The hip-hop community mourns the loss of Mark Ross, better known as Brother Marquis, a prominent figure in the iconic Miami hip-hop group 2 Live Crew. Ross passed away at 58, leaving behind a legacy that significantly impacted the music industry and the Miami bass genre.
Early Life and Rise to Fame
From Rochester to Los Angeles
Mark Ross was born on April 4, 1966, in Rochester, New York. At 14, Ross and his family relocated to Los Angeles. It was in LA where he began to cultivate his talent in the local rap scene, setting the stage for his future success.
Joining 2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew was founded in Riverside, California, in 1984 by DJ Mr. Mixx and rappers Fresh Kid Ice and Amazing Vee. Ross connected with the group in Riverside and was officially brought into the fold in 1986 when he was 19. This inclusion would mark the beginning of a transformative period for both Ross and the group.
2 Live Crew’s Breakthrough and Controversies
The Move to Miami and Debut Album
After relocating to Miami, 2 Live Crew released their debut album, The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are, in 1986. The album, which went gold, featured tracks like “We Want Some Pussy” and “Throw the ‘D’,” and was immediately embroiled in controversy due to its explicit content. This controversy would become a hallmark of the group’s career.
National Success and Legal Battles
2 Live Crew gained national notoriety with their explicit lyrics and frequent run-ins with obscenity charges. Their subsequent albums, Move Somethin’ (1988), As Nasty as They Want to Be (1989), Banned in the U.S.A. (1990), and Sports Weekend (As Nasty as They Wanna Be Part II) (1991), all achieved significant commercial success, with As Nasty as They Wanna Be reaching platinum status. Banned in the U.S.A., it is one of the first albums to feature the RIAA-standard Parental Advisory warning sticker.
Legacy and Influence
Championing Free Speech
Throughout their career, 2 Live Crew pushed the boundaries of free speech in music. In a Miami Times interview, Ross expressed pride in the group’s role in challenging censorship and advocating for First Amendment rights. “I’m grateful and honored to be a pioneer as far as explicit lyrics, First Amendment rights, fighting censorship, and naked women on the stage,” he said.
Continued Impact
Even after the breakup of the best-known lineup in 1992, Ross continued to influence the music industry. He briefly pursued a career in stand-up comedy and formed the rap duo 2 Nasty with DJ Toomp. As a solo artist, Ross made a notable feature on Ice-T’s track “99 Problems,” later famously sampled by Jay-Z.
Reunions and Later Years
Sporadic Reformations
Over the past two decades, Ross and 2 Live Crew reunited periodically, performing and touring semi-regularly. These reunions allowed them to reconnect with fans and introduce their groundbreaking music to new audiences.
Passing and Tributes
The news of Ross’s death was confirmed by the official 2 Live Crew Instagram account and their longtime manager, DJ Debo. While no details or cause of death have been provided, the impact of Ross’s death has been felt deeply within the hip-hop community.
