This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/21/2021
Then known as the Disco 3, the future Fat Boys Prince Markie Dee Morales, Darren “Human Beat Box” Robinson, and Damon “Kool Rock” Wimbley first entered the “Tin Pan Apple After Dark Dance & Rap Contest” held on May 23, 1983, at Radio City Music Hall. The contest was the first event held in Radio Music Hall history that was attended by black artists. Wanting to enter the competition to win the second-place prize of stereo equipment, the Disco 3 instead won the contest and the record contract from Tin Pan Apple that came with it. The Disco 3 put out one album, and their manager, Tin Pan Apple label owner Charles Stettler put the group on a European tour where they quickly gained weight due to the amount of fast food they consumed while touring Europe. The trio from Brooklyn noticed the weight gain and renamed themselves “The Fat Boys” and launched an influential rap career during the 1980s that saw the group release full-length studio albums, a rarity for rappers of the time, and achieve platinum and gold success of their albums “Crushin’” and “Coming Back Hard Again” powered by their singles “Wipeout,” a remake of the Beach Boys classic, and “The Twist, Yo Twist,” a duet with Chubby Checker. The trio were early pioneers of the “Beatbox” sound in hip hop and influenced a whole generation of rappers in the 1980s. The trio would also star in their own screwball comedy, “Disorderlies,” released in August of 1987, with the film grossing over $10 million at the box office.
Presented here is a photograph signed by the Fat Boys. “Prince Markie Dee” Morales signed the promotional photo above his image with a red marker. “Kool Rock” Wimbley and “Human Beat Box” Robinson signed their names with a blue marker near their images. The signed promotional photograph comes encapsulated and authenticated by BGS.