Biz Markie

July 17, 2021

“You, You Got What I Need , But You Say He’s Just A Friend” , that’s the first time I heard ’bout him and this song .

From Beatboxing to Rapping , Singin’ & DJ’ing , Brought his own style to Hip-Hop Industry, He’s one of a kind, A True Hip-Hop Legend .

Collaborating with DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince,& Slick Rick aka Rick da Ruller :

Collaborated as well with Doug E .Fresh on Classic Track , “Let Me Clear My Throat”

Marcel Theo Hall (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021), known professionally as Biz Markie, An American rapper, singer, DJ, record producer, actor, comedian, and writer. He was best known for his 1989 single “Just a Friend“, which became a Top 40 hit in several countries. In 2008, “Just a Friend” made No. 100 on VH1‘s list of the 100 greatest hip hop songs of all time. Markie has been called the “Clown Prince of Hip Hop“.

Born in Manhattan, In the neighborhood of Harlem. He was raised on Long Island. Markie began his career in New York City nightclubs and later gained regional recognition by performing at colleges in Washington, D.C.; Maryland; Virginia; and Pennsylvania.

Regarding the origin of his stage name, he said:

“Biz comes from the first hip-hop tape I heard. It was ’77, ’78, from the L Brothers. Grand Wizard Theodore was the DJ, and the rappers was Kevvy Kev, Master Rob and Busy Bee Starski. I loved Busy Bee. Busy Bee just stuck with me. My name used to be Bizzy B Markie, and after a while I put the Biz with the Markie. My nickname in my neighborhood was Markie”

He was interviewed in the 1986 cult documentary Big Fun in the Big Town. Markie released his debut album, Goin’ Off, in 1988, which attracted a fair amount of attention, largely due to the lead single, “Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz”. The album also featured the underground hit singles “Nobody Beats The Biz”, “Vapors“, and “Pickin’ Boogers”.

On October 10, 1989, Markie’s second studio album, The Biz Never Sleeps was released on Cold Chillin’/Warner Bros. Records, produced by Markie, his cousin Cool V and Paul C. The single “Just a Friend”, in which he alternates between rap and singing, became Markie’s most successful single, reaching No. 9 on the Billboard charts.The song interpolates the 1968 song “You Got What I Need” by singer-songwriter Freddie Scott, whose basic chord and melody provided the base for the song’s chorus.”Just a Friend” was ranked 81st on VH1’s 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders in 2000, and later as number 100 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop in 2008. The music video, directed by Lionel C. Martin, chronicles the rapper’s woman problems.

His song Vapors appeared on the soundtrack of the Rockstar video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas which featured an old school hip hop radio station, Playback FM

Markie began opening in 2008 for Chris Rock‘s “No Apologies” tour. Markie’s act included spinning records ranging from old school hip hop to Lynyrd Skynyrd and then performing “Just a Friend”. Markie’s playlist included the following: “Children’s Story” by Slick Rick, “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang, “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson, “Holiday” by Madonna, “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham!, “It Takes Two” by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, “The Breaks” by Kurtis Blow and “Robot Rock” by Daft Punk.

In 2010, Markie appeared on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, providing commentary throughout the series. Markie himself was not included on the list. On November 9, 2010, he appeared on the Aquabats! new EP, Radio Down! on the title track. On November 11, 2010, Markie sat in with the Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and performed “Just a Friend” with actor Jeff Goldblum.

In 2013, Markie toured with the Yo Gabba Gabba! live show.That year, his song, “Just a Friend” was featured in Saints Row IV, which included the Pop station, 107.77 The Mix FM. He appeared on the CN show Mad, as the Hip Hop Hobbit. He voiced rapper Rhymez and his DJ, Tiny Timmy Scratch It, in the Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja episode “Hip Hopocalypse Now”.

Markie guest starred in the SpongeBob SquarePants episode “Kenny the Cat”, in the episode’s title role. His voice acting work also includes the voice of Snorlock the Beatboxing Slug in an episode of Adventure Time.

In 2014, Markie appeared in the Syfy network film Sharknado 2: The Second One. That same year, he threw a ceremonial first pitch for an Oakland Athletics baseball game. In 2016, his song, “Just a Friend” was featured in the Netflix Series Love as an ending theme for episode 4. He also made an appearance in the song “The Noisy Eater” off the album Wildflower by the Avalanches. Also in 2016, he appeared on the Fox TV series Empire as himself, where he performed “Just a Friend”.

Markie was the DJ on the VH1 game show Hip Hop Squares between 2017 and 2019, a spin-off of the popular game show Hollywood Squares. He also rapped alongside singer Ke$ha on the Flaming Lips song “2012 (You Must Be Upgraded)“. He made an appearance in the season 3 finale of the ABC series Black-ish in 2017. He performed a personal version of the song “Just a Friend”, in which he added the names of the characters.

In 2020, Markie started hosting a radio show on SiriusXM on LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells Radio (channel 43) every weekday from 13:00 to 16:00 EST

In April 2020, Markie was hospitalized due to severe complications from Type 2 diabetes. Later on In December 2020, it was reported that he was staying in a rehabilitation facility as a result of a stroke he had suffered after going into a diabetic coma.

On July 1, 2021, rumors of his death circulated on Twitter. His representative told Rolling Stone, “The news of Biz Markie’s passing is not true, Biz is still under medical care, surrounded by professionals who are working hard to provide the best healthcare possible.”

Ultimately, on July 16, 2021, Markie died at a Baltimore hospital reported 6:25 PM. No official cause of death has been given yet. He was 57 years old .

References : Biz Markie

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