"Before there was any talk of artists like Fatboy Slim, there was the early and highly successful rap act the Fat Boys, leading the way for old-school hip-hop/rap to take root in American culture. With a combined weight of over 750 pounds and the earliest forms of pimp suits and bling in the rap scene, the Fat Boys produced humorous and playful rap songs that shook the ‘80s and ‘90s with more vigor than a fat kid doing a cannonball in placid water.The Fat Boys originated in the early 1980s under the moniker Disco 3, consisting of Brooklyn, New York natives Mark ""Prince Markie Dee"" Morales, Damon ""Kool Rock-Ski"" Wimbley and Darren ""Buff the Human Beat Box"" Robinson. The noisy trio got their start in the music industry at Radio City Music Hall, winning a talent contest in 1983 thanks to Robinson's ingenious ability for improvisation and sound effects. Truly a ‘human beat box,' Robinson led the group into all-out success in the rest of the ‘80s. After changing the group's name to the Fat Boys and recording a string of celebratory party anthems and songs poking fun of their weight, the freewheeling hip-hoppers released a few small records produced by Kurtis Blow before finding their signature sound with reggae-infused hip-hop/rock music.The Fat Boys started arousing a stir in the hip-hop realm in 1987 with the LP Crushin', and the collaboration ""Wipeout"" with the Beach Boys led the group toward even bigger fame. The Fat Boys starred in the comedy film Disorderlies in 1987 as well, and Coming Back Hard Again followed in the wake of this success. While it seemed as if the Fat Boys were just revving up to full speed, their ill-advised ""rap opera"" On and On in 1989 was an automatic buzzkill, and the rap trio disbanded shortly thereafter."
