Legendary Producer The 45 King Gone at 62
Remembering the man behind some of hip-hop’s biggest songs
Mark Howard James aka The 45 King, one of hip-hop’s most enduring producers, has passed away at the age of 62.
The news of his death was confirmed by his manager via Pitchfork.
Starting in the mid-80s, the Bronx original would break out in 1987 with his classic instrumental “The 900 Number,” which would be sampled countless times in the last 36 years. But it would become immortalized when it became adopted by Ed Lover for his patented Ed Lover Dance on Yo! MTV Raps.
AUDIO: The 45 King “900 Number”
A key component of the legendary NY/NJ crew the Flavor Unit, James provided beats for fellow members Apache, Lakim Shabazz, Chill Rob G and Queen Latifah, whose 1989 debut All Hail The Queen was largely produced by him.
Throughout the 90s, James would self-release beat tape style titles in his Straight Out Da Crate and The Lost Breakbeats series while producing and remixing tracks for Gang Starr, Salt-N-Pepa, Eric B. & Rakim, Digital Underground, Madonna, C&C Music Factory, MC Lyte, Lisa Stansfield, X-Clan, King Sun and many more.
VIDEO: Jay-Z and the 45 King on “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)”
But it was 25 years ago in 1998 when James would collaborate with Jay-Z on the hit single “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” exposing the 45 King to a whole new audience of music fans thanks to that indelible Annie sample.
“Thank you Mark,” Hov wrote on Instagram. “Your instrumentals, namely ‘The 900 Number,’ were more memorable than our whole albums. You gave me a canvas to have a conversation with the world!! You changed my life. Even when the life is short, the art is long!!”
James would see even more success in 2000 when he crafted the Dido-sampling beat for Eminem’s stalker epic “Stan.”
“Legends are never over,” Marshall Mathers wrote on X today. “#RIP Mark Howard James aka the 45 King … I’m 4ever grateful!!!”
VIDEO: Eminem “Stan (Long Version)”
“We salute your greatness!” wrote DJ Premier.
“DJ Mark the 45 King is one of my favorite producers of all time,” posted Long Island rap legend RA The Rugged Man on X. “RIP Flavor Unit legend. I used to buy ALL his albums with Latee, Apache(RiP) Lakim Shabazz, Markie Fresh (RIP), Queen Latifah, Naughty, Chill Rob G. He put on so many icons, produced so many of my favorite songs 💔”
“Rest In Peace, Power & Paradise to easily one of the best and easily one of my all time favorite producers in Hip Hop history,” added Brooklyn rapper BLU, “the unfadeable unreplicatable very own DJ Mark The 45 King, may your legacy live on forever 🙏🙏🙏 @TheReal45King !!!”
VIDEO: 45 King mix on little turntables
His pseudonym, the 45 King, came from his ability to make beats using obscure 45 RPM records – a craft that would be further explored by such visionary beat makers as Dilla and Madlib in the 00s.
Perhaps it was James himself who put it best about his life and career in a 2014 YouTube post while recovering from a heart attack.
“I never said that my music was good,” he proclaimed. “I’m just so glad enough people like my art where I can pay the bills.”
James passed away just days following his 62nd birthday on October 16th. May his memory be a blessing.
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