According to his manager, Louie “Uncle Louie” Gregory, Mark Anthony Morales, known as Prince Markie Dee of the early rap group The Fat Boys and a hit writer and producer of Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey and others, has died. He was 52.
While the Fat Boys are often regarded as a novelty of early hip-hop, they collected a series of hit albums in the 1980s and appeared in the popular films “Krush Groove” and “Disorderlies”. Morales was one of the group’s most important rappers, songwriters and producers, and followed a successful solo career, releasing the album ‘Free’ on Columbia, which included the hits ‘Typical Reasons (Swing My Way)’ and ‘Love Daddy’ ‘included. three years later at Motown.
Forever in my heart. Prince Markie Dee was more than a rapper; he was one of my very best and closest friends. My heart breaks today because I lost a brother. I will always love you Mark and I will cherish everything you have taught me. Tomorrow’s birthday, my big brother swings. pic.twitter.com/XcIsHixOoc
– Louis “Uncle Louie” Gregory (@UncleLouie) 18 February 2021
The group created by Brookyn – Morales (pictured above, right), Darren Robinson (The Human Beat Box) and Damon Wimbley (Kool Rock Ski) – came under the supervision of Kurtis Blow and benefited from his association with Russell Simmons, one of the most important executives of the early hip-hop world (although at the time it became known that Madonna originally wanted the Fat Boys to open her 1985 “Like a Virgin” tour, but Simmons in his new operates the Beastie Boys instead of rushing). Originally known as the Disco 3, they embraced their great physique and immediately made a splash with their self-titled debut album. The group was a highlight of the legendary “Fresh Fest” tours of 1984 and ’85, which also featured Blow, Run-DMC, Whodini and, on the second tour, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The group did not have a one-hit wonder, but had a steady series of gold albums, with 1987’s “Crushin ‘” (their debut for the PolyGram-affiliated label Tin Pan Apple) as platinum. Morales was also one of the first hip-hop stars of Latin descent.
As Questlove paid tribute to Morales in an Instagram post on Thursday, he said: ‘They were figuratively (no weight jokes) the biggest act in hip hop at any given time. As the first industry to show that this culture can have some international legs. Like they were so stupid, we just took them for granted. They did drug routines and dance steps, albums became gold and platinum. Movies and TV and commercials done. They explored areas for the first time that today look just like a Tuesday ‘yawn’. ‘
After splitting the group in the early ’90s, Morales produced early hits for Blige – including her first hit, “Real Love” – Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Craig Mack and Marc Anthony. Since 2008, he has been working as a popular radio DJ in Miami.