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.)
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.)
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posted by badbobbycase at 7:02 PM on July 16, 2021
posted by badbobbycase at 7:02 PM on July 16, 2021
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posted by lalochezia at 7:07 PM on July 16, 2021
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
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
posted by TheFantasticNumberFour at 7:10 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
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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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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]
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]
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]
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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]
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
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]
I hope someone is looking after his Beanie Baby collection.
posted by cazoo at 8:48 PM on July 16, 2021 [2 favorites]
He had beats up his sleeve like you couldn't believe.
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posted by RakDaddy at 9:10 PM on July 16, 2021 [4 favorites]
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posted by RakDaddy at 9:10 PM on July 16, 2021 [4 favorites]
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posted by Ms. Moonlight at 1:22 AM on July 17, 2021
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 1:22 AM on July 17, 2021
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posted by From Bklyn at 2:40 AM on July 17, 2021
posted by From Bklyn at 2:40 AM on July 17, 2021
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posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:29 AM on July 17, 2021
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]
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 skye.dancer at 5:20 AM on July 17, 2021
posted by skye.dancer at 5:20 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]
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 EatTheWeek at 6:26 AM on July 17, 2021
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
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:42 AM on July 17, 2021
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posted by cmfletcher at 8:28 AM on July 17, 2021
posted by cmfletcher at 8:28 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 lips at 9:25 AM on July 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
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posted by oozy rat in a sanitary zoo at 9:37 AM on July 17, 2021
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
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
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
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]
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]
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]
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 exlotuseater at 10:21 AM on July 19, 2021
posted by exlotuseater at 10:21 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]
posted by azpenguin at 7:35 AM on July 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
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