The 45 King
Mark Howard James (October 16, 1961 – October 19, 2023), professionally known as The 45 King and also known as DJ Mark the 45 King,[3] 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.
The 45 King
Mark Howard James
(1961-10-16)October 16, 1961[1]
October 19, 2023(2023-10-19) (aged 62)
East Orange, New Jersey, U.S.[2]
- Record producer
- disc jockey
1982–2023
- 45 King Records
- Tuff City
Life and career[edit]
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.[4]
In the early 1990s, drug addiction caused him to lose a production deal that he signed with Warner Bros. Records.[5]
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.[6]
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 the 45 King as the song's originator.[7]
In 1998, the 45 King 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 the 45 King's importance to hip hop and called him a true pioneer of the business.[8]
Following the success of Hard Knock Life, the 45 King 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 stalking.[9]
The 45 King died on October 19, 2023, at the age of 62.[10]
– F.U. (Rockin Wit The Best) (featuring Double J, God Lakim, The 45 King) – SpitSLAM Record Label Group, 2022[11]
Chill Rob G
Dyme – Ladies Are U Wit Me – Interscope Records, 2001
[18]
Paula Perry – Y'all Chickens Make Me Laugh – Fully-Blown Recordings, 2000
– Can Du – White Label, 2000
Big Scoob
Various Artist Remixes – Rakim – Feeling You; Public Enemy – Bring the Noise, - White Label, 2000
– How I Get Down – Universal Records, 1999
Rakim
– Car Horn – Groove Attack, 1999
Common Sense
– Run the Line (Remix) – Stones Throw, 1998
Peanut Butter Wolf
Fanclub Erdberg – Anton Polster Du Bist Leiwand – Mego, 1997
– Name Callin' – Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1996
Queen Latifah
– Do You Wanna Get Funky? (Remix) – Columbia/SME, 1994
C&C Music Factory
– Thought I Lost My Spot – RCA/BMG, 1993
PMD
– Best Kept Secret (Remix), Check 1, 2 – Chemistry/Mercury/PolyGram, 1992
Diamond D
– Do Fa Self, Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1992
Apache
Positively...Practical Jokes – Atlantic, 1991
– Drop the Needle (Remix) – LMR/RCA Records, 1990
Maestro Fresh Wes
– Lost Tribe of Shabazz (album) – Tuff City, 1990
Lakim Shabazz
– Packet Man (Remix) – Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1990
Digital Underground
– Come Into My House (Mark 45 King Mix) – Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1990
Queen Latifah
Markey Fresh – The Mack of Rap – Jive/RCA, 1989
– Heed The Word of the Brother – 4th & B'Way/Island/PolyGram, 1989
X-Clan
– My Mic Sounds Nice (Remix) – Next Plateau/London/PolyGram, 1989
Salt-N-Pepa
Lord Alibaski – Lyrics in Motion / Top Gun – Tuff City, 1989
King Sun – Fat Tape, It's A Heat Up – Zakia/Profile, 1989
– Gusto, Knowledge – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1989
Gang Starr
Too Nice – Cold Facts (Remix) – Arista/BMG, 1989
Double J – Bless the Funk – 4th & B'Way/Island/PolyGram, 1989
– Chillin' – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1988
Chill Rob G
– Pure Righteousness (album) – Tuff City, 1988
Lakim Shabazz
– Movin on, Gusto, Knowledge – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1988
Gang Starr
Latee – No Tricks, Wake Up – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1988
– Movin' On, Bust a Move, To Be A Champion – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1987
Gang Starr
Latee – This Cut's Got Flavor, Puttin' On the Hits – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1987
Westbound Beats – Westbound Records, 2023
[23]
Back To The Beat Vol. 2 – Redefinition Records, 2015
[24]
Back To The Beat – Redefinition Records, 2014
[25]
Scion A/V Remix Project – Scion Audio/Visual, 2008
[26]
The Cat Jams – Tuff City, 2005
[27]
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
[28]
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
[29]
Funky Beats '84 – 45 King, 1984
Just Beats – 45 King, 1987