The 45 King

"My name is 45 King. DJ Mark is something that the record companies ran with," 45 King explained to Virginia filmmaker El Bravador. "The gun on the promo materials has nothing to do with my name. I'm 45 King because of my collection of 45 records," he further explained.

Perhaps a line on Queen Latifah's 1988 breakout hit, "Wrath Of My Madness," prompted the association of Mark James' name into his Hip-Hop moniker.

"Word of mouth is always everlasting/and everlasting are the words that I bring/the ruler of the ring is Lord Ramsey and music is made by Mark The 45 King," she confidently declared on the classic single.

Although he is widely celebrated as one of Hip-Hop's most gifted sample-based producers, 45 King actually has a history that goes back to the first generation MC crews before rap records were even a reality. MC Sha Rock of the Funky 4 and Funky 4 Plus One shares with Rock The Bells 45 King's role as the "record boy" for DJs Breakout and Baron [The Brothers Disco], the DJs for the Funky 4.

"He passed the records to DJ Breakout," she remembers. "He knew all of our routines and rhymes, so he primarily chose the records for us to rhyme to."

DJ Chuck Chillout revealed to Rock The Bells that Mark was his neighbor, and that his mother was a DJ. "45 King lived three blocks from me, and his mother was a DJ, so her record collection was crazy," he says.

As a music lover, the son of a DJ, and the record boy for one of Hip-Hop's most iconic crews, Mark possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of breaks which he would use masterfully in Hip-Hop's sample-heavy golden era. His ability to find the best and most obscure samples, and place just the right drums and horns underneath, would solidify him as a master of his craft.

Wild Pitch Records

45 King produced several hits for Stu and Amy Fine's Wild Pitch Records. Reflecting on this, DJ Premier shared on his IG: "I had never heard of Gang Starr until DJ Red Alert played their second single, produced by Mark, on 98.7 Kiss in NYC while I was shopping my demos, hoping to get a record deal," he wrote.

"Red Alert was playing 'Bust A Move Boy,' and I recognized Guru's voice, leading me to question, 'Who exactly is Gang Starr?' I immediately bought the 12-inch single and discovered it was released under Wild Pitch Records. My friend, Carlos Garza, in Houston, TX, introduced me to Stu Fine, the owner of Wild Pitch. We connected in 1988 when Guru was in search of a new DJ and permanent producer."

45 King's work with Gang Starr extended to tracks like "Gusto" and "Movin On." However, it was Latee's 1987 underground gem, "This Cut's Got Flavor," known for its unique drum pattern and catchy horns, that truly spotlighted Mark's prowess as a producer. Latee's other tracks, "No Tricks" and "Wake Up," also showcased 45 King's signature production touch.

While Flavor Unit member Chill Rob G is recognized for "The Power" — a track with a controversial resemblance to Snap's hit of the same name — it's the 45 King-produced '89 album, Ride The Rhythm, that stands out. The album, featuring tracks like "Court is Now In Session," "Ride The Rhythm," "Let Me Show You," and "Let The Words Flow," might be Wild Pitch's crowning achievement.

The Flavor Unit

Just as super producers Marley Marl and Hurby Luvbug led their Juice Crew and Idol Makers MC collectives respectively, 45 King was the primary sound provider for New Jersey's Flavor Unit. This group, comprised of Queen Latifah, Chill Rob G, Lakim Shabazz, Latee, Apache, Lord Alibaski, Markey Fresh, and Double J, primarily released music on Tommy Boy, Tuff City, and Wild Pitch Records.

Tommy Boy and Elektra Records A&R representative Dante Ross shared his first interaction with 45 King during a podcast at D.C.'s National Hip-Hop Museum. "45 King was killing it on Red Alert's show with the promos," he recounted. "He had the 'Givin' Up Food For Funk' promo and 'This Cut's Got Flava' with Latee. I was at the Latin Quarters when this individual approached me, looking more like a janitor than a typical attendee. He didn't dress like a typical Hip-Hop enthusiast and sported large headphones at a time when they weren't popular. He asked if I was Dante Ross and introduced himself as The 45 King, then inquired if I'd like to hear some tracks."

Continuing, Dante shared, "We went to the VIP section of the Latin Quarters, right into DJ Red Alert's booth. He produced a Walkman, adorned with a sticker reading, 'Property of The 45 King.' I thought, 'This guy is something else.' He showcased several tracks to me, and I immediately told him to visit Tommy Boy first thing on Monday and to bring the entire Flavor Unit. While he didn't show up on Monday, he called and played 'Wrath Of My Madness' by Latifah for me. A few days later, he arrived with about half of the Flavor Unit, including Latifah herself. Monica Lynch, Tommy Boy's president, stepped into my office and emphatically stated we needed to sign her. We sealed the deal on the spot."

The 900 Number

In addition to dozens of breakbeat compilations on Aaron Fuchs' Tuff City Records, 45 King released Hip-Hop's instrumental anthem "The 900 Number," which became the soundtrack of Ed Lover's Yo! MTV Raps dance routine and the soundbed for DJ Kool's smash "Let Me Clear My Throat." The slowed-down loop of Marva Whitney's "Unwind Yourself" remains Mark's signature production.

Stan & Annie

45 King was known for taking long breaks between productions, leading to the rumor that he had been blackballed by the industry. Whatever the reason for his inconsistent output, it was always worth the wait when he returned. 2000's "Stan" by Eminem is one of those times. With its sample of Dido's "Thank You" Mark created one of Em's biggest hits.

1998's "Hard Knock Life" from the album of the same name, provided Jay-Z with one of his biggest hits, and greatly raised his mainstream profile. According to Jay-Z, Kid Capri owned an instrumental of the track, which contained a loop from the Annie soundtrack. Jay heard the track during an intermission at one of his concerts and inquired about the origins of the beat. Kid Capri led him to 45, and the rest is history.

45 King's Making The Beat podcast provided a glimpse into the beat makers personality as well as his creative process. Rest In Peace 45 King.