Iconic rapper Brother Marquis, a member of the legendary rap group 2 Live Crew, has passed away at the age of 58, as confirmed by the group on social media. The New York native, whose real name was Mark D. Ross, joined the Miami hip-hop group in 1986 at the age of 19. The group’s manager has verified the news to TMZ, stating that there is no suspicion of foul play in his death.
Brother Marquis, along with fellow rappers Uncle Luke, Fresh Kid Ice, and Mr. Mixx, rose to fame as hip-hop legends with their controversial 1989 album “As Nasty As They Wanna Be.” The album faced legal challenges for its explicit content, leading to a landmark obscenity case that put the group in the spotlight. Despite the legal battles, 2 Live Crew’s music continued to resonate with fans, including their chart-topping song “Banned in the U.S.A.,” which defended freedom of expression.
Uncle Luke, the group’s frontman, paid tribute to Brother Marquis on social media, expressing his condolences to his family and fans. He shared that they had recently reunited to reclaim their stolen catalog and vowed to continue the fight in Brother Marquis’s name. The rapper emphasized celebrating Marquis’s life and legacy, stating that’s how he would want to be remembered.
The group’s legacy lives on as they remain embroiled in a legal battle over music rights and ownership. Brother Marquis will be remembered for his contributions to the music industry and his role in shaping the hip-hop genre alongside 2 Live Crew.
Vocabulary List:
- Iconic (adjective): Characteristic of an icon widely recognized and well-established.
- Legendary (adjective): Remarkable enough to be considered extraordinary and famous.
- Hip-hop (noun): A style of popular music of US black and Hispanic originfeaturing rap with an electronic backing.
- Controversial (adjective): Causing or likely to cause disagreement and argument.
- Explicit (adjective): Stated clearly and in detailleaving no room for confusion or doubt.
- Obscenity (noun): The state or quality of being offensive or disgusting by accepted standards of morality and decency.
