Hip-Hop Pioneer Prince Markie Dee of The Fat Boys Dies at 52
Prince-Markie-Dee Dies at 52, Hip-Hop Pioneer
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Prince Markie Dee (Mark Anthony Morales), one-third of the pioneering hip-hop group The Fat Boys, died today at age 52.
The group’s manager, Louis Gregory confirmed Morales’ death. No cause of death has been given at the moment.
The hip-hop pioneer was born February 19, 1968.
At 16, he launched his career in 1983 with Darren Robinson (the Human Beatbox) and Damon Wimbley (Kool Rock Ski), performing under the name, The Disco 3, before changing their name to The Fat Boys.
The trio started their careers off with a bang as they won a talent contest at Radio City Music Hall.
As the 80’s came to a close, The Fat Boys had risen to become one of rap’s premier ambassadors within pop culture. The group made beatboxing popular and their zany sense of humor and personable demeanors drove their appeal and rap as a genre to mainstream audiences.
Their first two albums were produced by rap legend Kurtis Blow and included hits such as “Can You Feel It?,” “Jail House Rap,” and “The Fat Boys Are Back.”
However, they scored their biggest hit in 1987 with the cover duet “Wipeout” with the Beach Boys.
It reached Number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Then in 1988, their cover version of “The Twist” with Chubby Checker climbed to Number 16 on the Hot 100 chart.
The Fat Boys parlayed their commercial music success into film as they starred in a 1987 comedy titled Disorderlies.
Questlove of The Roots penned a tribute on Instagram saying
“They were figuratively (no weight jokes) the biggest act in hip hop at some point in time. Like the first act that showed this culture might have some real international legs to it … They were so dope we just took them for granted. They did dope routines & dance steps, albums went gold & platinum. Did movies & tv & commercials. They explored territories for the first time that today just seems like *yawn* a Tuesday.”
After their 1989 album release “On and On”, Prince Markie Dee left the group to pursue a solo career as the landscape and sound of rap music was rapidly evolving.
He wrote and produced songs for Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Mark Anthony and Mary J. Blige.
Markie Dee penned the groundbreaking smash “Real Love” which became Blige’s first Top 10 hit.
He dropped his first solo album in 1992 titled Free which had a Number One hit with “Typical Reasons (Swing My Way).”
Later in his career, prince markie Dee would become a bona fide radio personality as a drive-time host for WMIB in Miami.
At the time of his death, he conducted his self-titled show, The Prince Markie Dee Show on SiriusXM’s Rock the Bells station.
Hip-Hop World Reflects on the Impact of Prince Markie Dee
The Rock The Bells family is heartbroken to learn of the passing of Mark “Prince Markie Dee” Morales earlier today. That voice and his presence can never be replaced. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones. 🙏🏾🕊 pic.twitter.com/Tn6wSJ6soq
— Rock The Bells (@RockTheBells) February 18, 2021
The Fat Boys Videos
Fat Boys & The Beach Boys – Wipeout (HQ)
(C) 2010 Uncle Louie Music Group
Fat Boys The Twist
Music Video of The Fat Boys The Twist featuring Chubby Checker
Kevin James has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry in various facets. He has worked as a recording artist, songwriter, producer, on-air radio personality, background actor and film director. Kevin is a Member of the National Writer's Union.