Biz Markie American rapper, beatboxer, DJ, singer and actor Date of Birth: 08.04.1964 Country: USA

1. Biz Markie: The 'Clown Prince of Hip-Hop'
2. Early Life and Career
3. "Just a Friend" and Rise to Fame
4. Legal Issues and Setbacks
5. Collaborations and Film Career
6. Reality TV and Other Appearances
7. Recent Projects

Biz Markie: The 'Clown Prince of Hip-Hop'

American rapper, beatboxer, DJ, singer, and actor Biz Markie became known as the 'Clown Prince of Hip-Hop.' His most notable hit, the 1989 single "Just a Friend," reached the US Top 10 and was ranked as the final track on VH1's list of "100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs Of All Time" in 2008.

Early Life and Career

Born Marcel Theo Hall on April 8, 1964, in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, Biz Markie began his musical journey in the early 1980s. After graduating from Longwood High School in 1982, he released his debut album, 'Goin' Off,' in 1988. The album garnered attention for singles like "Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz," "Nobody Beats The Biz," "Pickin' Boogers," and "Vapors."

"Just a Friend" and Rise to Fame

On October 10, 1989, Biz Markie released his second album, 'The Biz Never Sleeps,' with Cold Chillin' Records and Warner Bros. Records. Featuring the collaborative effort "Just a Friend," which blended rapping and singing, it became the album's most iconic track. The song peaked at number nine on the Billboard charts and sampled the 1968 song "You Got What I Need" by Freddie Scott. Markie's remake effectively made him a "one-hit wonder," with "Just a Friend" ranking 81st on VH1's list of "100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of All Time." The song's music video, directed by Lionel C. Martin, featured a memorable scene where Markie, dressed as Mozart, plays a piano by candlelight. It was likely inspired by the 1986 video for "Rock Me Amadeus" and ultimately inspired the video for "Rock Me Amadeus."

Legal Issues and Setbacks

Biz Markie's third studio album, 'I Need a Haircut,' released on August 27, 1991, experienced low sales. However, the album's 12th track, "Alone Again," caused controversy. Gilbert O'Sullivan sued Markie, claiming illegal use of his song "Alone Again (Naturally)." O'Sullivan's lawsuit led to a groundbreaking decision in hip-hop music, requiring artists to obtain permission before using samples to avoid copyright lawsuits. Consequently, 'I Need a Haircut' was withdrawn from circulation and re-released without "Alone Again." The incident and the criticism surrounding his video for "Toilet Stool Rap" being named "Worst Video of the Year" on MuchMusic's 'Fromage' further hindered Markie's career.

Collaborations and Film Career

Despite the setbacks, Biz Markie continued to make notable contributions to music. In 1996, he appeared on the 'America is Dying Slowly' compilation for the Red Hot Organization, which aimed to raise awareness about the AIDS epidemic among African Americans. He also featured on the Rolling Stones' 1997 song "Anybody Seen My Baby?" on their album 'Bridges to Babylon.' The same year, Markie collaborated with Frankie Cutlass on the single "The Cypher Part 3," featuring members of the hip-hop collective Juice Crew.

Markie made a memorable cameo appearance in the 2000 film 'Men in Black II' as an alien who communicates through beatboxing. He also appeared in the fifth season of 'Fastlane' from 2002 to 2003, playing a nightclub DJ. In 2003, he voiced characters in several episodes of 'Kung Faux' and had his song "Vapors" featured in the 2004 video game 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.'

Reality TV and Other Appearances

In 2005, Biz Markie joined the reality show 'Celebrity Fit Club,' where celebrities attempt to lose weight through diet and exercise. He successfully shed more weight than any other contestant. The same year, he made an appearance in 'The Andy Milonakis Show.'

In 2008, Markie served as an opening act for Chris Rock's 'No Apologies' tour. In December 2009, he starred in a commercial for RadioShack, uttering his iconic line "Oh Snap! Guess what I saw!" from "Just a Friend."

Recent Projects

In 2010, Markie provided commentary for VH1's '100 Greatest Artists of All Time,' though he was not included in the ranking. He contributed to the three-track EP 'Radio Down!' by The Aquabats! the same year. On November 11, 2010, he performed "Just a Friend" with Jeff Goldblum on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.'

In 2013, Markie toured with the children's music group Yo Gabba Gabba! He voiced Ken the Cat in an episode of 'SpongeBob SquarePants' and Snorlax, a beatboxing worm, in 'Adventure Time.' In 2014, he played a pizza shop owner in the television movie 'Sharknado 2: The Second One.'