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.
The Twist!
Fat Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on baby let's do the twist
Take me by my little hand and go like this
Eh oh twist baby baby twist
Ooh-yeah just like this
Come on little miss and do the twist
My daddy is sleepin' and mama ain't around
We're gonna twisty twisty twisty
'Til we turn the house down
Come on and twist yeah baby twist
Ooh-yeah just like this
Come on little miss and do the twist
Yeah you should see my little sis
You should see my my little sis
She really knows how to rock
She knows how to twist
Come on and twist yeah baby twist
Ooh yeah just like this
Come on little miss and do the twist
Yeah rock on now
Yeah twist on now
Twist
The lyrics to the Fat Boys' song "The Twist" invite the listener to a lively and energetic dance as the singer urges his partner to "do the twist". He uses a playful and suggestive language, inviting "little miss" to join him by taking her "little hand" and twisting in a particular way. The song's energy is contagious as the singer repeats the chorus and emphasizes the words "twist" and "baby".
The second verse adds a bit of a rebelliousness to the lyrics, as the singer reveals that the parents are not around and the children are free to "turn the house down" by twisting. He also compares the dancing skills of his little sister to his own, emphasizing the importance of being able to "rock" and "twist" well.
Overall, the lyrics to "The Twist" are fun, playful, and light-hearted, inviting the audience to dance and move in a way that was popularized in the early 1960s.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on baby let's do the twist
Let's dance the twist together
Take me by my little hand and go like this
Hold my hand and let's dance the twist in a way that I'll show you
Eh oh twist baby baby twist
Let's keep twisting to the beat, baby
Ooh-yeah just like this
Let's keep dancing smoothly like this
Come on little miss and do the twist
Hey, girl, join us and dance the twist with us
My daddy is sleepin' and mama ain't around
My father is sleeping and my mother is not here at the moment
We're gonna twisty twisty twisty
We'll keep dancing the twist continuously
'Til we turn the house down
We'll dance so hard that the house will shake
Yeah daddy is sleepin' and mama ain't around
My father is still asleep and my mother is still not here
Yeah you should see my little sis
You should see my younger sister
She really knows how to rock
She's an excellent dancer, she knows how to move smoothly
She knows how to twist
She's an expert at dancing the twist
Yeah rock on now
Keep dancing and enjoy the music
Yeah twist on now
Keep dancing the twist
Twist
Keep dancing the twist
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL DE KOOKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George McCook
Wow this is when music video's and songs were FUN and weren't trying to be something. Im so glad i grew up experiencing some of it, albeit i was young! LOVE IT!!!!
lala lulu
How can anyone not enjoy this perfect slice of life.
Sir Mikel
The Fat Boys were called a "Sell out" for making this and the song with the beach boys. Don't let the plays fool ya. My point is that great music like this is timeless. Just because you don't like what your favorite artist is doing compared to their past work doesn't mean they are a "sell out." It just means they are an artist exploring their creativity. I wish most people who listened to music could see that. I love this song.
Nathan Moyer
that was the current "rap" crap's early attempt at corruption...they held out, but they succeeded today
Gene Stone
More musical talent in this one video than in the whole "musical industry" today!
JDLT
CLÁÁÁSICO!!! FAT BOYS = LEYENDAS DEL RAP 🎤 = 💪 💪 💪 🔥🔥🔥D.E.P. THE HUMAN BEAT BOX 🙏
Axl Kix
I Still listen to my Fat Boys records to this day. My wife put one on last weekend. These guys were so amazing!
Kellie Godwin
I just randomly remembered this song existed and oh my God I'm 10 years old again. I had this cassette single. Miss this kind of innocence and fun in hip hop.
Grace™The Essential Worker..
Wow I get that I bet it was blu..kelly
PHILLY PHANATIC
I was 11 again lol..