‘2 Live Crew’ Rapper Brother Marquis Dies At 58

Popular rapper Brother Marquis, best known for his involvement in the Miami hip-hop group “2 Live Crew” in the 1980s, passed away this week at the age of 58. No cause of death has been released.

The news of Brother Marquis’ passing was confirmed by his manager in an email sent to USA Today on Monday. The group also shared a post on their Instagram in which they confirmed the artist’s passing.

Another member of the group, Uncle Luke, also known as Luther Campbell, posted a tribute to his friend on his X account.

“My Condolence goes out to the Family of Brother Marquis and so many of his Fans from around the World after learning his passing.”

“We took on so many fights for the culture (and) made Great music together something I would never forget. We had recently got back together to take on another fight to get back our catalog that was stolen from us. We will continue that fight in his name for his Family.”

USA Today

Mark Ross, better known as Brother Marquis, joined 2 Live Crew in 1986. In a 2022 interview with VladTV, Brother Marquis discussed the group’s touring schedule in the 1980s.

2 Live Crew’s fourth album, titled “Banned in the USA,” was the first rap album to feature the black-and-white “parental advisory explicit content” label.

Ross was born on April 4, 1966, in Rochester, New York. While Mark was a teenager, his family moved to California. By the 1980s, Ross was releasing music with his first group, “The Cautious Crew.”

After becoming friends with DJ and producer David Hobbs, who was part of the “2 Live Crew” at the time, Ross was selected to fill the spot of a member who left the group. The group’s breakout gold-certified debut album was titled “The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are.”

Rest in peace!