If you don't know who 45 KING is? Then you don't know Queen Latifah, DJ Kool, Jay Z, or Eminem.
DJ Mark the 45 King (born Mark James), also known as the 45 King, started DJing in New Jersey in the mid-80s. The nickname "the 45 King" comes from his ability to make beats using obscure 45 rpm records.
The 45 King first gained fame with his breakbeat track "The 900 Number" in 1987. The song featured a looping tenor sax solo from Marva Whitney's "Unwind Yourself". The 45 King was signed to Tuff City Records that year and given a production deal. The "900 Number' remains his signature work having been resampled by many artists he was also featured on "1989-Hustlers Convention" album on the uk label Music Of Life considered by many to be rap's first ever live album.
In the early 90's, the 45 King released multiple series of breakbeat records (The Lost Breakbeat series, the Breakapalooza series, etc.) and a few tracks for other rappers, but stayed mainly with his breakbeat record franchises.
Using his popularity from the previous release, the 45 King was able to help the other members of his crew, dubbed "The Flavor Unit." The 45 King's second break came when Flavor Unit member Queen Latifah was signed to the Tommy Boy label (at the time home of De La Soul and Stetsasonic) and released the album "All Hail the Queen" (featuring KRS-One, Daddy-O, and Prince Paul). This album is considered by critics to be the 45 Kings best production work.
In 1996 Washington, D.C. based Go-go DJ, DJ Kool scored a big hit with the song "Let Me Clear My Throat" it was simply call-and-response vocals over the "900 Number" beat, but was popular nationwide. DJ Kool didn't just sample the track, he acknowledged the 45 King's as the song's originator, and the 45 King even remixed the track for Kool.
In 1998 the 45 King produced "It's a Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" for Jay-Z. The song was a hit that featured a looped chorus from the Broadway Musical Annie.
In 2000, he produced the platinum track "Stan" for Eminem, solidifying his reputation as a top-notch beatmaker.
Currently, the 45 King is working on a solo project, a compilation of rappers over his beats as well as a TV show on music production called "Making The Beat".
The 45 King's Production Credits
Paula Perry -Y'all Chickens Make Me Laugh - Fully-Blown Recordings, 2000
Big Scoob - Can Du - White Label, 2000
Eminem - Stan - Aftermath, 2000
Various Artist Remixes - Rakim - Feeling You, Public Enemy - Bring the
Noise, - White Label, 2000
Craig Mack - The Wooden Horse - White Label, 2000
Common Sense - Car Horn - Groove Attack, 1999
Peanut Butter Wolf - Run the Line (Remix) - Stones Throw, 1998
Jay-Z - Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) - Rock-A-Fella, 1998
Fanclub Erdberg - Anton Polster Du Bist Leiwand - Mego, 1997
Queen Latifah - Name Callin' - Tommy Boy, 1996
C&C Music Factory - Do You Wanna Get Funky? (Remix) - Columbia, 1994
PMD - Thought I Lost My Spot - MCA, 1993
Diamond D - Best Kept Secret (Remix), Check 1, 2 - Mercury, 1992
Apache - Do Fa Self, Tommy Boy, 1992
Positively.Practical Jokes - Atlantic, 1991
MC Lyte - Big Bad Sister, Kamikaze, Like a Virgin, Absolutely,
Lisa Stansfield - Been Around the World (Remix) - RCA, 1991
Madonna - Keep it Together -(Remix) - Sire, 1990
Maestro Fresh Wes - Drop the Needle (Remix) - LMR Records, 1990
Lakim Shabazz - Lost Tribe of Shabazz (album) Tuff City, 1990
Eric B. & Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em (Remix) - MCA, 1990
Digital Underground - Packet Man (Remix) - Tommy Boy, 1990
Markey Fresh - The Mack of Rap - Jive, 1989
X-Clan - Heed The Word Of The Brother - 4th & B'Way, 1989
Eric B. & Rakim - Microphone Fiend (Remix) - MCA, 1989
Salt-N-Pepa - My Mic Sounds Nice (Remix) - London, 1989
Lord Alibaski - Lyrics in Motion / Top Gun - Tuff City, 1989
King Sun - Fat Tape, It's A Heat Up - Zakia, 1989
Chill Rob G - Ride the Rhythm (album) - Wild Pitch, 1989
GangStarr - Gusto, Knowledge - Wild Pitch, 1989
Queen Latifah - All Hail the Queen (album) - Tommy Boy, 1989
Too Nice - Cold Facts (Remix) - Arista, 1989
Double J - Bless the Funk - 4th & B'Way, 1989
Chill Rob G - Chillin' - Wild Pitch, 1988
Lakim Shabazz - Pure Righteousness (album) - Tuff City, 1988
GangStarr - Movin on, Gusto, Knowledge - Wild Pitch, 1988
Latee - No Tricks, Wake Up - Wild Pitch, 1988
GangStarr - Movin' On, Bust a Move, To Be A Champion - Wild Pitch, 1987
Latee - This Cut's Got Flavor, Puttin' On the Hits - Wild Pitch, 1987
