The 45 King Appreciation Week, Day Four

As we come to the end of The 45 King appreciation week, Mark is still doing his thing. Still shopping beats and is rumored to be doing projects with some prominent artists in the near future. I think it would be great to see someone let him do an album to let him shine. The man is most worthy of being included in the upper echelon of legendary producers.

The Cat Jams is a newer compilation put out by Tuff City, and supposedly had The 45 King's blessing on it as well. In an interview I read with him though, he later said it didn't come out the way he wanted it to. There are some newer joints on this by the likes of Lakim Shabazz and Chill Rob G.

The 45 King - Cat Jams (Tuff City, 2005)

A1 Flow Motion Rap [Featuring] - Lakim Shabazz
A2 Go Off RocRap [Featuring] - Chill Rob G
A3 Taking Them Back Rap [Featuring] - Chill Rob G
A4 Really Don't Want It Rap [Featuring] - Lakim Shabazz
A5 Big Ballers Rap [Featuring] - Double J (2)
A6 Still The One Rap [Featuring] - Big Poo , Champaign*
A7 Jaguar Jam
A8 Lion's Lounge
A9 Puma Prowl
A10 Lynx Labyrinth
B1 Flow Motion (Instrumental)
B2 Go Off Roc (Instrumental)
B3 Taking Them Back (Instrumental)
B4 Really Don't Want It (Instrumental)
B5 Big Ballers (Instrumental)
B6 Tiger's Tale
B7 Cougar Creep
B8 Panther Pounce
B9 Wildcat Walk
B10 Ocelot's Orchestra




Not real sure of the history concerning this EP/Album. Features Lakim Shabazz doing his thing.

The 45 King - The Red, The Black, The Green (Tuff City, 1989)

A1		The Red The Black The Green (4:04)
		Vocals - Lakim Shabazz
A2		Simply Dope, Part 1 (3:28)
A3		Simply Dope, Part 2 (2:28)
B1		Dance, Dance, Dance (4:09)
B2		First Choice (3:26)

Mark has a large collection of "Lost Break Beats" that are broke up by colors. It's one of the things I've been looking for as these are seperated out into many different "colors". Here, I offer up the Brown Album and the Yellow Album. There is supposed to be a Grey, White and Pink Lost Breaks as well, which I have yet to see. If anyone has them, toss 'dem bitches up.

The 45 King - The Lost Break Beats: The Brown Album

A1		Harlem Shuffle
A2		The Storm
A3		Southern Comfort
A4		Walkin'
B1		Hit Me One Time
B2		Uptown Saturday Night
B3		Vibeology
B4		Days End

The 45 King - The Lost Break Beats: The Yellow Album

A1		Popcorn
A2		Cold Got 2 Be
A3		Mo' Action
A4		How U Doin'
A5		Here I Go
A6		Hip Hop Music
A7		Funk Box
B1		Block Party
B2		Blow Up The Spot
B3		Get Funky
B4		Better Things
B5		1, 2, 3, Hit It
B6		The Ave.
B7		Musical Musicia

And last, but not least, the single that started it all off. The 900 Number is probably one of, if not the most popular break in hip hop. It's been used in numerous songs, The Ed Lover Dance, movie soundtracks and I'm sure I've seen it show up on some car commercials in the past. The slowed down James Brown horn is universally recognized by anyone that remotely knows anything about the hip hop culture. Thanks to Chris for upping this

The 45 King - The 900 Number

01 - The 900 Number [Original Mix]
02 - The 900 Number [45 King Remix]
03 - Lakim Shabazz Acappella Vocal
04 - The 900 Number [Ced Gee Remix 1] Featuring Lakim Shabazz
05 - The 900 Number [Ced Gee Remix 2]
06 - The 900 Number [Ced Gee Remix 3]
07 - YZ Acappella Vocal

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The 45 King Appreciation Week, Day 3

What's good party people, welcome to day three of the almighty The 45 King Appreciation week. Not only did Mark come up with more break beats than a hooker turns tricks, dude did his magic for artists to paint their soundscapes to as well. One of his first albums he would produce would be for Lakim Shabazz and his "Pure Righteousness". Lakim was one of the original Afrocentric artists in the late 80's and one of the original members of the Flavor Unit. The 45 King drops beats that are sample based and quite frankly right up there with the best of the time.

Lakim Shabazz - Pure Righteousness (Tuff City, 1988)

A1		Pure Righteousness (4:30)
A2		Black Is Back (3:40)
A3		All True And Living (2:25)
A4		Adding On (Club Track) (4:21)
B1		First In Existence (3:28)
B2		Sample The Dope Noise (2:49)
B3		The Posse Is Large (Remix) (3:28)
B4		Don't Try Us (2:59)
B5		Getting Fierce (3:21)

The first release of the Flavor Unit was released in 1990, and has a very different look than the 1993 release, Roll Wit The Flava. It has been said in past interviews with Mark that a lot of these tracks were just demos and the such they had laying around. The roster on this consisted of Lakim Shabazz, Lord Alibaski, Queen Latifah, Apache, and Double J. Lots of delicious 45 King beats and the MC's were on point as well. Despite the some what, umm, "questionable" album cover, this project is a personal favorite of mine.

The 45 King Presents The Flavor Unit (Tuff City, 1990)

01 Flavor Unit, The Flavor Unit Assassination Squad
Featuring - Apache , Double J (2) , Lakim Shabazz , Lord Alibaski , Queen Latifah
Producer - 45 King, The

02 Lord Alibaski Lyrics In Motion
Producer - 45 King, The

03 Apache I Feel Like Flowing
Producer - 45 King, The

04 Lord Alibaski Top Gun
Producer - 45 King, The

05 Lakim Shabazz & Apache Passin’ The Mike
Producer - 45 King, The

06 Lord Alibaski What It Takes To Be A Rapper
Co-producer - Mighty Maestro, The
Producer - 45 King, The

07 Lakim Shabazz Hands Of Fate
Producer - Lakim Shabazz

08 Lord Alibaski Crunch Time
Producer - Mighty Maestro, The

09 Apache Smooth Yet Hard
Producer - 45 King, The

It's unfortunate the thing that Chill Rob G and this album are most well known for is the whole "Power" controversy, which actually wasn't produced by The 45 King. The greatness this album possesses is lost in the muck of the controversy. And this really is a near classic album in my humble opinion.

Chill Rob G - Ride The Rhythm (Wild Pitch, 1990)

1 Future Shock (4:18)
2 Bad Dreams (3:24)
3 Court Is Now In Session (4:22)
4 Motivation (3:55)
5 Dope Rhymes (3:42)
6 The Power (6:07)
7 Ride The Rhythm (3:56)
8 Make It (4:10)
9 Let The Words Flow (4:18)
10 Let Me Show You (4:14)

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The 45 King Appreciation Week Day 2

The man the 45 King is world renown, yet highly underrated. Both a legend and a forgotten hero. Truth is, the man should be more highly recognized than he is. It is somewhat unfortunate that while he did garner some fame for the "Stan" and "Hard Knock Life" beats, not many people outside us old fogey hip hop heads truly understand the stamp he has left on the hip hop history. He is responsible for one of the illest collection of artists in the original Flavor Unit. He has produced unheralded classics for the likes of Lakim Shabazz and others. The dude has put in work like some of the masters.

Today, we have some compilations that were compiled by people other than myself. My thoughts on this is there are better people out there to cover this kind of thing. As I mentioned yesterday, I myself slept on The 45 King until about two years ago, and if I was sleeping on him and I have the kind of history I do listening to hip hop, there are sure to be others out there as well.

The first batch of these are his "Greatest Breaks" type of things, compiled by Philaflava's Roy Johnson for Strictly Beats, I believe, that long time blog meister Andyman posted up for that site back in December. Some truly classic breaks, that if you don't want to try to collect all the parts and pieces that come to put one of these together, then this is your best bet. For those the slept the first time around, don't past these up this time. And thanks to Andyman and Strictly Beats for posting them and Roy Johnson for putting them together on Philaflava the first time.

Mark The 45 King - Breaks Compilation (Volume 1)
1. Take Me To The 45 King (Breakmania 1)
2. Forty Dog (45 Kingdom)
3. Hoein' (45 Kingdom)
4. Word To Snow Bird (Breakmania 2)
5. Roach Clip (45 Kingdom)
6. Simply Dope Part 1 (The Red The Black The Green)
7. The 900 Number (45 Kingdom)
8. F: Another Club Trax (Master Of The Game)
9. Breakin' Night (Breakmania 2)
10. Funky Drummer (45 Kingdom)
11. Strong Beats From A Strong Man (45 Kingdom)
12. Mark's Revenge (Straight Out Da Crate 2)
13. Bust The Break (Breakmania 1)
14. Too Smooth (Breakmania 1)
15. E: Another Club Trax (Master Of The Game)
16. Kick The Ballistics (45 Kingdom)
17. High Top Fade (Breakmania 2)
18. Simply Dope Part 2 (The Red The Black The Green)
19. Savage (45 Kingdom)
20. Extra Crispy (Breakmania 2)
21. Catchin' A Tude (Breakmania 3)
http://www.zshare.net/download/554342668b17be/

Mark The 45 King - Breaks Compilation (Volume 2)
1. Get Funky (45 Kingdom)
2. Flip Da Script (Straight Out Da Crate 2)
3. Playin' Bellevue (Breakmania 2)
4. Flavor Unit In Full Effect (Rhythmical Madness)
5. Straight Out Da Crate (Straight Out Da Crate 1)
6. Groove To Get Down (Straight Out Da Crate 1)
7. Got It Goin' On (Straight Out Da Crate 1)
8. Puffin' Bizunts (Straight Out Da Crate 1)
9. Hard Damage (Breakmania 2)
10. The Squad Back In Effect (Breakmania 2)
11. Flipshot (Universal Beat Generation 3)
12. Is It Live (Straight Out Da Crate 2)
13. Joint 8 (Straight Out Da Crate 5)
14. Armed And Extremely Funky (Breakmania 2)
15. Big Willie (Beats Of The Month)
16. Fly Decision (Universal Beat Generation 3)
17. Jazz Break #5 (Tuff Ass Jazz)
18. Jazz Break #8 (Tuff Ass Jazz)
19. Jazz Break #1 (Tuff Ass Jazz)
20. Jazz Break #11 (Tuff Ass Jazz)
21. Jazz Break #3 (Tuff Ass Jazz)
22. Jazz Break #10 (Tuff Ass Jazz)
23. Groove Me (Unidentified Source)
http://www.zshare.net/download/554444761d9743/

Mark The 45 King - Breaks Compilation (Volume 3)
1. Jazz Break #2 (Tuff Ass Jazz)
2. Jazz Break #6 (Tuff Ass Jazz)
3. Who What (Beats Of The Month)
4. Bullet Proof (Universal Beat Generation 3)
5. Channel 9 (Universal Beat Generation 3)
6. Standing Start (Universal Beat Generation 3)
7. Blue Street (Universal Beat Generation 3)
8. No Problem (Grooves For A Quiet Storm)
9. Magic Beans (Grooves For A Quiet Storm)
10. Side Dish (Grooves For A Quiet Storm)
11. It's On Son (Grooves For A Quiet Storm)
12. Medium Rare (Grooves For A Quiet Storm)
13. Short Fuse (Grooves For A Quiet Storm)
14. Meganizm (Grooves For A Quiet Storm)
15. Kaboom (Grooves For A Quiet Storm)
http://www.zshare.net/download/554642800913ca/

Next is from the KING of homemade compilations, Jaz from Cold Rock Da Spot. Dude made two brilliant compilations of some of the artists Mark has produced for. There are some true classics littered in the two volumes of "A King's Creation", especially the Markey Fresh jam, which I can't get over. Lots of stuff I hadn't heard of or just didn't have. Once again, Jaz did it right

The 45 King-A Kings Creation Vol 1

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KNWM8KFN

1. chill rob g - chillin (1988)
2. queen latifah - wrath of my madness (1988)
3. grandmaster caz - a girl named kim (45 king remix)
4. mc lyte - kamikaze (1991)
5. latee - brainstorm (1987)
6. lord alibaski - top gun (1990)
7. markey fresh-the king is here-(extended version) (1988)
8. 45 king ft lakim shabazz-the red, the black, the green(1989)
9. gangstarr - knowledge (1989)
10. 45 king ft- kid capri-put the funk out (2001)
11. the original flavor unit (double j, queen latifah,apache,lord alibaski-) flavor
unit assassination squad (45 king remix) (1990)
12. king sun- fat tape (1989)
13. double j-double j'z tantrum (1991)
14. 45 king ft diamond d- double dare (2001)
15. apache - do fa self (1993)
16. cold crush brothers - heartbreakers (45 king remix)
17. eric b and rakim-let the rhythm hit em mark (45 king remix) (1990)
18. peanut butter wolf ft rasco-run the line (45 king remix) (1999)
19. sugar ray & stranger d - knock em out (45 king remix) (1989)
20. chill rob g- wild pitch (original 12'' version) (1988)


The 45 King-A Kings Creation Vol 2

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=W053LNP2

1. chill rob g - court is now In session(very rare promo-the 45 king remix)
2. lord alibaski - lyrics in motion
3. latee - no tricks
4. the 45 king feat-wildchild-two-five
5. chill rob g - let me know (the 45 king remix)
6. maestro fresh wes - drop the needle (the 45 king remix)
7-too nice - cold facts (the 45 king remix)
8-cold crush brothers - we reserve the right to rock (the 45 king remix)
9-lakim shabazz-raw dope rhyme
10-diamond d-best kept secret (the 45 king remix)
11-double j- cannibal town
12-queen latifah- jersey state of mind
13-common-car horn
14-markey fresh- mack of rap (extended mix)
15-the 45 king - strong beats from a strong man
16-digital underground-packet man (the 45 king extended mix)
17-latee - wake up
18-eric b & rakim - microphone fiend (extended remix)

Big up's to Jaz, Roy, and Strictly Beats

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DJ Mark The 45 King Appreciation Week

When people think of all-time great producers, lots of names get tossed around. You have Pete Rock, Dr. Dre, DJ Premier and a host of others that get mentioned before one of Jersey's finest, DJ Mark The 45 King or simply The 45 King. I'm not the best person to speak on the history of The 45 King, who got the name from the ill 45's he used to use for some of his classic break beats. My man Jaz at Cold Rock Da Spot did an excellent write up, so instead of parroting his write up, I'll let you all just read what he had to write about him along with an interview with Mark himself on one of the greatest sites there is, unkut with Robbie.

Most of the older hip hop heads, the people who probably read this blog the most (I could be wrong on that), probably first heard of him from the popularity that the 900 Number garnered in the late 80's. The Ed Lover Dance theme song. That was my first KNOWN introduction, although I had heard some of his stuff before that, without really knowing who he was. He gave us The Flavor Unit, no it wasn't all Queen Latifah. He would then fall on some hard times, which probably really don't need to be rehashed. He would pop up back on the scene producing Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life", which admittedly, I've never really been a fan of, but it was good to see him back in the game. The ulta mega hit would come in the form of Eminem's "Stan", which I read an interesting story on how that beat came to be, which had to do with Dido as well, but seems that I've lost too many brain cells over the years to recall it. It wouldn't be until the rise of the internet and people tossing up some of his work that I really came to appreciate his work and his mark (no pun intended, yeah, bad I know) on the history of the music. His list of artists he has worked with is long and distinguished, from Latee, to one of my personal favorites Markey Fresh.

I'm going to try to stay away from the stuff out there that is still for sale, you know how I roll. But I just want more people to be aware of what this man has done, in the form of breaks, production and work he has done with artists. Which brings to me, does anyone know if you can still buy stuff from the Tuff City site? I know they are offering to sell stuff, but I'm a little iffy about the site with their track record. There are a few 45 King CD's and a bunch of the vinyl stuff that is supposedly for sale on there.

The 45 King - Breakapalooza Vol 1 (Tuff City, 1997)
No Track Listing: http://www.mediafire.com/?bgzyxr1ddkx

The 45 King - Master Of The Game (Tuff City, 1988)

A1 The 900 Number Vocals - Lakim Shabazz
A2 The King Is Here! Vocals - Markey Fresh
A3 La Kim Theme Vocals - Lakim Shabazz
A4 Raw Dope Rhyme Vocals - Lakim Shabazz
A5 We Got The Funk Vocals - Lakim Shabazz
A6 Club Trax 1
B1 A Show Beat
B2 Movin'
Beat Suite II
B3a Fab Five
B3b Turn The Party Out
B3c Rock It Slow
B3d Another Club Trax

The 45 King & Louie Louie - Rhythmical Madness (Tuff City, 1989)

A1 Rhythmical Beatdown (3:33)
A2 Feel The Madness (2:31)
A3 Hazardous To Your Health (3:40)
A4 Deadly And Dangerous (4:45)
A5 Smooth Yet Hard (3:10)Featuring - Apache , Lakim Shabazz Producer - Apache
B1 Flavor Unit In Full Effect (2:52)
B2 Too Damn Funky (2:50)
B3 Jazz It Up (4:11)
B4 Latino (2:53)
B5 Style Is Free (3:05) Featuring - Lakim Shabazz Producer - Lakim Shabazz
B6 Checkmate You Lose (3:43) Producer - Ron Delite Vocals - Ron Delite

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