Time – Tommy Boy, 2003[18]
  • Craig Mack – The Wooden Horse – NY.LA Music, 2001[19]
  • Dyme – Ladies Are U Wit Me – Interscope Records, 2001[20]
  • Paula Perry – Y'all Chickens Make Me Laugh – Fully-Blown Recordings, 2000
  • Big Scoob – Can Du – White Label, 2000
  • Eminem – "Stan" – Aftermath/Interscope/Universal, 2000
  • Various Artist Remixes – Rakim – Feeling You; Public Enemy – Bring the Noise, - White Label, 2000
  • Rakim – How I Get Down – Universal Records, 1999
  • Common Sense – Car Horn – Groove Attack, 1999
  • Peanut Butter Wolf – Run the Line (Remix) – Stones Throw, 1998
  • Jay-Z – "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) – Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam/Universal, 1998
  • Fanclub Erdberg – Anton Polster Du Bist Leiwand – Mego, 1997
  • Queen Latifah – Name Callin' – Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1996
  • C&C Music Factory – Do You Wanna Get Funky? (Remix) – Columbia/SME, 1994
  • Ed Lover & Doctor Dré – Who's the Man – Relativity, 1994[21]
  • PMD – Thought I Lost My Spot – RCA/BMG, 1993
  • Diamond D – Best Kept Secret (Remix), Check 1, 2 – Chemistry/Mercury/PolyGram, 1992
  • Apache – Do Fa Self, Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1992
  • Def Jef – Don't Sleep (Open Your Eyes) – Delicious Vinyl, 1991[22]
  • Positively...Practical Jokes – Atlantic, 1991
  • MC Lyte – Big Bad Sister – First Priority Music/Atlantic, 1991[23]
  • MC Lyte – Kamikaze – First Priority Music/Atlantic, 1991[24]
  • MC Lyte – Like a Virgin – First Priority Music/Atlantic, 1991[25]
  • MC Lyte – Absolutely – First Priority Music/Atlantic, 1991[26]
  • Lisa Stansfield – "All Around the World" (Remix) – Arista/BMG, 1990
  • Madonna – "Keep it Together" (Remix) – Sire/Warner Bros., 1990
  • Maestro Fresh Wes – Drop the Needle (Remix) – LMR/RCA Records, 1990
  • Lakim Shabazz – Lost Tribe of Shabazz (album) – Tuff City, 1990
  • Eric B. & Rakim – "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em" (Remix) – MCA, 1990
  • Digital Underground – Packet Man (Remix) – Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1990
  • Queen Latifah – Come Into My House (Mark 45 King Mix) – Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1990
  • Markey Fresh – The Mack of Rap – Jive/RCA, 1989
  • X-Clan – Heed The Word of the Brother – 4th & B'Way/Island/PolyGram, 1989
  • Eric B. & Rakim – "Microphone Fiend" (Remix) – MCA, 1989
  • Salt-N-Pepa – My Mic Sounds Nice (Remix) – Next Plateau/London/PolyGram, 1989
  • Lord Alibaski – Lyrics in Motion / Top Gun – Tuff City, 1989
  • King Sun – Fat Tape, It's A Heat Up – Zakia/Profile, 1989
  • Chill Rob G – Ride the Rhythm (album) – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1989
  • Gang Starr – Gusto, Knowledge – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1989
  • Queen Latifah – All Hail the Queen (album) – Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1989
  • Too Nice – Cold Facts (Remix) – Arista/BMG, 1989
  • Double J – Bless the Funk – 4th & B'Way/Island/PolyGram, 1989
  • Big Daddy Kane – Set It Off – Cold Chillin', 1988[27]
  • Chill Rob G – Chillin' – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1988
  • Lakim Shabazz – Pure Righteousness (album) – Tuff City, 1988
  • Gang Starr – Movin on, Gusto, Knowledge – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1988
  • Latee – No Tricks, Wake Up – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1988
  • Gang Starr – Movin' On, Bust a Move, To Be A Champion – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1987
  • Latee – This Cut's Got Flavor, Puttin' On the Hits – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1987

Discography

  • Westbound Beats[28] – Westbound Records, 2023
  • Back To The Beat Vol. 2[29] – Redefinition Records, 2015
  • Back To The Beat[30] – Redefinition Records, 2014
  • Scion A/V Remix Project[31] – Scion Audio/Visual, 2008
  • The Cat Jams[32] – Tuff City, 2005
  • Beats of the Month – Bronx Science, 2000/2001 (November, December, January, February, March, April, May volumes of "Lost Breakbeat" style beats)
  • Beats for the New Millennium, Vol 1 & 2 – 45 King Records, 2000
  • Put the Funk Out There – Rock-A-Fella, 1999
  • Universal Beat Generation, Vol 1-3 – Ultimate Dilemma, 1998 (European label "The Lost Breakbeats" re-release)
  • Breakapalooza Vol 1 & 2 – Tuff City, 1997
  • Champain – Tuff City, 1997
  • Beats Don't Fail Me Now (12" Single) – CLR Records, 1997
  • Breakamania, Vol 1-3 – Real Tuff Breaks, 1997
  • Grooves for a Quiet Storm – Tuff City, 1996
  • Killer Beets, Vol 1-3 – Music Station, 1996
  • Real Tuff Jazz – Tuff City, 1995
  • Zig-a-Ziggin ZZ – Tuff City, 1995
  • Straight Outta Da Crate, Vol 1-5 – Tuff City, 1993
  • The Lost Breakbeats – 45 King Records, 1993–1996
  • 45 Kingdom – Tuff City, 1990
  • Rhythmical Madness (with DJ Louie Louie) – Tuff City, 1990
  • On A Mission (from "One Voice: Pride") – Ruffhouse, 1990
  • The 45 King Presents: The Flavor Unit – Tuff City, 1990[33]
  • Master of the Game – Tuff City, 1989
  • The King is Here (with Markey Fresh) (12" Single) – Tuff City, 1989
  • Red, Black, and Green (with Lakim Shabazz) (12" Single) – Tuff City, 1989
  • When a Wise Man Speaks/Catching a 'Tude/Rocking With Tony H (12" Single) – Tuff City, 1989
  • The 900 Number EP – Tuff City, 1987[34]
  • Funky Beats '84 – 45 King, 1984
  • Just Beats – 45 King, 1987

References

  1. ↑ "45 King". Twitter.
  2. ↑ "Advanced Search". imdb.
  3. ↑ "The 45 king addressing his stage name". The 45 King's official YouTube channel. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021.
  4. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 208. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ↑ Ettleson, Robbie (August 6, 2015). "The Original Flavor Unit: An Oral History". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  6. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 273. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ↑ "D.J. Kool: Let Me Clear My Throat Story". Success Nothing Less YouTube channel.
  8. ↑ Staff, HHGA (October 20, 2023). "Hip Hop Luminary: DJ Mark The 45 King's Impact On The Culture". Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  9. ↑ Power, Ed (May 22, 2000). "The Stan effect: did Eminem's song about a crazed fan just make fans crazier?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  10. ↑ Price, Joe (October 19, 2023). "DJ Mark the 45 King Reportedly Dead at 62". Complex. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  11. ↑ Empires Crumble
  12. ↑ Blood on the Streets
  13. ↑ The Loneliest Punk
  14. ↑ The Loneliest Punk
  15. ↑ The Loneliest Punk
  16. ↑ The Diamond Mine
  17. ↑ Nobody Hates Nothin'
  18. ↑ Turn Back the Hands of Time
  19. ↑ What's The Worst That Could Happen - Soundtrack
  20. ↑ Ladies Are U Wit Me
  21. ↑ Who's the Man
  22. ↑ Don't Sleep (Open Your Eyes)
  23. ↑ Act Like You Know
  24. ↑ Act Like You Know
  25. ↑ Act Like You Know
  26. ↑ Act Like You Know
  27. ↑ Set It Off
  28. ↑ Westbound Beats
  29. ↑ Back to the Beat: Vol. 2
  30. ↑ Back to the Beat
  31. ↑ Scion A/V Remix Project
  32. ↑ The Cat Jams
  33. ↑ The 45 King Presents The Flavor Unit
  34. ↑ The 45 King: The 900 Number EP
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