Rapper Brother Marquis Of '2 Live Crew' Dead At 58
Mark D. Ross, member of the legendary rap group 2 Live Crew, has died according to an announcement made via the group's Instagram Monday. A cause of death was not been given.
He was 58.
"Mark Ross AKA 'Brother Marquis' of the 2 Live Crewhas passed away," the group penned in their Instagram post. Fans were shocked, repeatedly saying that the rapper is now with fellow group member Fresh Kid Ice, who died in 2017.
"This is sad first Fresh Kid Ice now him, may they both rest in peace," an Instagram user replied. "You definitely will be missed but never forgotten, I will always play your music on the radio Monday, RIP Brother Marquis 305 legend," another commented. "Shake a lil somethin' will be on blast today. RIP legend. One of the reasons I fell in love with Miami Bass at such a young age," a third user wrote.
The group was known for their bass-hitting and high-tempo tracks with a focus on explicit lyrics and catchy beats.
Gaining massive notoriety for profane lyrics, it wasn't long before their music prompted the first ever Parental Advisory sticker we see today. Their album, "Banned in the USA," which was released in 1990, debuted the now-popular label, warning listeners of explicit content.
The title of the aforementioned album was an ode to their victory, after a court in Florida ruled that their "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" (1989) album was obscene, making it the first album in history to be banned — although it was later overturned.
The Crew's lineup included Uncle Luke, Fresh Kid Ice, Mr. Mixx, and Brother Marquis. Their greatest commercial success came from the late 1980s through the early 1990s. The hip-hop group's most notable hits include 'Me So H***y,' 'Shake A Lil' Somethin,' and 'Pretty Woman.'
Ross also coined one of the most famous phrases in hip hop, which was later used by rap mogul Jay-Z in the early 2000's, "I got 99 problems but a b***h ain't one," stemming from the Crew's track 'Table Dance.'
