Brother Marquis

The Caution Crew

He created his first two records when he was in 9th grade. These were two 12-inch singles with his former group, The Caution Crew, which also included the rappers Rodney O (of Rodney-O & Joe Cooley fame) and C Funk. While still in Junior High they released their first single was named "Westside Storie" and the second "Rhythm Rock". It is noted that they have made one of the first twelve inch Hip Hop record from the West Coast.^[1][2]

Joining The 2 Live Crew

While in California, Marquis did small shows with 2 Live Crew. Mr. Mixx noticed his Battle rap skills, and once they met he told him that if he ever got on in music he would call him to be part of it.^[3] Eventually 2 Live Crew would find underground success in Miami and the group moved to be managed by a local DJ named Luther Campbell, who joined the group as the lead man and hype man. However around that time, the artistic direction of the group changed to have sexually explicit lyrics and one of the lead vocalist (Amazing Vee) left the group. One day at the age of 19, he got a call to come to Miami with Mr. Mixx, Fresh Kid Ice, and Luke Skyywalker and joined 2 Live Crew. The first song he did with the group is Word.^[4][5]

The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are

The 2 Live Crew's Gold debut album debut album, The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are (1986) ,exploded on the local scene. This made Brother Marquis and his group mates rap superstars of the time.^[6][7]

Move Somethin'

In 1988, the group released their second album, Move Somethin' It was certified Gold and featured the singles "Move Somethin'" and "Do Wah Diddy Diddy". The album improved on the charts from the previous album, making in to #68 on the Billboard 200 and #20 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.

Campbell decided to sell a separate clean version in addition to the explicit version of the album, Move Somethin' (1988), produced by Mr. Mixx. A record store clerk in Alexander City, Alabama, was cited for selling a copy to an undercover police officer in 1988. It was the first time in the United States that a record store owner was held liable for obscenity over music. The charges were dropped after a jury found the record store not guilty. Their following album Move Somethin' (1988) also went gold.^[8]

As Nasty As They Wanna Be

Their third album As Nasty As They Wanna Be (1989), it became the group's largest seller, being certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. In 1990, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ruled that the album was legally obscene;^[9] this ruling was later overturned by the Eleventh Circuit.^[10] It is the first album in history to be deemed legally obscene.^[11] An obscenity trial followed, in which Henry Louis Gates, Jr., addressed the court on behalf of the defendants, all of whom were eventually acquitted.

Banned in the U.S.A.

In 1990, Brother Marquis with the 2 Live Crew before their original split. First Banned in the U.S.A. (1990), originally credited as Luke's solo album featuring 2 Live Crew and in later editions credited as a 2 Live Crew album. The album included the hits "Do the Bart" and the title track. It was also the very first release to bear the RIAA-standard Parental Advisory warning sticker.^[12]

The eponymous title single is a reference to the decision in a court case that its album As Nasty As They Wanna Be was obscene (the decision would later be overturned on appeal). Bruce Springsteen granted the group permission to interpolate his song "Born in the U.S.A." for it.

Displeased over the decision of Florida Governor Bob Martinez who, on being asked to examine the album, decided it was obscene and recommended local law enforcement take action against it and over the subsequent action of Broward County, Florida, sheriff Nick Navarro, who arrested local record-store owners on obscenity charges for selling the group's albums and the subsequent arrest of members of the group on obscenity charges, the group included the song "Fuck Martinez", which also includes multiple repetitions of the phrase "fuck Navarro". The group found two other men with the same names, and had them sign releases, as they thought that this action would make it impossible for Martinez or Navarro to sue them.

Live in Concert

That same year they released Live in Concert is the first and only live album by American rap group 2 Live Crew and their fifth record overall. It was released under the Effect subsidiary label of Luke Records, a move that was deemed necessary for the company to be able to release additional 2 Live Crew material outside of their distribution deal with Atlantic Records, which was signed in 1990 – the same year they released Banned In The U.S.A.. The album peaked at number 46 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.^[13]

Sports Weekend: As Nasty as They Wanna Be, Pt. 2

Sports Weekend: As Nasty as They Wanna Be, Pt. 2 (1991). is the sixth album overall and fifth studio album by the 2 Live Crew (released in 1991) and the sequel of As Nasty As They Wanna Be. A clean version was released later that same year titled Sports Weekend: As Clean As They Wanna Be Part II and was the sequel of As Clean As They Wanna Be. This would be the last studio album by all original members of the 2 Live Crew.^[14]

2 Nazty

In 1993, he and DJ Toomp formed a duo group named 2 Nazty and released one Album named Indecent Exposure.^[15]

99 Problems

In 1993, Brother Marquis was a featured guest on the album Home Invasion by Ice-T and made the original version of "99 Problems" who was later remade into a major hit by Jay-Z.^[16] Marquis filed a lawsuit against Jay-Z and Ice-T over the ’99 Problems’ remake. Marquis claimed he was paid just $10,000 in royalties, despite being prominently featured on the original version.^[17]

Only 2 Live Crew album without him

The following year, Luther Campbell, Fresh Kid Ice, and a local rapper named Verb made an album called Back at Your Ass for the Nine-4, under the banner The New 2 Live Crew, without Mr. Mixx and Brother Marquis. It is the last 2 Live Crew related project to feature Luther Campbell, and the only one without Brother Marquis.^[18]

"Hoochie Mama" Friday soundtrack

Fresh Kid Ice, Brother Marquis and Mr. Mixx re-formed again to record "Hoochie Mama" for the soundtrack of 1995 movie Friday. The soundtrack reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, where it held the position for two weeks, and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for six weeks.

Shake a Lil' Somethin'

In 1996, he reunited with Fresh Kid Ice and Mr. Mixx. Under the 2 Live Crew banner they made the album Shake a Lil' Somethin' who's hit song by the same name, peaked at #11 on the Hot Rap Singles chart,^[19] "Do the Damn Thing", which made it to #24 on the same chart,^[20] and "Be My Private Dancer", whick peaked at #34.^[21] It would be the last album to feature Mr. Mixx.

The Real One

In 1998, he made with Fresh Kid Ice The Real One the final 2 Live Crew to date. Its single "2 Live Party" featuring KC of KC and the Sunshine Band and Freak Nasty peaked at #52 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs^[22] and #9 on the Hot Rap Songs,^[23] and title single "The Real One" (the only song where he doesn't rap) featuring Ice-T peaked at #60 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs^[24] and #9 on the Hot Rap Songs.^[25]

Solo: Bottom Boi Style

Bottom Boi Style, his first and only solo album to date, it was released in 2003 under the label Playalistic Ent.^[26]

Reforming The 2 Live Crew with Fresh Kid Ice

Circa 2006-2007 Brother Marquis and Fresh Kid Ice discussed their differences and decided to relaunch 2 Live Crew. They tried to offer other past members to be involved but declined. Since the both of them have been touring and released singles.^[27]

Award, Album announcements, singles, videos, and touring.

In 2010, he and Fresh Kid Ice briefly reunited with Luther Campbell, and Mr. Mixx as they were honorees winners at the 2010 VH1 Hip-Hop Honors: The Dirty South Edition.^[28]

Later that year, the both of them released the singles I'm 2 Live featuring Mannie Fresh, Couguar, Boom featuring E-40. They announced the release of an album called Just Wanna be Heard that remains unreleased till this day.^[29][30]

In 2014, they released the single Take It Off. It was turned into a music video with cameos by Flo Rida, Trick Daddy, Trina, Mannie Fresh, and Flavor Flav.^[31] Later that year they made a cameo in the Flo Rida music video G.D.F.R..^[32]

Also that year they announced an album called Turn Me On, which remains unreleased.^[33]

By thanksgiving of that year, 2 Live Crew reunited with Luther Campbell for a series of shows until 2015.^[34][35]

Fresh Kid Ice leaves 2 Live Crew and Mr. Mixx returns

In 2016, Fresh Kid Ice left the group to relaunch Chinaman Records. Shortly after Mr. Mixx returned to the 2 Live Crew.

Since 2 Live Crew consist of him and Mr. Mixx, they released two singles How Bout Dem Cowboys (2016) and One Horse Sleigh (2016).^[36][37]