Mark Ross, widely recognized by his stage name Brother Marquis, a pivotal figure in the provocative Miami-based hip-hop group 2 Live Crew, has died at the age of 58.
The group’s Instagram account confirmed his death on Monday, June 3 with additional confirmation from their longtime manager, DJ Debo. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Born on April 4, 1966, in Rochester, New York, Ross moved to Los Angeles, California, with his family during his teenage years. It was in Los Angeles where he first engaged with the emerging rap scene. At the age of 19, in 1986, Ross joined 2 Live Crew, a group originally formed in Riverside, California. This marked the start of a significant chapter for Ross as the group relocated to Miami, Florida and soared to fame.
The lineup of 2 Live Crew, including Luther Campbell (Luke Skyywalker), Christopher Wong Won (Fresh Kid Ice), David Hobbs (Mr. Mixx), and Ross, became notorious for their sexually explicit lyrics and dynamic performances. Their national breakout came with the 1986 debut album, “The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are,” featuring tracks such as “We Want Some P__y” and “Throw the ‘D’.” These songs and the group’s bold style frequently led to legal challenges over obscenity charges, yet they remained influential figures in the hip-hop community and pioneers of the genre’s explicit content.
Ross, along with his bandmates, was at the forefront of significant censorship battles, championing the cause of free speech that led to notable legal precedents favoring artistic expression. “I’m grateful and honored to be a pioneer in terms of explicit lyrics, First Amendment rights, fighting censorship, and the inclusion of naked women on stage,” Ross remarked in a Miami Times interview, highlighting the defiant spirit that characterized his career.
Throughout the late 1980s and early ’90s, despite their contentious start, 2 Live Crew saw a succession of successful albums. “Move Somethin'” and “As Nasty as They Wanna Be” attained gold and platinum status, respectively, reflecting not only their ability to provoke but also to engage in deeper cultural dialogues about expression and censorship.
After the group disbanded in 1992, Ross explored stand-up comedy and formed the rap duo 2 Nasty with DJ Toomp. He also made a notable guest appearance on Ice-T’s track “99 Problems” in 1993, which was later famously sampled by Jay-Z. Over the following decades, Ross remained an active participant in 2 Live Crew reunions and tours.
The music industry and fans worldwide have expressed their condolences and respect. Luther Campbell, a key member of 2 Live Crew, shared his reflections: “We faced many challenges together for the culture and created unforgettable music. Recently, we reunited to reclaim our catalog that was taken from us. We will continue this battle in his honor,” Campbell said on X.
Brother Marquis’s legacy as a pioneer in the hip-hop industry and as a champion of free speech will continue to influence generations. His artistic contributions went beyond entertainment; they tested and expanded the boundaries of artistic expression.
