Prince Markie Dee

Mark Anthony Morales (February 19, 1968 – February 18, 2021), better known by the stage name Prince Markie Dee, was an American rapper. He was a member of the Fat Boys, a pioneering hip hop group that gained fame during the 1980s. Morales was the vice-president of Uncle Louie Music Group.[1]

Prince Markie Dee
Background information
Birth nameMark Anthony Morales
Born(1968-02-19)February 19, 1968
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 18, 2021(2021-02-18) (aged 52)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • producer
  • songwriter
  • actor
Years active1982–2021
Labels

Early life

Morales was born on February 19, 1968. He established the Disco 3 together with Darren Robinson and Damon Wimbley in the early 1980s. After winning a talent contest at the Radio City Music Hall in 1983, they signed a contract with the show's promoter. The promoter recommended that the group rename itself the Fat Boys, in reference to their weight.[2]

Career

The Fat Boys
Main article: The Fat Boys

Morales's accomplishments with the Fat Boys include seven full-length albums. Of these, three attained gold certification and one – Crushin' (1987) – reached platinum. Their hit song from that album that featured The Beach Boys, "Wipeout", peaked to number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The trio also appeared in the comedy film Disorderlies that same year. They had earlier starred in the feature films Krush Groove (1985) and Knights of the City (1986).[2] The Fat Boys attempted to broaden their artistic scope by releasing On and On (1989), a rap opera album. Its lack of success hastened the demise of the group.[3] They released one more album, Mack Daddy (1991),[3] before disbanding soon afterwards.[2]

Later career

After the Fat Boys, Morales embarked on a solo career. He signed with Columbia Records and released a solo album, Free (1992).[4] It included a #1 hit single, "Typical Reasons (Swing My Way)".[5] After joining with Cory Rooney to form a production company, Soul Convention,[6] Morales wrote and produced tracks for such artists as Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Craig Mack and Marc Anthony.[7] He was a producer for Blige's first album, What's the 411? (1992), including her hit song from that album, "Real Love".[2]

From 2008 to 2010, Morales served as the afternoon drive radio host/DJ at 103.5 The Beat WMIB radio in Miami, Florida.[7][8] He subsequently worked at WEDR 99.1 FM. He last worked at the Rock the Bells Sirius XM station,[2] hosting his own show, The Prince Markie Dee Show.[8]

Personal life

Morales once dated and was engaged to rapper Pepa sometime during the mid-1980s.[9] He died on February 18, 2021, in Miami, one day before his 53rd birthday. The cause of death was congestive heart failure.[2]

Discography

Solo albums

With Fat Boys

Filmography

References
  1. Nataly, Nadya (October 31, 2011). "Uncle Louie explains how he's brought old school hip hop greats into the Twitter era". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  2. Caramanica, Jon; Levenson, Michael (February 19, 2021). "Prince Markie Dee, Founding Member of Rap Trio Fat Boys, Dies at 52". The New York Times. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  3. Bynoe, Yvonne (2006). Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip-hop Culture. Greenwood Press. p. 128. ISBN 9780313330582.
  4. Thiessenland, Brock (February 18, 2021). "The Fat Boys' Prince Markie Dee Dead at 52". Exclaim!. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  5. "The Fat Boys Prince Markie Dee Dead at 52". TMZ. February 18, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  6. Nelson, Havelock (October 24, 1992). "Talents Assemble at Soul Convention". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 43. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 31. ISSN 0006-2510.
  7. Aswad, Jem (February 18, 2021). "The Fat Boys' Prince Markie Dee Dies at 52". Variety. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  8. Legaspi, Althea (February 18, 2021). "The Fat Boys' Prince Markie Dee Dead at 52". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  9. Small, Michael; Abrahams, Andrew (April 18, 1988). "Salt 'n Pepa Shake It Up, Laying a Cold Rap on Men". People. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  10. "Prince Markie Dee – Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  11. "Prince Markie Dee – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  12. Larkin, Colin (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music. Virgin. p. 184. ISBN 9780753501597.
  13. "Mark Morales". American Film Institute. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
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