| The 45 King | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Birth name |
Mark James |
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Also known as |
DJ Mark the 45 King |
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Born |
October 16, 1961 |
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Origin |
The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
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Genres |
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|
Occupations |
DJ, record producer |
|
Years active |
Mid 1980s-2023 |
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Labels |
Tuff City |
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Associated acts |
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Death date |
October 19, 2023 (aged 62) |
Mark James (October 16, 1961-October 19, 2023), better known by his stage name The 45 King, was an American DJ and record producer from the Bronx, New York. He started DJing in New Jersey during the mid-1980s. The nickname "the 45 King" came from his ability to make beats using 45 RPM records. He is best known for his breakbeat record "The 900 Number", producing the songs "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" for Jay-Z and "Stan" for Eminem, and for leading the Flavor Unit, which included members such as Queen Latifah, Apache, Chill Rob G and Lakim Shabazz.
He died on October 19, 2023 at the age of 62.[1]