DJ Mark the 45 King

Mark James
Born	October 1961
Origin	Bronx, New York, United States
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Producer, Singer
Instruments	Turntable Sampler
Labels	Tuff City Records

DJ Mark the 45 King (born Mark James, October 1961), also known as the 45 King, started DJing in New Jersey in the mid-1980s. The nickname "the 45 King" comes from his ability to make beats using obscure 45 RPM records.

Career

The 45 King first gained fame with his breakbeat track "The 900 Number" in 1987. The song featured a looping baritone sax solo from Marva Whitney's "Unwind Yourself." The 45 King signed with Tuff City Records that year and given a production deal. "The 900 Number" remains his signature work, having been resampled by many artists. He was also featured on the 1989-Hustlers Convention album on the UK label Music of Life, which is considered by many^[who?] to be hip-hop's first-ever live album.

Using his popularity from the previous release, the 45 King was able to help the other members of his crew, dubbed the Flavor Unit, which included many well-known hip-hop acts including Chill Rob G, Lakim Shabazz, Apache, and Queen Latifah. The 45 King's big break came when Queen Latifah signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1989 and released the album All Hail the Queen. The 45 King did extensive production on this album, and it is considered by critics^[who?] to be among his best production work. Over the next few years, many other Flavor Unit members also were signed to Tommy Boy, and the 45 King frequently contributed to their albums with his productions.^{[citation needed]} 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.^[1]

In the early 1990s, drug addiction took its toll on the 45 King's career, which caused him to lose a production deal that he signed with Warner Bros. Records. Around this time the 45 King released multiple series of breakbeat records (the Lost Breakbeat series, the Breakapalooza series, etc.) and remixed Madonna's Top-10 single "Keep It Together," but he stayed mainly with his breakbeat record franchises.

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.^[2] A rexed version was also a minor UK hit in 2007. Jackson was apparently unaware that the song had itself been sampled from the original "Unwind Yourself", as he creditted himself, and King, as co-writers of the song.^{[citation needed]}

In 1996, Washington, D.C.-based go-go artist DJ DJ Kool had a hit with the song "Let Me Clear My Throat." It was a 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's as the song's originator, and the 45 King remixed the track for Kool.

In 1998, the 45 King produced "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" for Jay-Z. The song was a hit that featured a looped chorus from the Broadway musical, Annie. In 2000, he produced the platinum track "Stan" for Eminem.

Partial discography

• 1984: "Funky Beats '84" - The 45 King's first release, a 7-inch single with a live drum break.
• 1987: "The 900 Number EP" (Tuff City) The 45 King's breakthrough single, it had "The 900 Number" with raps by Lakim Shabazz, a 45 King remix, and Ced Gee (of Ultramagnetic MC's fame) remixes.
• 1989: Master of the Game (Tuff City)
• 1989: "The King is Here" (12" Single) (Tuff City) - Had rhymes by Markey Fresh. This has a different version of "The King is Here" than appeared on the Master of the Game album.
• 1989: "Red, Black, and Green" (12" Single) (Tuff City) - Featured rhymes by Lakim Shabazz.
• 1989: "When a Wise Man Speaks" / "Catching a 'Tude" / "Rocking With Tony H" (12" Single) (Tuff City)
• 1990 45 Kingdom (Tuff City) - This was a partial best of, consisting of material from his first two albums along with "The 900 Number" and "When A Wise Man Speaks."
• 1990: Rhythmical Madness (Tuff City) - The 45 King collaborated with DJ Louie Louie to make this breakbeat album. Emcees Lakim Shabazz and Ron Delite also appeared on the LP.
• 1990: The 45 King presents The Flavor Unit (Tuff City)
• 1990: Lakim Shabazz: Pure Righteousness (Tuff City)
• 1990: The 45 King: The Lost Breakbeats: The White Album (Tuff City)
• 1990: The 45 King: The Lost Breakbeats: The Orange Album (Tuff City)
• 1992: The 45 King: The 900 Number EP (Tuff City)
• 1995: The 45 King: Killer Beets (Music Station)
• 1996: The 45 King: Grooves for a Quiet Storm (Tuff City)

Compilation appearance

• Hustlers Convention (1989)

References

1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 208. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 273. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links

• The Unkut Interview

Persondata
Name	Mark The 45 King, Dj
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Date of birth	1961
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