Manager Charlie Stettler was a Swiss national who had embraced hip-hop culture. In 1983, putting the two together he contacted the nascent Swatch company and offered the talents of his group. The American office marketing group, headed by Steven Rechtschaffner and Nancy Kadner, were starting to do some offbeat, interesting campaigns, and agreed to star the Fat Boys in one of MTV's earliest commercials. Stettler, knowing the video channel was playing no hip-hop, readily agreed. Even with no fee he sensed the exposure would catapult his trio into youth's mainstream. The company returned to The Fat Boys for a 1985 Christmas commercial, created by former MTV creative heads Alan Goodman and Fred Seibert.
The group's 1984 self-titled debut, The Fat Boys, is considered by many to be an early hip hop classic, with artists like Boogie Down Productions and Redman, among others, making references to the album.
Big Buff Love, the Human Beatbox, was a pioneer in beatboxing (using his mouth to create hip hop percussion sounds). He and another contemporary, Doug E. Fresh, popularized beatboxing, inspiring other artists to innovate, including Biz Markie.
For its 1987 album, Crushin', the Fat Boys made a cover version of The Surfaris' hit "Wipe Out" with The Beach Boys singing back-up vocals. The single made it to #12 on the Billboard chart, and #10 on the corresponding R&B listing. The Fat Boys also recorded a version of "The Twist" with Chubby Checker, who performed it originally in 1960.
Capitalizing on their good-humored personalities, the trio starred in the 1985 Run-D.M.C. feature film Krush Groove and in the feature film Disorderlies (1987), which featured Ralph Bellamy as a millionaire invalid who receives bumbling care by his good-natured orderlies (played by the Fat Boys), with a cameo by manager Stettler. The group was later approached to record the theme song for A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988), called "Are You Ready for Freddy," which featured Robert Englund performing as Freddy Krueger.
Attempting to capitalize on the appearance-oriented name of the Fat Boys, another hip hop group dubbed itself the Skinny Boys, and yet another the Fat Girls. The popularity of those groups was mild in comparison, however.
The group's popularity declined by the 1990s. For example, in the 1992 feature film Boomerang, Chris Rock's character laments the breakup of the Fat Boys. He was later quoted by Jay-Z in his 2001 song the "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)". Prince Markie Dee left the group to pursue solo interests, which included producing many early tracks for Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige which included her debut single, "Real Love." In 1991, the remaining two members, Kool Rock Ski and Buff Love, carried on as a duo and released Mack Daddy (1991), but shortly thereafter, the group disbanded (until 2008).
On December 10, 1995, Buff Love died of a heart attack in Rosedale, Queens, New York. He was 28 years old and reportedly weighed 450 pounds (200 kg). Prince Markie Dee is a current radio host for WEDR 99 Jamz in Miami, Florida working weekends. Kool Rock-ski resides in New York.
The surviving members of the Fat Boys launched its first official homepage, OriginalFatBoys.com, on November 5, 2008. According to the website, the Fat Boys recorded its first track "Fat Boys Unite" in nearly two decades and have plans of doing a reality TV show in search of a new member.
In March 2009, Kool Rock-ski announced the launch of his official website, KoolRockSki.com. His first solo project, the EP Party Time, was released on April 14, 2009.
On October 18, 2010, the cable network TV One's aired Unsung: The Story of The Fat Boys. It mentioned that the two surviving members reunited and were touring with Doug E. Fresh who was providing the beatboxing. There has been no confirmation if he is the new third permanent member. This was produced by the group's manager, Louis Gregory, publicly known as Uncle Louie.
In August 2012, The Fat Boys were scheduled to perform at the 13th annual Gathering of the Juggalos in Cave-In-Rock, Illinois but ultimately failed to appear.
In early 2015, The Fat Boys re-launched their clothing line, FatBoysClothing.com.
On February 18, 2021, Prince Markie Dee died in Miami, Florida. He was one day short of his 53rd birthday.
Human Beat Box
Fat Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In jail
Unh-unh
Unh-unh
In jail, in jail, without no bail
In jail, we're in jail because we failed
In jail, in jail, without no bail
Now there was just one day
That I will never forget
I got jailed for something that
I'll always regret
It was twelve o'clock, midnight
And I wanted a snack
So I headed downstairs
Thought the fridge was packed
But when I opened the door
What did I see?
The back of the fridge staring right at me
I thought to myself
I could almost die
Then an image appeared
A pizza pie
So I put on Adidas
Headed out the door
As I pictured myself
Eating more and more
But the store was closed
I busted into a rage
So I went to the crib
And got my twelve-gauge
Ran back to the shop
Busted won the door
And all I saw
Was pizza galore
So I stuffed my face
I couldn't even walk
I couldn't laugh, smile
Shake, giggle, wiggle, or talk
So I fell asleep with my face in my plate
And the next thing you know
I was headed upstate
In jail, in jail, without no bail
In jail, we're in jail because we failed
In jail, in jail, without no bail
In jail, we're in jail because we failed
Well, Kool Rock is my name
Last part is "ski"
And I have the worst
Case of my M.C
But listen to the story
Cause it's kind of strange
When I had this sort of hunger pain
Walking down the strreet
With the bass of my box
With my stomach growling
Like a hungry fox
When I saw this scene
Or was it a dream?
A big restaurant sign
Called Burger King
So I went inside
Started stuffing my face
Didn't even think
About the things I ate
But when the bill came up
Boy, was I shocked
I said, "I don't pay for nothing
I'm the King of the Slops!"
In jail, in jail, without no bail
In jail, we're in jail because we failed
In jail, in jail, without no bail
In jail, we're in jail because we failed
But when our time is through
We'll rock you and you
We turn parties out
Make you scream and shout
We're not demanding
Or very outstanding
We got something unique
And in the middle he's standing
On the microphone
He rocks and shocks
Homeboys and girls
It's the Human Beat Box
Break
Now I'm sitting here alone
Looking at the wall
Just thinking about
How I took the fall
I thought I was cool
I thought I was slick
And now Im writing
Letters of being homesick
I lost my freedom
When I heard the door slammer
And now I'm breaking rocks
With a big, heavy hammer
I used to drive the streets
With my big car
And now I look and all
I see are bars
I jail
Everyone's the same
You only survive
If you play the game
You don't have guns
And now you remember
You're your momma's son
You made her cry
And stay up all night
Coming home high
Just leaving a fight
You always made her feel
That you were better
But now you're a little boy
Just waiting for a letter
The Fat Boys’ “Human Beat Box” is a song that deals with the consequences of poor decisions and the resulting incarceration. The song starts with the repeated phrase “In jail” which sets the tone of the song. The verse goes on to explain that they are in jail without bail because they failed. They then go on to tell individual stories of how they ended up incarcerated. The first verse is about Prince Markie Dee who went to jail for stealing pizza, while the second verse is about Kool Rock who went to jail for not paying a restaurant bill.
Both verses have a similar structure with the first few lines describing the situation that led to their arrest, with the rest of the verse dealing with the consequences of their actions. The lyrics show regret and disillusionment with the criminal lifestyle, with the chorus serving as a reminder of their current situation.
The song ends with a message of hope, with the Fat Boys promising to continue entertaining people once they get out of jail. The song reminds us that even celebrities are not immune to making mistakes that can have consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
In jail
The singer is currently incarcerated
Unh-unh
A sound effect representing disapproval or disbelief
In jail, in jail, without no bail
The singer is emphasizing the harshness of their situation
In jail, we're in jail because we failed
The artist acknowledges that they are responsible for their current situation
Now there was just one day
The artist is about to recount a specific event
That I will never forget
The event was significant and left a lasting impression on the singer
I got jailed for something that
The singer is about to reveal the reason for their current incarceration
I'll always regret
The artist recognizes the mistake they made that led to their incarceration
It was twelve o'clock, midnight
The event took place late at night
And I wanted a snack
The artist was hungry
So I headed downstairs
The singer went to the lower level of the house
Thought the fridge was packed
The artist assumed there would be plenty of food in the fridge
But when I opened the door
The singer discovered that there was not a lot of food in the fridge
What did I see?
The singer is building suspense and curiosity about what they found in the fridge
The back of the fridge staring right at me
The singer personifies the empty space in the fridge as if it were alive and looking at them
I thought to myself
The artist is revealing their inner thoughts and feelings
I could almost die
The artist is exaggerating their reaction to the lack of food in the fridge
Then an image appeared
The singer experienced a sudden mental image
A pizza pie
The singer imagined a specific type of food they wanted to eat
So I put on Adidas
The artist put on a specific brand of shoes
Headed out the door
The artist left the house
As I pictured myself
The artist is describing their mental state
Eating more and more
The singer is focused on consuming large amounts of food
But the store was closed
The artist encountered an obstacle in their quest for food
I busted into a rage
The singer became angry
So I went to the crib
The singer went back home
And got my twelve-gauge
The singer obtained a specific type of firearm
Ran back to the shop
The artist returned to the store
Busted won the door
The artist forcibly opened the door
And all I saw
The singer is building anticipation for what they discovered
Was pizza galore
The singer found an abundance of the food they wanted to eat
So I stuffed my face
The artist consumed large amounts of food
I couldn't even walk
The artist became physically incapacitated due to their consumption of food
I couldn't laugh, smile
Shake, giggle, wiggle, or talk
The artist felt physically uncomfortable and unable to engage in normal human activities
So I fell asleep with my face in my plate
The singer passed out due to the effects of overeating
And the next thing you know
I was headed upstate
The artist was arrested and sentenced to prison
Well, Kool Rock is my name
Last part is "ski"
The singer is introducing themselves and providing a nickname
And I have the worst
Case of my M.C
The singer has a severe medical condition
But listen to the story
Cause it's kind of strange
The singer is about to tell a bizarre story
When I had this sort of hunger pain
The artist experienced a specific type of physical discomfort
Walking down the strreet
With the bass of my box
The artist is describing their surroundings and activities
With my stomach growling
Like a hungry fox
The singer is emphasizing their hunger
When I saw this scene
Or was it a dream?
The singer is confused about what they perceived
A big restaurant sign
Called Burger King
The artist noticed a specific type of fast food restaurant
So I went inside
Started stuffing my face
The artist is engaging in a familiar behavior
Didn't even think
About the things I ate
The artist was not mindful of their food choices
But when the bill came up
Boy, was I shocked
The singer was surprised by the cost of their meal
I said, "I don't pay for nothing
I'm the King of the Slops!"
The artist is expressing a sense of entitlement and arrogance
But when our time is through
We'll rock you and you
The singer is expressing a desire to entertain others
We turn parties out
Make you scream and shout
The singer is highlighting their talent as performers
We're not demanding
Or very outstanding
The singer is downplaying their celebrity status
We got something unique
And in the middle he's standing
On the microphone
He rocks and shocks
Homeboys and girls
The artist is describing a specific aspect of their performance style
It's the Human Beat Box
The artist is introducing a specific type of music or performance
Now I'm sitting here alone
Looking at the wall
The singer is reflecting on their current situation
Just thinking about
How I took the fall
The singer is reflecting on the mistake they made that led to their incarceration
I thought I was cool
I thought I was slick
The artist is acknowledging a sense of overconfidence
And now Im writing
Letters of being homesick
The artist is expressing a sense of longing for home
I lost my freedom
When I heard the door slammer
The artist is acknowledging the impact of their actions on their freedom
And now I'm breaking rocks
With a big, heavy hammer
The singer is describing a specific task they must do while incarcerated
I used to drive the streets
With my big car
The artist is recalling a previous sense of power or status
And now I look and all
I see are bars
The singer is acknowledging the reality of their current surroundings
Everyone's the same
You only survive
If you play the game
The singer is describing the challenges of surviving in prison
You don't have guns
And now you remember
You're your momma's son
The singer is reflecting on the importance of family and the lack of power in their current situation
You made her cry
And stay up all night
Coming home high
Just leaving a fight
The artist is acknowledging the impact of their behavior on their family
You always made her feel
That you were better
But now you're a little boy
Just waiting for a letter
The artist is reflecting on their past arrogance and current vulnerability
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAMON YUL WIMBLEY, MARK MORALES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gillypig1
The coolest most def trio in hip hop history period! They paved the way for thousands in the music industry and no one has even come close. I grew up in the 80’s and if there was ever a wish it would be to go back for one day and relive those awesome moments 😎
@bavers1111
I've got a time machine and I'm going back to the 80's .......
You coming????
@gillypig1
@bavers1111 let’s go!
@bavers1111
I'll dig out me lino and boom box and show you me crazy legs 🤣 would give anything to go back , happy days !! 💯
@BruceWayne-ri4wr
Back when rap was actually worth a damn now all it is is a bunch of morons claiming they shoot people even though they don't claiming they are g********* even though they're not
@DerBunkerJunge
You don't need to be a perfect beatboxer to sound as fresh as this. Respect to the fat boys!
@OnaPayPhone
Dude, I don't care how many sound effects beat boxers can make, that in / out sound The Human Beat Box makes is a classic. And furthermore, is my go-to sound when trying to beatbox haha.
@lilith1979
Same! I got in trouble with my mother as a kid for beatboxing, she didn't like it probably because I might have spit a little doing it. I was 5 when this video was recorded.
@u9Nails
"With a million watts of power coming out his mouth" - that line is devastating! Love it! Fat Boys were ahead of the game with this one.
@jackspry9736
RIP the two members of The Fat Boys
Prince Markie Dee (February 19, 1968 – February 18, 2021), aged 52
Buff Love (June 10, 1967 – December 10, 1995), aged 28
You both will be remembered as legends.