Miami, FL – June 4, 2024 – Brother Marquis, a member of the pioneering Miami rap group 2 Live Crew, has died at the age of 57.
Born Mark Ross, Brother Marquis passed away on Monday from natural causes. Known for their raunchy lyrics and groundbreaking contributions to hip-hop, 2 Live Crew, which included Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell, Chris “Fresh Kid Ice” Wong Won, and David “Mr. Mixx” Hobbs, made history with their 1989 album “As Nasty As They Wanna Be.” The album’s controversy over obscenity laws went all the way to the Supreme Court, securing important free speech rights for artists.
Brother Marquis joined the group in 1985, contributing significantly to its success with tracks like “Me So Horny” and “Hoochie Mama.” Despite the group disbanding in the 1990s, their impact on hip-hop and American culture remains significant.
Brother Marquis also worked outside 2 Live Crew, notably collaborating with Ice-T and influencing Jay-Z’s famous line, “I got 99 problems but a b**** ain’t one.”
His passing follows that of Fresh Kid Ice in 2017, and Uncle Luke expressed his condolences and commitment to preserving their legacy. Miami locals and hip-hop enthusiasts continue to celebrate 2 Live Crew’s role in putting Miami on the hip-hop map and fighting for artistic freedom.