by Ran
The Fat Boys and Julius "Dr. J" Irving
The cast of Krush Groove: Kool Rock-Ski, Sheila E.,
Blair Underwood, Buff, Prince Markie Dee, DMC,
Jam Master Jay, Run and Kurtis Blow
Damon "Kool Rock-Ski" Wimbley met Mark "Prince Markie Dee" Morales and Darren "Buff Love" Robinson when the two moved to his street, Schenck Avenue, located in Brooklyn, New York's East New York neighborhood. Eventually, the three began hosting parties in the basement of Morales' home, charging a $2 entrance fee. Their mutual love of hip hop music led to Morales' proposal that they form a rap group, which they named Disco 3. Initially, only Wimbley and Morales served as the group's rappers, while Robinson acted as a DJ of sorts, providing vocal percussion. Upon first hearing it, Wimbley and Morales were completely unfamiliar with Robinson's imitation of a drum machine, using only his mouth, which would come to be known as "beat-boxing".
In 1984, the teenagers (ranging in age from 14-16) entered a dance and rap talent show conceived by promoter Charles Stetler at the now-defunct Bronx nightclub Disco Fever. The trio was awarded first prize by judges Kurtis "Kurtis Blow" Walker and Harlem rap group The Fearless Four at the finals, which were held at Radio City Music Hall. Following the win, Stetler and partner Lynda West began managing the group and quickly booked them on a European tour.
At one stop on the tour, the obese teens generated a $400 food bill. This incident prompted Stetler to suggest that they change the name of the group to The Fat Boys. The name change inspired rapper Kurtis Blow, who agreed to produce a song for the trio, to name the track "Fat Boys". Following its release, the single, featuring Robinson (now known as "The Human Beat Box") on the B-side track "Stick 'Em", went on to sell 200,000 copies. After penning a gritty prison story titled "Jail House Rap", the boys were instructed to re-write the song with a more comedic tone (the altered version is about the teens doing time for stealing pizza). All three songs appeared on the group's self-titled debut album, released on May 29, 1984.
The following year, the group's second album, The Fat Boys Are Back, was released on June 1. The album, produced by Kurtis Blow, features their signature song, "The Fat Boys Are Back".
Later that year, the trio appeared in the film Krush Groove, which is loosely based on the early career of music entrepreneur Russell Simmons.
When the group participated in the 1984 and '85 Fresh Fest arena tours with Run DMC, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Whodini and Kurtis Blow, all three members indulged in sexual exploits with female fans, however, Robinson, the heaviest Fat Boy, entertained more women than the other two, by far. Morales, however, did manage to become engaged to Sandy "Pepa" Denton of rap group Salt 'n Pepa -- though the two never made it down the aisle.
The Fat Boys' third and fourth albums, Big & Beautiful and Crushin' were released in 1986 and 1987, respectively. The next year saw the release of Coming Back Hard Again and On and On hit stores in 1989.
By 1989, the group had earned $5.5 million. However, tensions arose between the group and Stetler due to their contract with Polygram Records, which made the latter their manager and label-head. He also owned "The Fat Boys" name. Perhaps inevitably, Stetler kicked Morales out of the group following an altercation between the two, which resulted in Polygram dropping the entire trio. The members subsequently attempted to meet with Polygram executives and were instead escorted out of the building by security.
In December of 1990, Robinson, his brother Curtis, and his bodyguard, Pell Wimeley, were charged with sexual abuse in Coatesville, Pennyslyvania. The charges were filed after police received a videotape, allegedly recorded by Darren Robinson, of Curtis Robinson and Wimely exposing themselves while dancing with an 18-year-old woman at a party that August. The video reportedly also showed another man, Edward Kelso, having sex with a 14-year-old female who purportedly lied about her age. Robinson was later fined $10,000 and sentenced to two years of probation.
Wimbley and Robinson released one last Fat Boys album, Mack Daddy, on October 28, 1991.
Undaunted by the demise of The Fat Boys, Morales formed the production company Soul Convention with producer Corey Rooney, who co-wrote Mary J. Blige's smash hit "Real Love" with him in 1992. The success of "Real Love" prompted Columbia Records chief Tommy Mottola to sign the duo, who released the album Free, by Prince Markie Dee and the Soul Convention, on August 11, 1992. The album features the hits "Trippin Out" and "Typical Reasons (Swing My Way)". Rooney and Morales went on to produce songs for vocalists such as Mariah Carey and Jasmine Guy.
Though Robinson discussed a Fat Boys reunion album with the other two members, produced by Morales and distributed by Sony Records, he was unable to participate due to his lymphedema, a buildup of fluid throughout the body. By 1995, he weighed over 600 pounds. Following treatment overseen by Dr. Stevenen Heymsfield, however, he slimmed to 480 pounds. However, on December 10, 1995, Robinson, who'd been battling influenza, collapsed in his Rosedale, Queens home studio following a recording session. After Darren complained that he couldn't breathe, Curtis Robinson performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but was unable to revive his brother. Robinson's mother, Ella, informed Morales' mother, Rosa, who, in turn, informed her son, who quickly made his way to Robinson's home. He'd passed away by the time Morales arrived.
In 2010, Wimbley, who is no longer overweight, and Morales performed as The Fat Boys with assistance from pioneering beat-boxer Douglas "Doug E. Fresh" Davis. After relocating to Miami, Florida, where he hosted a show on radio station WEDR 99.1 FM, Morales died on February 18, 2021, one day before his birthday.
The Fat Boys - The Fat Boys Are Back
The Fat Boys' Swatch Commercial
