As one of the least prolific members of the original Flavor Unit, Markey Fresh still made quite an impression based upon his performance on “The King Is Here” alone. A brilliant slice of lo-fi theme music declaring the superiority of New Jersey’s king of the beats, this staple of Red Alert‘s Kiss-FM show exists in two incarnations. The jeep-beat ready 12″ version (complete with crafty “It’s Just Begun” horn chops) is far more commanding than the stripped down mix found on the King’s Master of the Game LP, but Markey’s lyrical dedication to the 45 rings true in both instances.
Somewhere along the line, Jive records signed “the Fresh one” to a one-off single deal, which resulted in “The Mack of Rap” 12″. While it’s hardly essential, I still have a soft-spot for the this song. You can’t really go wrong with lines like: “Business always comes before pleasure, design a rhyme like a tailor-made leather/ Gucci suit with my name on the back – Markey Fresh, I’m the mack of rap!”.
Up until the fellas at Diggers With Gratitude pleasantly suprised me with this find , I thought that I had every Flavor Unit record that ever came out (except for Double J‘s “Cannibal Town”/”Def Style”), but as it turns out, Markey Fresh dropped an EP in 1993 that I’d never heard of. Other than that, I don’t have any info on Markey, but his contributions nevertheless remain as an important part of the Unit puzzle.
DJ Mark the 45 King featuring Markey Fresh – The King Is Here (12″ version) [Tuff City, 1989)
DJ Mark the 45 King featuring Markey Fresh – The Free Style [Tuff City, 1989)
Markey Fresh – The Mack of Rap (45 King Remix) [Jive, 1989]
Markey Fresh – Ain’t No Thang [45 King, 1993] Reposted courtesy of DWG.
Another great post but i gotta disagree and say that “the mack of rap” is definately essential as it’s a very distinctive production and Markey is a charismatic fellow on teh mic.
Wow. I didn’t know shit about this other Markey ep. Whatta find. Rumor has it he’s one of Funk Flex’s lugz shiners/kfc go-getters/weed carriers nowadays. Beats goin’ the Hilltop Hustlers route, i guess.
Thanks for the other 45 King uploads from the ROC ep but the Big Pooh/Champain link isn’t working.
Flex’s rim washer (*pause*), huh? Sure beats working at a carwash in Jersey.
“Roll Wth Me” = fixed.
That “Mack of Rap” is pure dope. I love to hear an MC just go on for a whole track without a chorus.
Again some nice 45 King tracks. I’m not really a fan of Markey Fresh though.
The Mack of Rap.
Heavey.
Does Rich Harrisons stuff remind anyone else of old 45 king stuff?
Been aching for the King is here for like what seems like 20 years, but I guess it must be closer to 16 or 17
You have no Idea how long i have been searching for those other 2 Markey Fresh joints…thank you so much.
FYI, there’s a small photo of 45 King & Markey Fresh together on the back of the DJ Red Alert ‘We Can Do This’ LP – BC
^ I forgot about that. I’ll have to scan that in when I get get a chance.
Thanks for having me on your site, MARKEY FRESH