The 45 King facts for kids

Mark Howard James (born October 16, 1961 – died October 19, 2023) was a famous American hip hop producer and DJ. He was known by his stage name, The 45 King, or sometimes DJ Mark the 45 King. He came from The Bronx, New York, and started DJing in the mid-1980s. His nickname, The 45 King, came from his amazing skill at creating beats. He used special 45 RPM records that most people didn't know about.

The 45 King's Musical Journey

Early Days and Big Hits

The 45 King first became well-known in 1987 with his song "The 900 Number". This track was a breakbeat hit. A breakbeat is a rhythmic part of a song that is looped and used as the foundation for new music. His song used a cool saxophone solo from an older song called "Unwind Yourself" by Marva Whitney.

After this success, The 45 King signed a deal with Tuff City Records. "The 900 Number" became his most famous work. Many other artists later used parts of his song in their own music. This is called sampling.

Helping the Flavor Unit Crew

Because of his growing popularity, The 45 King helped other artists in his group, called the Flavor Unit. This group included many talented hip hop artists like Chill Rob G, Lakim Shabazz, Apache, and Queen Latifah.

A big moment for The 45 King was when Queen Latifah signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1989. She released her album All Hail the Queen. The 45 King produced many songs on this album. Critics often say this was some of his best work. Over the next few years, many other Flavor Unit members also joined Tommy Boy Records. The 45 King often helped produce their albums too.

Making Music for Superstars

In the early 1990s, The 45 King released many series of breakbeat records. These were collections of beats for other DJs and producers to use. He also remixed a song for the pop superstar Madonna, called "Keep It Together".

In 1996, the artist DJ Kool had a big hit with his song "Let Me Clear My Throat". This song used a part of "The 900 Number" beat. DJ Kool even gave credit to The 45 King for creating the original beat. The 45 King also helped remix the song for DJ Kool.

In 1998, The 45 King produced the song "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" for the famous rapper Jay-Z. This song used a looped part from the Broadway musical Annie. Jay-Z has often spoken about how important The 45 King was to hip hop music. He called him a true pioneer.

In 2000, The 45 King produced another huge hit. It was the song "Stan" by Eminem. This song sold millions of copies.

The 45 King passed away on October 19, 2023, at the age of 62. He left behind a big impact on hip hop music.

Famous Songs He Produced

Here are some of the well-known songs The 45 King helped create:

• Eminem – Stan – 2000
• Jay-Z – Hard Knock Life (The Ghetto Anthem) – 1998
• Queen Latifah – Name Callin' – 1996
• Madonna – Keep it Together (Remix) – 1990
• Queen Latifah – All Hail the Queen (album) – 1989

His Own Albums

The 45 King also released many of his own albums and collections of beats:

• Beats of the Month – 2000/2001 (a series of "Lost Breakbeat" style beats)
• Put the Funk Out There – 1999
• Universal Beat Generation, Vol 1-3 – 1998
• Breakapalooza Vol 1 & 2 – 1997
• The Lost Breakbeats – 1993–1996
• 45 Kingdom – 1990
• The 900 Number EP – 1987
• Funky Beats '84 – 1984