- Brother Marquis (Mark D. Ross) joined 2 Live Crew shortly after its founding.
- The group was known for the exaggerated sexual lyrics of their early albums.
- In 1990, As Nasty As They Wanna Be (1989) was declared obscene.
Brother Marquis, one of the core members of the rap group 2 Live Crew, has died at age 58.
The group’s social media accounts revealed that brother Marquis, born Mark D. Ross, died on Monday.
Sources with direct knowledge said TMZ His death appeared to be due to natural causes.
Brother Marquis’ death follows the 2017 death of one of 2 Live Crew’s co-founders, Fresh Kid Ice.
The rapper appeared on many of the group’s most iconic and controversial albums, including the hit 1989 LP As Nasty As They Wanna Be, which was briefly declared obscene, leading to the rappers’ arrests in 1990.
Brother Marquis, one of the lead members of the rap group 2 Live Crew, has died at age 58. The group’s social media accounts revealed that Brother Marquis, born Mark D. Ross, died on Monday; photographed in 2016 in Cedar Park, Texas
Brother Marquis (second from right) joined the group shortly after its founding and performed on the group’s early hit LPs, which were mired in controversy; (From left to right) Mr. Mix (David Hobbs), Fresh Kid Ice (Chris Wong Won), Brother Marquis (Ross) and Luke Skyywalker (Luther Campbell)
In 2 Liv Crew’s announcement about Brother Marquis’ death, it was noted that he “went to the upper room.”
The band’s manager later confirmed his death to TMZ without providing any additional details.
No crime is suspected at this time, but the manner of his death has not yet been revealed.
Ross, who was born in Rochester, New York, and moved to Los Angeles with his family as a teenager, caught the attention of 2 Live Crew DJ Mr. Mixx through his work with his first group The Cautious Crew and his stellar battle rap performances.
Although he failed to be a founding member of 2 Live Crew, Ross was with the group, as Brother Marquis, on their influential debut album The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are, which was released in 1986.
In 1987, the album peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and peaked at number 128 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The album was a key document of the Miami bass style of hip hop, which centered on classic drum machine beats with plentiful bass, fast, dance-friendly tempos, and a focus on particularly sexual lyrics and themes.
Those bold lyrics from some rappers and groups associated with Miami bass helped prevent it from becoming a major force nationally, as they were not allowed on the radio.
Sources told TMZ that brother Marquis’ death appeared to be due to natural causes, but the manner has not yet been revealed; photographed in 2015 in Washington, DC
Brother Marquis (second from right) joined the group before their 1986 debut LP, The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are, which was certified gold by the RIAA; photographed in 1989 with 2 Live Crew
Ross and the rest of 2 Live Crew had another hit on their hands with their second album, 1988’s Move Somethin’, which was notable for its innovative sample sources.
It peaked at number 20 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and rose significantly on the Billboard 200 albums chart to number 68.
Like its predecessor, Move Somethin’ earned a gold certification from the RIAA.
