By 1971, Disco King Mario was an eminent DJ in the Bronx. He was known for his superior sound system and his love for combining music and a good time. Mario came up during the era where you had to be tough enough to bring your equipment out, because of how prevalent gangs and violence were in the Bronx in the early 70s. But the Disco King was respected all over, from neighborhood mothers to the grimiest gangsters. He is a major part of the creation of Hip Hop.
Disco King Mario was born in North Carolina in 1956 but moved to the Bronxdale Housing projects in order to escape working cotton and tobacco fields. He was an original member of the Black Spades, which is how his connection with Afrika Bambaata came about. Mario played whatever he wanted to play. He wasn’t playing breakbeats, but more uptempo disco. He was also a ladies man and was always fly, but still he was nobody to mess with.
The Disco King gained popularity by piecing together the best sounding system in the Bronx, and for the super live jams he would throw. DJ Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaata were both seen in attendance at these jams. Mario is credited for helping the culture spread because of his ability to manipulate people (in a good way) in order to allow them to use their venues for a party. He was able to lock down many venues and schools that other DJ’s couldn’t get.
With his connections, he would start to bring Afrika Bambaata along and allow Bam to assist him DJ. Disco King Mario is responsible for Afrika Bambaata’s early popularity by loaning him equipment and allowing him to play at all the different schools and parks he could get access to. He is also responsible for recognizing and grooming Busy Bee Starski, one of the best party rockers of that time.
“I went from Disco King Mario to Breakout,” said Busy Bee Starski in Yes Yes Y’all: The Experience Music Project Oral History Of Hip Hop’s First Decade. In that book, members of the Funky 4+1 also tell the story of how Disco King Mario saved Afrika Bambaata from losing a battle with them, by loaning Bam his amplifier:
Busy Bee: “It was Breakout and Bambaataa, and I was rappin’ with Breakout at that time. And Bambaataa needed some help with Breakout and Baron, I’m tellin’ you [laughing]! So Bambaataa had to call and ask Mario. He needed an amp. Mario said, “What happened?” He said, “I’m going to battle Breakout. He said, “Oh yeah? Then you need the Macintosh [amplifier]. You need this.”
DJ Baron: “Afrika Bambaataa was on one side of the gym, and we was on the other. The place was jam-packed. But Bambaataa had one up his sleeve: Disco King Mario had loaned Bam a power amp. We were going back and forth, and all of a sudden you couldn’t hear us no more [laughs], ‘cause Bam borrowed his amp from Mario and blew us out of the water, just drowns us out totally…”
Disco King Mario died at the early age of 38, after a long battle with drugs during the ’80s. Many pioneers say that his early death is the reason for him being virtually written out of Hip Hop history. Others wish that more of the popular pioneers that are still around would acknowledge and pay homage to him more.
[Raises glass in the air]
So, here’s to Disco King Mario for helping lay the foundation for the Hip Hop culture. May he Rest in Peace.
FACTS!!!
I was there … 1760 Watson ave.
#♤4Life
Thank you Nya, for keeping the Memory of Disco 👑 King Mario ALIVE CHUCK CITY, MERCY
Disco King Mario was well known and DJ’d all over the Bronx! My friends and I were loyal followers. He lived in Bronxdale Projects, but often DJ’d in Soundview Projects where I grew up, as well as many other surrounding projects. He always had the crowd swaying to his beats! Good times, precious memories! May he SIHP.
I live in Bronx Dale Housing and had the pleasure of knowing Mario.
Mario is several; years older than I am , he was very nice to me and
always was friendly in my present. Mario had Rosedale Park across
the Street from Bronx Dale Housing jumping dance and having fun.
The park was full of good people and music D.J. Hip Hop mixed
played by Mario was the Joint. Mario gave us the good life in our
neighborhood Park and any other places we were able to go see him
Seeing Pictures of Mario in his Online Photo Gallery really touched
my heart.
May you rest in Peace Mario.
MUCH RESPECT to that brother and his household; eventually he will receive his honors with the legends of Hip Hop. Shalam
I was a teenager when disco king Mario play and I went to all the parties he threw I love his music I say he should be acknowledged he to me he the founder of hip hop
The original article had my name up there as the original founder of
The Disco King Mario Memorials somebody recently took it upon their self to erase my name like they trying to erase facts & history that I am the original founder nice try but it won’t work cuz anything that has something to do with Mario I’m the founder
Zulu Queen Anita name should be there so y’all can erase me all you want to you but can’t change history
I don’t know who this article but she did not keep Mario’s memory alive I did people like to take credit for my work I’ve been doing it since 94 over 30 years when y’all do an article on Mario make sure you r
Write facts cuz that whole article is not facts
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Disco King Mario (July 1, 1956-1994) was a pioneer of Hip hop.
In the 1970s, Mario was a prominent DJ of the New York Bronx. At the time, he lived in the Bronxdale Housing projects, where his parties made him well-known locally. The Bronx was famous for its block parties at which the DJ’s were the most prominent personalities, the masters of ceremonies who garnered most of the attention.Together with his crew, known as Chuck Chuck City, he played largely up-tempo disco music. Mario was known for the quality of his sound system. Afrika Bambaataa started out as an assistant to Mario, and Mario loaned Bambaataa the technical equipment for his first appearances as DJ, and Bambaataas first DJ-Battle took place in 1976 in the New York junior High School 123 against Mario. Well-known DJ Jazzy Jay had his first appearances as well with Mario. Together with Bambaataa, Mario controlled essentially the entire southeast Bronx. Both were originally members of the street gang Black Spades, and DJs had to either get permission from Bambaataas
Zulu nation or from Mario, before they could safely DJ publicly.Mario was also an influence on rapper Busy Bee Starski, helping him to develop his voice.Disco King Mario never released any records. His pioneering role in the genesis of Hip Hop did not lead to the nationwide celebrity as either a performer of a producer, which a number of other early rap and hip hop performers enjoyed
After The Death Of Disco King Mario
Zulu Queen Anita was the original founder an creator of the Disco King Mario Hip Hop MemorialsTo Honor his contribution to the hip-hop community an cultureIn Rosedale Park In The Bronx , New York Area Where Disco King Mario once played ln the 1970″sHe was honored by many hip-hop icons like Grand Master Melle Mel , Kurtis Blow an many female pioneers like Lisa Lee An many othersDisco King Mario use to watch over Queen Anita as a child She ls also the God sister to two pioneers of hip-hop royalty
The Godfather Afrika Bambaataa an Afrika Islam
DISCO KING MARIO
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