The 45 King (aka DJ Mark)

Mark Howard James (October 16, 1961 – October 19, 2023), professionally known as The 45 King and also known as DJ Mark the 45 King, 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. 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. In the early 1990s, drug addiction caused him to lose a production deal that he signed with Warner Bros. Records. 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. 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 James as the song's originator. In 1998, James 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 James' importance to hip-hop and called him a true pioneer of the business. Following the success of "Hard Knock Life," James 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 an obsessed fan. James died on October 19, 2023, at the age of 62. Chill Rob G – F.U. (Rockin Wit The Best) (featuring Double J, God Lakim, The 45 King) – SpitSLAM Record Label Group, 2022 Ghostface Killah – Blood in the Streets (featuring AZ) – Tommy Boy, 2014 Fatlip – The Bass Line |\| I Got the Shit |\| M.I.A. – Delicious Vinyl, 2005 Diamond D – U Don't Owe Me – Dymond Mine Records, 2005 King Gordy – Nobody Hates Nothin' - Web Entertainment, 2003 Biz Markie – Turn Back the Hands of Time – Tommy Boy, 2003 Princess Superstar - Bad Babysitter (Remix) - Rapster Records, 2002 Celph Titled – Right Now – Bronx Science Recordings, 2001 Craig Mack – The Wooden Horse – NY.LA Music, 2001 Dyme – Ladies Are U Wit Me – Interscope Records, 2001 Paula Perry – Y'all Chickens Make Me Laugh – Fully-Blown Recordings, 2000 Chill Rob G – Let Me Know (45 Remix) – Echo International, 2000 Big Scoob – Can Du – White Label, 2000 Eminem – Stan – Aftermath/Interscope/Universal, 2000 Rakim – How I Get Down – Universal Records, 1999 Common – 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 Bush Babees – The Love Song (King Remix) – Kenar, 1997 Queen Latifah – Name Callin' – Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1996 Maniac Mob – Get Up – Arista, 1995 C&C Music Factory – Do You Wanna Get Funky? (Remix) – Columbia/SME, 1994 Ed Lover & Doctor Dré – Who's the Man – Relativity, 1994 PMD – Thought I Lost My Spot – RCA/BMG, 1994 Class A Felony – Hyped Up |\| Hostage |\| Gotta Go, Gotta Go – Polygram, 1993 Diamond D – Best Kept Secret (Remix) |\| Check 1, 2 – Chemistry/Mercury/PolyGram, 1992 Apache – Do Fa Self – Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1992 Jaz-O – Sign of the Crimes – EMI America, 1991 Def Jef – Soul Provider |\| Don't Sleep (Open Your Eyes) – Delicious Vinyl, 1991 MC Lyte – Big Bad Sister |\| Kamikaze |\| Like a Virgin |\| Absolutely Positively...Practical Jokes – First Priority Music/Atlantic, 1991 Lisa Stansfield – "All Around the World" (Remix) – Arista/BMG, 1990 Madonna – "Keep it Together" (Remix) – Sire/Warner Bros., 1990 David Bowie – "Fame" (90 Remix) [feat. Queen Latifah] – EMI USA, 1990 Maestro Fresh Wes – Drop the Needle (Remix) – LMR/RCA Records, 1990 Lakim Shabazz – Lost Tribe of Shabazz – Tuff City, 1990 Eric B. & Rakim – "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em" (Remix) – MCA, 1990 Digital Underground – Packet Man (Remix) – Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1990 Shelly Thunder - Working Girl (Remix) - Mango, 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– Wild Pitch/EMI, 1989 Queen Latifah – All Hail the Queen – 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 Chill Rob G – Chillin' – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1988 Lakim Shabazz – Pure Righteousness – Tuff City, 1988 Gang Starr – Movin' On |\| Gusto |\| Knowledge – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1988 Latee – No Tricks |\| Wake Up – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1988 Gang Starr – Believe Dat! |\| Bust a Move Boy |\| To Be a Champion – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1987 Latee – This Cut's Got Flavor |\| Puttin' on the Hits – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1987 Westbound Beats – Westbound Records, 2023 Back To The Beat Vol. 2 – Redefinition Records, 2015 Back To The Beat – Redefinition Records, 2014 Scion A/V Remix Project – Scion Audio/Visual, 2008 The Cat Jams – 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 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 Funky Beats '84 – 45 King, 1984 Just Beats – 45 King, 1987 "45 King". Twitter.com. "Advanced Search". IMDb.com. "The 45 king addressing his stage name". The 45 King's official YouTube channel. January 31, 2014. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 208. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. Ettleson, Robbie (August 6, 2015). "The Original Flavor Unit: An Oral History". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved October 27, 2023. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 273. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. "D.J. Kool: Let Me Clear My Throat Story". April 30, 2015 – via YouTube. "Hip Hop Luminary: DJ Mark The 45 King's Impact On The Culture". Hiphopgoldenage.com. October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023. 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. Price, Joe (October 19, 2023). "DJ Mark the 45 King Reportedly Dead at 62". Complex.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.