Big DS

Marlon G. Fletcher (July 29, 1971 – May 22, 2003), better known under his stage name Big DS, was an American hardcore rapper and record producer from Queens, New York.

Big DS
Background information
Birth nameMarlon G. Fletcher
Also known asBig D'Estical
Born(1971-07-29)July 29, 1971
South Ozone Park, Queens, New York City, New York, US
OriginQueens, New York
DiedMay 22, 2003(2003-05-22) (aged 31)
GenresHardcore hip hop, Gangsta rap, East Coast hip hop
Occupation(s)MC, Record producer
Years active1988–2003
LabelsJMJ Records, Def Jam, Illyotic Music
Associated actsOnyx, Jam Master Jay

He was co-founder of the hardcore rap group Onyx. As a part of Onyx Big DS released one album "Bacdafucup" and 8 singles on JMJ Records and featured on 1993's Judgment Night (soundtrack). As a part of Onyx Big DS was nominated as "Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist" on American Music Awards of 1994 and won "Best Rap Album" on 1994 Soul Train Music Awards.

Early life

Fletcher was born in South Ozone Park, Queens, New York City, New York. He studied at John Adams High School (Queens). In 1988, after graduating from school at the age of 17, Fredro Starr created the rap group Onyx along with his schoolmates Big DS and Suavé (also known as Sonny Seeza). Big DS came up with the name for the group, he named it after the black stone Onyx.[1] They began to make the first demos in the basement of B-Wiz with drum machine beats from an SP-12.[2]

Career

In 1989, Onyx signed Jeffrey Harris as their manager, who helped them secure a contract with the label Profile Records. In 1990, at York Studio in Brooklyn, they recorded their first single, "Ah, And We Do It Like This", which was released to low sales on April 25, 1990 on Profile.[3]

Big DS and Suave first met Jam Master Jay at Rev Run's wedding in 1990.[4] They met again in a traffic jam at The Jones Beach GreekFest Festival on July 13, 1991.[5] Jay give them about two months to get a demo, but Suave and Big DS couldn't make it to the studio to record the demo.[6] They were replaced on the demo by Fredro Starr's cousin, Sticky Fingaz, who at that time was pursuing a solo career under the name Trop. Fredro and Jones recorded two records for the demo, "Stik 'N' Muve" and "Exercise",[7] which Jam Master Jay liked enough to sign the group to his label, JMJ Records.[8]

Big DS left the group in 1994 to start a solo career.[9] Big DS founded his own label Illyotic Music and started producing music. After recording a few demos, Big DS sent them to Jimmy Iovine, co-owner of Interscope Records, in the hope of signing a contract with his label for the release of the album.

Death

On May 22, 2003 Big DS died in the hospital in Queens after receiving chemo as a result of lymphatic cancer at 31 years old.[10][11][12][13][14][15]

Discography
With Onyx
Solo albums

Awards and nominations
Year Award Nominated work Category Result
1994 American Music Awards of 1994 "Bacdafucup" Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist Nominated
1994 1994 Soul Train Music Awards "Bacdafucup" Best Rap Album Won

Filmography

Video game appearances

References
  1. "ONYX - Interview on Kanal 4's Keynote with Trini Trimpop (Germany) (1993) (with Russian Subtitles) - 2:18". youtube.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  2. "ONYX: Mad Men". arena.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  3. "The Year Onyx's 'Slam' Crashed Pop Radio". npr.org. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  4. "Hip Hop Connection Magazine #79 [September, 1995] - BALD IN THE UZA (by June Joseph)". onyxdomain.com. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  5. "Sonny Seeza Explains Why You Don't See Him With ONYX That Much Anymore". youtube.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  6. Check the Technique: Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies (by Brian Coleman) - page 305. play.google.com. Random House Publishing. 12 March 2009. ISBN 9780307494429. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  7. Rausch, Andrew J. (April 2011). I Am Hip-Hop - Conversations on the Music and Culture (by Andrew J. Rausch) (April 1, 2011) - page 179. books.google.com. ISBN 9780810877924. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  8. "Onyx on Sticky Fingaz Joining the Group, Jam Master Jay Signing Them (Part 2)". youtube.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  9. "Onyx on Being Paranoid and Wearing Bullet Proof Vests, Big DS Leaving Group (Part 6)". youtube.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  10. "Onyx Member Loses Cancer Battle". hiphopdx.com. 28 May 2003. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  11. "Hip-Hop Band Founder Big DS Passes Away From Cancer". contactmusic.com. 28 May 2003. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  12. "Onyx on Losing Former Member Big DS to Cancer at 31, X1 Committing Suicide (Part 11)". youtube.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  13. "Former Member Of Onyx Dies (by Chuck 'Jigsaw' Creekmur, BET.Com Staff Writer)". bet.com. Archived from the original on 2003-06-18. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  14. "Onyx Loses Big DS". muchmusic.com. Archived from the original on 2003-07-27. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  15. "Onyx Group Member Succumbs To Cancer (by Nolan Strong) (5/23/2003)". allhiphop.com. Archived from the original on 2003-05-25. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  16. "Big DS – Untitled". discogs.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  17. "Rap Jam - Volume One (USA) (En,Fr,Es)". retrogames.cc. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
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