Biz Markie (1964 - 2021)
July 16, 2021 6:49 PM   Subscribe

Rapper/beatboxer Biz Markie (née Marcel Theo Hall) passed today. He was 57.

Biz started his career in the 80's with the LP Goin' Off and had a monster hit with 'Just a Friend' (1989). He went on to work with the Beastie Boys, as well (famously) with Yo Gabba Gabba! (e.g.)
posted by kfholy (61 comments total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 
Aw shit. Rest in power, Biz.
posted by rodlymight at 6:56 PM on July 16, 2021 [3 favorites]


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posted by Otherwise at 6:59 PM on July 16, 2021


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posted by badbobbycase at 7:02 PM on July 16, 2021


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posted by wuwei at 7:07 PM on July 16, 2021


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posted by dismas at 7:07 PM on July 16, 2021


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posted by lalochezia at 7:07 PM on July 16, 2021


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posted by The Great Big Mulp at 7:08 PM on July 16, 2021


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posted by TheFantasticNumberFour at 7:10 PM on July 16, 2021


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posted by introp at 7:13 PM on July 16, 2021


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posted by suetanvil at 7:18 PM on July 16, 2021


spent all evening breaking into warbling song! gutted.

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posted by grandiloquiet at 7:20 PM on July 16, 2021


a
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from all the girls from the US nation
posted by praemunire at 7:22 PM on July 16, 2021 [14 favorites]


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I forgot about this! Aw, man. His enthusiasm for performing and exuberance was so refreshing in a world of people who wanted to seem "hard".
posted by droplet at 7:23 PM on July 16, 2021 [22 favorites]


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posted by riruro at 7:25 PM on July 16, 2021


Todd in the Shadows: One Hit Wonderland with more background on The Biz and 'Just a Friend'.
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posted by dannyboybell at 7:34 PM on July 16, 2021 [8 favorites]


Listen to dannyboybell and watch the Todd in the Shadows.

You’ll learn all about Biz Markie’s less-known classics, such as Pickin’ Boogers.

Goodnight, sweet clown prince.

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posted by armeowda at 8:20 PM on July 16, 2021 [3 favorites]


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posted by pianoblack at 8:43 PM on July 16, 2021


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I hope someone is looking after his Beanie Baby collection.
posted by cazoo at 8:48 PM on July 16, 2021 [2 favorites]




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posted by Sphinx at 9:56 PM on July 16, 2021


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[pickin' boogers in his honor]
posted by not_on_display at 10:43 PM on July 16, 2021 [1 favorite]


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posted by lapolla at 10:49 PM on July 16, 2021


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posted by Wobbuffet at 11:15 PM on July 16, 2021


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posted by gt2 at 12:26 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by Ms. Moonlight at 1:22 AM on July 17, 2021


First Shock G and now the Biz; all the greats are going.

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posted by acb at 2:22 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by riverlife at 2:40 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by From Bklyn at 2:40 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by filtergik at 2:46 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:29 AM on July 17, 2021


> First Shock G and now the Biz; all the greats are going.

Gift of Gab died last month, lesser known but also great.
posted by ardgedee at 5:14 AM on July 17, 2021 [10 favorites]


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posted by Cash4Lead at 5:19 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by skye.dancer at 5:20 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by detachd at 5:35 AM on July 17, 2021


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I had seen a few weeks ago that he was hospitalized, so sad to see this news.
I came back to Biz Markie after he did a track with the Avalanches a few years ago (Noisy Eater) and I found myself listening to it over and over because of his irresistible few verses about eating cereal. I had only known him for his big hit and it's been good to enjoy his back catalog a little and his radio show. Seeing the tributes from his peers supports the sense that his posistive persona was genuine.
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:05 AM on July 17, 2021 [3 favorites]


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posted by Kattullus at 6:07 AM on July 17, 2021


Aw no : (
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posted by taquito sunrise at 6:17 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by EatTheWeek at 6:26 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by Faint of Butt at 6:42 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by scruss at 6:55 AM on July 17, 2021


Thanks for everything, Biz.

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posted by May Kasahara at 7:27 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by osi at 7:58 AM on July 17, 2021


Damn.

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posted by Thorzdad at 8:27 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by cmfletcher at 8:28 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by dr_dank at 8:42 AM on July 17, 2021


Legendary, one of the best. Don't think this has been posted yet, Biz's Beat of the Day

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posted by lips at 9:25 AM on July 17, 2021 [2 favorites]


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posted by djseafood at 9:35 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by oozy rat in a sanitary zoo at 9:37 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by SystematicAbuse at 9:59 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by Joey Michaels at 10:57 AM on July 17, 2021


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posted by JoeXIII007 at 11:49 AM on July 17, 2021


A relative obscurity from his deep, deep catalog: Caron Wheeler f Biz Markie - Star

The Juice Crew's message song: Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie - Erase Racism

A song that changed sampling law forever: Biz Markie - Alone Again Naturally

A song where, like in a lot of Biz songs, he's just clearly having a hell of a good time: De La Soul f Biz Markie - Lovely How I Let My Mind Float

My favorite Biz song from now until the heat death of the universe: Biz Markie - Vapors
posted by box at 12:27 PM on July 17, 2021 [8 favorites]


(Gift of Gab didn't get an obit post, and he's one of my favorite rappers, and ardgedee already posted 'Alphabet Aerobics,' so here are five ten more:

The first time I ever heard him rap, and I was like 'wow, this guy is something special': Blackalicious - Swan Lake

If you like 'Alphabet Aerobics': Blackalicious - Sports Alphabet, Chemical Calesthenics, Paragraph President, A to G

An epic: Blackalicious f Saul Williams, Lyrics Born and Zach de la Rocha - Release

A late-period song with just virtuoso rapping: Gift of Gab f RA the Rugged Man and A-F-R-O - Freedom Form Flowing

Rap joy: Blackalicious - Rhymes for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind

My favorite forever: Blackalicious - Making Progress

The one to end it with: Blackalicious - Sleep)
posted by box at 1:06 PM on July 17, 2021 [8 favorites]


After Fife and DMX, I didn't think my heart could break much more.

RIP, Biz! Thanks for all of the black joy you gave me!

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posted by simonelikenina at 5:19 PM on July 17, 2021 [1 favorite]


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posted by KillaSeal at 7:46 PM on July 17, 2021


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posted by luckynerd at 7:45 PM on July 18, 2021


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posted by TwoStride at 5:24 AM on July 19, 2021


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posted by lord_wolf at 7:34 AM on July 19, 2021


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posted by exlotuseater at 10:21 AM on July 19, 2021


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And also, as an alien in Men In Black II
posted by AzraelBrown at 10:44 AM on July 19, 2021


With Biz, it was “I don’t care how good or bad a singer you think I am, I don’t care what you think about my chops, let’s go because we are gonna rock this shit hard.” And you were going to have a fucking blast. There’s a lot of artists who might be really damn good, but there’s few who are as fun as Biz Markie.
posted by azpenguin at 7:35 AM on July 20, 2021 [2 favorites]


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