Mark Ross, aka Brother Marquis, was a mainstay of the Miami rap group 2 Live Crew, whose raunchy lyrics set the stage for anti-censorship battles in the 1980s and ‘90s.
- Died: June 3, 2024 (Who else died on June 3?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 58.
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Brother Marquis’ legacy
He was born Mark D. Ross yet was better known to the world as Brother Marquis, one of the core members of 2 Live Crew, one of the most controversial groups in music history. His work as a rapper began in the ‘80s with his own group, The Cautious Crew, which released a couple of independent singles that caught the ear of DJ Mr. Mixx. Mixx then was with the newly-formed Miami group 2 Live Crew and invited Marquis to join.
Marquis and 2 Live Crew’s first album, “The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are,” went gold despite being released independently, and it put the group on the map for their explicit lyrics, comedic content, and danceable grooves inspired by the club scene in Miami. “Move Somethin’,” their second LP, went gold, too. A year later, in 1989, the group dropped “As Nasty as They Wanna Be,” which became a platinum-selling hit on the strength of the single, “Me So Horny.” It also turned into a lightning rod for controversy, becoming the first album to be legally declared obscene and helping to kick off a major censorship battle in the courts, media, and public discourse.
In 1993, Marquis coined the phrase that West coast rapper Ice-T would turn into his song, “99 Problems,” later covered by Jay-Z and made a big hit. Marquis performed on Ice-T’s version, too. The rapper had differences with some members of 2 Live Crew, and over the years, he left and reunited with them several times. Together, he and the group released eight albums and helped rap – and music in general – push the envelope when it came to what could be vocalized in popular American music.
Tributes to Brother Marquis
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
