Everything about Dj Mark The 45 King totally explained
DJ Mark the 45 King (born
Mark James), 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.
The 45 King first gained fame with his
breakbeat track "The 900 Number" in
1987. The song featured a looping
tenor sax solo from
Marva Whitney's "Unwind Yourself." The 45 King was signed to
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 "1989-Hustlers Convention" album on the UK label Music Of Life, considered by many to be hip-hop's first-ever live album.
In the early 1990's,
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 a few tracks for other emceess, but stayed mainly with his breakbeat record franchises.
Using his popularity from the previous release, the 45 King was able to help the other members of his crew, dubbed the
Flavor Unit. The 45 King's second break came when Flavor Unit member
Queen Latifah was signed to
Tommy Boy Records (at the time home of
De La Soul and
Stetsasonic) and released the album
All Hail the Queen (featuring
KRS-One,
Daddy-O, and
Prince Paul). This album is considered by critics to be the 45 King's best production work.
In 1996
Washington, D.C., based
Go-go DJ,
DJ Kool scored a big hit with the song "Let Me Clear My Throat." It was simply call-and-response vocals over a chopped half of the "900 Number" beat, but it was popular nationwide. DJ Kool didn't just sample the track, he acknowledged the 45 King's as the song's originator, and the 45 King even remixed the track for Kool.
In 1998 the 45 King produced "It's a 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, solidifying his reputation as a top-notch beatmaker.
Currently, the 45 King is supposedly working on a solo project, a compilation of emcees over his beats.
Partial Discography
- 1988 The 45 King: Master of the Game (Tuff City)
- 1990 The 45 King: 45 Kingdom (Tuff City)
- 1990 The 45 King presents The Flavor Unit (Tuff City)
- 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)
Further Information
Get more info on 'Dj Mark The 45 King'.
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