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.
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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 James as the song's originator.[7]
In 1998, James 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 James' importance to hip hop and called him a true pioneer of the business.[8]
Following the success of Hard Knock Life, James 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]
James died on October 19, 2023, at the age of 62.[10]
- Chill Rob G – F.U. (Rockin Wit The Best) (featuring Double J, God Lakim, The 45 King) – SpitSLAM Record Label Group, 2022[11]
- Ghostface Killah – Blood in the Streets (featuring AZ) – Tommy Boy, 2014[12]
- Fatlip – The Bass Line |\| I Got the Shit |\| M.I.A. – Delicious Vinyl, 2005[13]
- Diamond D – U Don't Owe Me – Dymond Mine Records, 2005[14]
- King Gordy – Nobody Hates Nothin' - Web Entertainment, 2003[15]
- Biz Markie – Turn Back the Hands of Time – Tommy Boy, 2003[16]
- Craig Mack – The Wooden Horse – NY.LA Music, 2001[17]
- Dyme – Ladies Are U Wit Me – Interscope Records, 2001[18]
- Paula Perry – Y'all Chickens Make Me Laugh – Fully-Blown Recordings, 2000
- Big Scoob – Can Du – White Label, 2000
- Eminem – Stan – Aftermath/Interscope/Universal, 2000
- Rakim – How I Get Down – Universal Records, 1999
- Common Sense – Car Horn – Groove Attack, 1999
- Peanut Butter Wolf – Run the Line (Remix) – Stones Throw, 1998
- Jay-Z – "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) – Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam/Universal, 1998
- Fanclub Erdberg – Anton Polster Du Bist Leiwand – Mego, 1997
- Queen Latifah – Name Callin' – Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1996
- C&C Music Factory – Do You Wanna Get Funky? (Remix) – Columbia/SME, 1994
- Ed Lover & Doctor Dré – Who's the Man – Relativity, 1994[19]
- PMD – Thought I Lost My Spot – RCA/BMG, 1994
- Diamond D – Best Kept Secret (Remix) |\| Check 1, 2 – Chemistry/Mercury/PolyGram, 1992
- Apache – Do Fa Self, Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1992
- Def Jef – Don't Sleep (Open Your Eyes) – Delicious Vinyl, 1991[20]
- Positively...Practical Jokes – Atlantic, 1991
- MC Lyte – Big Bad Sister |\| Kamikaze |\| Like a Virgin |\| Absolutely – First Priority Music/Atlantic, 1991[21]
- Lisa Stansfield – "All Around the World" (Remix) – Arista/BMG, 1990
- Madonna – "Keep it Together" (Remix) – Sire/Warner Bros., 1990
- Maestro Fresh Wes – Drop the Needle (Remix) – LMR/RCA 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/Warner Bros., 1990
- Queen Latifah – Come Into My House (Mark 45 King Mix) – Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1990
- Markey Fresh – The Mack of Rap – Jive/RCA, 1989
- X-Clan – Heed the Word of the Brother – 4th & B'Way/Island/PolyGram, 1989
- Eric B. & Rakim – "Microphone Fiend" (Remix) – MCA, 1989
- Salt-N-Pepa – My Mic Sounds Nice (Remix) – Next Plateau/London/PolyGram, 1989
- Lord Alibaski – Lyrics in Motion / Top Gun – Tuff City, 1989
- King Sun – Fat Tape |\| It's a Heat Up – Zakia/Profile, 1989
- Chill Rob G – Ride the Rhythm– Wild Pitch/EMI, 1989
- Queen Latifah – All Hail the Queen – Tommy Boy/Warner Bros., 1989
- Too Nice – Cold Facts (Remix) – Arista/BMG, 1989
- Double J – Bless the Funk – 4th & B'Way/Island/PolyGram, 1989
- Big Daddy Kane – Set It Off – Cold Chillin', 1988[22]
- Chill Rob G – Chillin' – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1988
- Lakim Shabazz – Pure Righteousness – Tuff City, 1988
- Gang Starr – Movin' On |\| Gusto |\| Knowledge – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1988
- Latee – No Tricks |\| Wake Up – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1988
- Gang Starr – Believe Dat! |\| Bust a Move Boy |\| To Be a Champion – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1987
- Latee – This Cut's Got Flavor |\| Puttin' on the Hits – Wild Pitch/EMI, 1987
- Westbound Beats[23] – Westbound Records, 2023
- Back To The Beat Vol. 2[24] – Redefinition Records, 2015
- Back To The Beat[25] – Redefinition Records, 2014
- Scion A/V Remix Project[26] – Scion Audio/Visual, 2008
- The Cat Jams[27] – Tuff City, 2005
- 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
Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 208. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 273. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.