The Fat Boys
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| The Fat Boys | ||
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 The Fat Boys on their Debut album
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| Background information | ||
| Also known as | Disco 3 | |
| Origin | Brooklyn, NY, USA | |
| Genre(s) | Hip-hop | |
| Years active | 1982 - 1991 | |
| Label(s) | Sutra WEA |
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| Former members | ||
| Prince Markie Dee Human Beat Box Kool Rock-Ski |
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The Fat Boys were an American hip-hop music trio from Brooklyn, New York City who emerged in the early 1980s.
Contents |
[edit] Member details
- Mark "Prince Markie Dee" Morales
- Damon "Kool Rock-Ski" Wimbley (born 4 November 1966)
- Darren "Buffy, the Human Beat Box" Robinson
[edit] History
Originally the group was known as The Disco Three. However, the name was changed after their manager, Charles Stettler, complained about how much the trio ate during an early European tour. Charles Stettler and Art Kass were listed as the executive record producers on the 1984 Fat Boys album.
Unlike many of the streetwise images of the genre, the Fat Boys were known for their offbeat and friendly style. Much of their material involved the pleasures of food and drink, as well as partying and sexual escapades. Buffy, the Human Beatbox, was a pioneer in beatboxing (using his mouth to portray the typical hip hop percussion "scratch 'n mix" sounds). His distinctive talent was influential to the genre as well as a noticeable hook to get the Fat Boys noticed. Buffy and another contemporary Doug E. Fresh popularized beatboxing, inspiring other artists to innovate, including Biz Markie and later, others such as Rahzel. Attempting to capitalize on the appearance-oriented name of the Fat Boys, another hip hop group dubbed themselves the Skinny Boys, and yet another, the Fat Girls. Their popularity was mild in comparison, however.
For their 1987 album, Crushin', the Fat Boys made a cover version of The Surfaris' hit, "Wipe Out", with The Beach Boys singing back-up vocals. The single made it to #12 on the Billboard chart, and #10 on the corresponding R&B listing. The Fat Boys also recorded a version of "The Twist" with the original recording artist, Chubby Checker.
Capitalizing on their good humored personalities, the trio starred in the 1985 Run DMC film Krush Groove and in the Hollywood feature film, Disorderlies (1987), which also featured Ralph Bellamy as a millionaire invalid who receives bumbling care by his good-natured orderlies (played by the Fat Boys). They were later approached to record the theme song for A Nightmare of Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988), called "Ready for Freddy".
The group's popularity waned by the '90s, and Prince Markie Dee left the group to pursue solo interests. In 1991, the remaining two members (Kool Rock Ski & Buffy, The Human Beat Box) carried on as a duo and released Mack Daddy (1991); but soon disbanded the group. Regardless, the Fat Boys are fondly regarded as a seminal part of early rap music recording history.
Although there was talk of a Fat Boys reunion, nothing materialised. By December 10, 1995, it became an impossibility when Buffy, the Human Beat Box died of a heart attack in Rosedale, Queens, New York. He was 28 years old and reportedly 450 lbs.
Prince Markie Dee is currently a host for WMIB's morning drive-time show. [1]
[edit] Discography
- 1984 - Fat Boys 12" (as The Disco 3) - (Sutra)
[edit] LPs
- 1984 - Fat Boys - (Sutra)
- 1985 - The Fat Boys Are Back! - (Sutra)
- 1986 - Big & Beautiful - (Sutra)
- 1987 - Greatest Hits: The Best Part of the Fat Boys - (Sutra)
- 1987 - Crushin’ - (Tin Pan Apple/Polydor); reached #8 on Billboard Hot 100, and #4 on the R&B chart
- 1988 - Coming Back Hard Again - (Tin Pan Apple/Polydor); reached #33 on Billboard Hot 100, and #21 on R&B)
- 1989 - On And On - (Tin Pan Apple/Mercury)
- 1991 - Mack Daddy (without Prince Markie D) - (Emperor/Ichiban)
- 1997 - All Meat, No Filler! The Best of The Fat Boys - (Rhino)
[edit] Singles as one-time appearances
- 1985 - "Chillin With The Refrigerator" - (Sutra)
- 1985 - "Force M.D.s Meet the Fat Boys" on the Force M.D.s' album Chillin’ (Tommy Boy)
- 1985 - "All You Can Eat" - Krush Groove Original Soundtrack - (Warner Bros.)
- 1985 - "Krush Groovin'" (as part of the Krush Groove All Stars) - Krush Groove Original Soundtrack - (Warner Bros.); reached #87 on the US R&B chart
- 1985 - "Sun City" - Artists United Against Apartheid - (Manhattan)
- 1986 - "King Holiday" - (as part of The King Dream Chorus and Holiday Crew) - (Mercury)
- 1987 - "Baby You're a Rich Man" - Disorderlies Soundtrack - (Tin Pan Apple/Polygram)
[edit] Filmography
- 1985 - Knights of the City, a.k.a. Cry Of The City (New World)
- 1985 - Krush Groove (Warner Brothers)
- 1986 - Miami Vice TV show, episode "Florence Italy"
- 1986 - Fat Boys On Video: Brrr Watch ‘Em! (MCA Home Video)
- 1987 - Disorderlies (Warner Brothers)
- 1987 - Square One music video "Burger Pattern"
- 1988 - Square One music video "One Billion"
- 1988 - 3 X 3 (Tin Pan Alley/Polygram Music Video)
- 1989 - Square One music video "Working Backwards" (1989)
