Prince Markie Dee

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Prince Markie Dee was the stage name of Mark Anthony Morales (February 19, 1968 – February 18, 2021). He was an American rapper, producer, and songwriter from Brooklyn. He was a member of The Fat Boys, a popular hip hop group in the 1980s. Morales helped form the group Disco 3 in the early 1980s with Darren Robinson and Damon Wimbley. After winning a talent show at Radio City Music Hall in 1983, they signed a deal and were renamed The Fat Boys, a name inspired by their weight. The Fat Boys released seven albums, with three going gold and one, Crushin’ (1987), going platinum. Their hit “Wipeout” with The Beach Boys reached #12 on the Billboard charts. The group appeared in the films Disorderlies (1987), Krush Groove (1985) and Knights of the City (1986). They released On and On (1989), a rap opera, but it wasn’t a success and they split up after Mack Daddy (1991).

Morales pursued a solo career with Columbia Records, releasing Free (1992), which included the hit “Typical Reasons (Swing My Way).” He and Cory Rooney started the production company Soul Convention and wrote and produced songs for artists like Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey, including Blige’s debut album What’s the 411? (1992) and the hit “Real Love.” From 2008 to 2010, he hosted a radio show in Miami and later worked at WEDR 99.1 FM and on Sirius XM’s Rock the Bells with his own show, The Prince Markie Dee Show. He also served as vice-president of Uncle Louie Music Group. Morales dated rapper Pepa in the mid-1980s.

Mark Morales died in Miami on February 18, 2021, one day before his 53rd birthday, from congestive heart failure.