Prince Markie Dee
A foundational hip-hop figure as a member of the Fat Boys and later a respected radio personality and producer.
1968–2021 (age 53)·American rapper·Birthday: February 19·Generation X
Biography
Prince Markie Dee, born Mark Morales, was a bridge between hip-hop's playful infancy and its mainstream maturity. He first found fame as the smooth-talking MC and self-proclaimed 'Prince' of the Fat Boys, the jovial trio from Brooklyn known for their beatboxing, comedic flair, and hits like 'Jailhouse Rap' and 'The Fat Boys Are Back.' Markie Dee's charisma was central to their appeal. After the group's dissolution, he successfully reinvented himself behind the scenes, proving his musical depth. As a producer and songwriter, he co-crafted massive pop and R&B hits for artists like Mariah Carey ('Dreamlover') and Mary J. Blige ('Real Love'). In his final act, he became a beloved radio host on Miami's 103.5 The Beat, connecting with a new generation of listeners. His journey from beatboxing pioneer to hitmaker to airwave personality showcased his enduring adaptability and love for music in all its forms.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Prince was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Prince Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Prince's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2021Died at 53
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
Key Achievements
- Won a Grammy Award in 1988 with the Fat Boys for their collaboration on 'Chillin' with the TV Show 'Crush Groove'.
- Co-wrote and produced Mariah Carey's 1993 number-one single 'Dreamlover'.
- Produced tracks on Mary J. Blige's landmark album 'What's the 411?' including the single 'Real Love.'
- Inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2008 as a member of the Fat Boys.
- Hosted a popular afternoon drive-time radio show on Miami's 103.5 The Beat for years.
Did You Know?
The Fat Boys were originally called the Disco 3 before their manager renamed them.
He made a cameo appearance in the 1985 hip-hop film 'Krush Groove.'
Markie Dee was the first in the group to pursue a solo album, releasing 'Free' in 1992.
He was of Puerto Rican descent, adding to the early diversity of hip-hop culture.
After his radio career, he worked as a programming consultant for other stations.
“We were just having fun, and that's what made it special. We never took ourselves too serious.”
