The Fat Boys Return

Apparently inspired by Barack Obama's election even more than a desire to try and make some quick cash to buy more Twinkies, The Fat Boys' Prince Markie Dee and Kool Rock-Ski have reunited to record their first track together in 20 years.

Prince Markie Dee (real name Mark Morales) and Kool Rock-Ski (real name Damon Wimbley) launched a new website, which features a welcome back message from Akon, on Nov. 5 — the day after Obama was elected.

Prince Markie Dee showed up at the third annual "Vanilla Ice Holiday Block Party" in West Palm Beach, Fla. — cementing his street cred among 40-year-old white dudes with dyed pompadours and satin jackets — in December.

Things got even better on New Year's Eve, when The Fat Boys announced they had a digital distribution deal with InGrooves, and the next day when they revealed they'd signed a two-song deal with Cleopatra Records to re-record the classic "Wipeout" and "Human Beatbox."

February's highlight so far (there are still 22 days to go) has been an appearance at "Diddy's Official Super Bowl Kickoff" party on Sunday in Tampa, Fla.

How can you top all that?

An album, a tour, a reality television show to find a third Fat Boy and a daytime children's cartoon are all apparently in the works.

The Fat Boys recently worked with Philadelphia MC/producer Elijah to record "Unity," a remix of a song originally produced by Elijah, that's been getting some U.S. exposure.

The track has an Obama-like goal of "bringing all different types of people together, to strive toward positive goals and change," says a media release that boldly announces "THE FAT BOYS ARE BACK, AND YOU KNOW THEY CAN NEVER BE WHACK!!!"

The Fat Boys formed in 1982. They had their biggest hit by collaborating with The Beach Boys on a cover of The Surfaris' "Wipe Out" on 1987's Crushin'. The group's seven studio albums, which were released from 1984 until they disbanded in 1991, were all certified platinum for selling a million copies in the U.S. They also appeared in the films Krush Groove and Disorderlies as well as an episode of Miami Vice.

Prince Markie Dee left The Fat Boys to pursue solo interests after 1989's On And On. Founding member Darren Robinson (a.k.a. Buff Love and The Human Beat Box), who pioneered the act of beatboxing, died of a heart attack in 1995 at the age of 28 and a reported weight of 450 pounds.

In recognition of the momentousness of The Fat Boys' return, and Chubby Checker's show at Casino Rama near Orillia, Ont. tonight (Friday), we present you with this: