Brother-marquis-passes-away. He was 58. Rapper Brother Marquis of 2 Live Crew performs onstage as part of ‘(Baby Got) Back to the 90’s ‘ at the HEB Center on July 22, 2016 in Cedar Park, Texas.
The hip-hop community is deeply saddened after the loss of Mark Ross, better known as Brother Marquis, who passed away at the age of 58.
A member of the pioneering Miami hip-hop group, 2 Live Crew, Brother Marquis left an indelible mark on the music industry with his provocative and groundbreaking contributions.
2 Live Crew’s far time manager, DJ Debo, confirmed Marquis’ demise to PEOPLE, though he provided no further info.
Sources told media that Ross’ death “appears to be natural” and no foul play is suspected.
The news was shared on the hip-hop group’s Instagram account on Monday, June 3.
The post read, “Mark Ross AKA Brother Marquis of the 2 Live Crew has died #2livecrew.”
Born on April 4, 1966, in Rochester, New York, Mark Ross spent his adolescence in Los Angeles before moving to Miami, where he joined the Florida-based hip-hop group.
Brother Marquis became a member of 2 Live Crew in 1986 and collaborated with DJ Mr. Mixx, Fresh Kid Ice, and Luke Skyywalker throughout the ’80s and ’90s
He made his debut with the group on their 1986 album, The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are, where he set the stage for the group’s controversial and influential career.
Brother Marquis also appeared on several other unforgettable albums, in addition Move Somethin‘ (1988), As Nasty As They Wanna Be (1989), Banned in the U.S.A. (1990), and As Nasty as They Wanna Be Part II (1991).
The group’s 1989 album, As Nasty As They Wanna Be, became a cultural flashpoint.
A Florida judge ruled the album obscene, leading to the arrest of group members Luke Skyywalker (Luther Campbell) and Fresh Kid Ice (Christopher Wong Won), along with a record store owner who declined to stop selling the album.