The 45 King


Mark Howard James, professionally known as The 45 King and also known as DJ Mark the 45 King, 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.

Life and career

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.
In the early 1990s, drug addiction caused him to lose a production deal that he signed with Warner Bros. Records.
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.
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.
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.
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.
James died on October 19, 2023, at the age of 62.

Selected production credits

Discography

  • Westbound Beats – Westbound Records, 2023
  • Back To The Beat Vol. 2 – Redefinition Records, 2015
  • Back To The Beat – Redefinition Records, 2014
  • Scion A/V Remix Project – Scion Audio/Visual, 2008
  • The Cat Jams – Tuff City, 2005
  • Beats of the Month – Bronx Science, 2000/2001
  • 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
  • Breakapalooza Vol 1 & 2 – Tuff City, 1997
  • Champain – Tuff City, 1997
  • Beats Don't Fail Me Now – 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 – Tuff City, 1990
  • On A Mission – Ruffhouse, 1990
  • The 45 King Presents: The Flavor Unit – Tuff City, 1990
  • Master of the Game – Tuff City, 1989
  • The King is Here – Tuff City, 1989
  • Red, Black, and Green – Tuff City, 1989
  • When a Wise Man Speaks/Catching a 'Tude/Rocking With Tony H – Tuff City, 1989
  • The 900 Number EP – Tuff City, 1987
  • Funky Beats '84 – 45 King, 1984
  • Just Beats – 45 King, 1987