Biz Markie hasn’t been on social media nor has he appeared on his Sirius XM Rock The Bells radio show in over six months.
In July, it was reported he’d actually been hospitalized for weeks with a “serious illness” unrelated to the coronavirus but possibly linked to his Type II diabetes. As the weeks dragged on, rumors started to swirl on social media suggesting he’d slipped into a coma.
HipHopDX reached out to Biz’s management team in September and was told he was absolutely “not in a coma” yet here it is December and the 56-year-old MC still hasn’t resurfaced. In the meantime, friends of Biz in the Hip Hop community grew increasingly concerned about his radio silence and began to think something nefarious was going on behind the scenes. Some even thought he could’ve quietly passed away.
But DX can confirm that’s not the case. According to a source close to Biz and his situation, Biz suffered a stroke while in the hospital recovering from a diabetic episode.
“He’s not doing great, but it’s not as scandalous as it felt in the beginning,” the source tells DX. “Short story is Biz is diabetic, he had slipped into a diabetic coma, but that has happened to him in the past and it would only last a little while. He would go to the hospital, get discharged and get his meds under control. This particular time, he had a stroke while he was in the middle of the coma.”
While Biz is allegedly conscious and able to FaceTime with his family, the stroke affected his brain and it’s difficult for him to communicate. But he’s been in a rehab facility in the DMV area for months and is apparently in good hands.
Biz has been struggling with his health for quite some time but got his weight under control several years ago. In a 2014 interview with ABC News, Biz talked about adopting a healthier lifestyle and explained what led him to shed the extra 140 pounds he was carrying.
“I wanted to live,” Biz said. “Since I have to be a diabetic, If I didn’t make the changes, it was going to make the diabetes worse. I’m trying to get off [the Diabetes meds]. The way you gotta do it is lose the weight. I’m off half my meds, I just got to get off the rest. They said I could lose my feet. They said I could lose body parts. A lot of things could happen.”
Biz launched his Hip Hop career in the 1980s and rose to prominence following the release of his 1988 debut Goin’ Off, which included the underground hits “Make The Music With Your Mouth Biz,” “Vapors,” “Pickin’ Boogers” and “Nobody Beats The Biz.”
But it was the 1989 single “Just A Friend” that took him to another level. Released on his sophomore album The Biz Never Sleeps, the song reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became his biggest hit to date.
Over the years, Biz — who’s often referred to as the “Clown Prince of Hip Hop” — has appeared in films and television shows such as 2002 Men In Black II with Will Smith, Celebrity Fit Club, Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘N Out, Empire and Black-ish. In 2008, he started touring with Chris Rock as the comedian’s opening act on the No Apologies Tour and then linked up with the kids program Yo Gabba Gabba! for its 2013 live tour.
In terms of music, Biz hasn’t put out an official solo album since 2003’s Weekend Warrior but has released several compilation albums, including 2009’s Yo Gabba Gabba and 2010’s The Aquabats Radio Down! In 2018, he contributed to Cut Chemist’s album Die Cut on the song “Moonlightin.”
For now, Biz isn’t out of the woods. HipHopDX sends our well wishes to the rap legend.
Damn prayers for the OG. Hope he pulls through #HipHopLegend
Praying for Biz I plead the mighty blood of Jesus over you. Pray for healing from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet. God is still healing and showing out. Your a pillar in this industry best years of my life. I believe you will be fine there are many praying for you. God bless you and your family amen.
Reminds me of Patrice oneal……he passed away from complications of a stroke he had while in a diabetic coma as well. I will pray this wont happen with da biz
Fuck… that fuckin sucks. He’s brought so much joy to us all. Hope he will be okay.
Hope he gets well soon.
This was already reported. Am I missing something?
biz markie.. ill see myself out
Apparently reading comprehension skills.
Get well soon Biz
Diabetes is ma’fucka!! My older bro died from diabetic complications. Biz is my thoughts. #phifedawg4eva
*Biz is in my thoughts
get well soon. people love you.
Never have i ever heard of anyone in Scandinavia dying from diabetes, not from type 1 nor from type 2. But in the US its a death sentence or you go broke/bankrupt to afford the meds(that cost nothing to produce, btw). Wake up america
Ya I’m sure scandinavia is perfect and the united States is a total shit hole. Or maybe you should push that socialist bullshit when appropriate not everytime someone gets sick
I never said the US is a shithole, im sorry you seem to feel that way though. Im glad you seem to enjoy the freedom to die from easily and cheaply medicated diseases
Stool!
Prayers going out to the magnificent O.G.
Get well my dude!!!
PRAISE GOD REPENTANCE IS BLISS PLEASE READ THE HOLY BIBLE AND PRAY MATHEW3 HELL IS HOT AND ETERNAL FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH IN JESUS CHRIST HOLY HUMBLING BLESSED BLOOD NAME I PRAY JESUS CHRIST IS LORD AND JESUS CHRIST LOVES YOU ALL AND SO DO I IAM PROPHETESS DR PASTOR UNIQUE MONIQUE AGNEWI GIVE HOLY BLESSED BIBLE STUDY LESSONS AND DEEP DELIVERANCE PRAYERS AND IAM ON FACEBOOK TWICE UNDER MONIQUE AGNEW AND GODS GIFT HOUSE WHERE YOU CAN JOIN MY HOLY BLESSED CHURCH MERCY GOSPEL HEALING MINISTRY ONLINE ALL ARE WELCOMED IN JESUS CHRIST HOLY HUMBLING BLESSED BLOOD NAME I PRAY AND THE LORD AND I REBUKE YOU satan lavaithan OUT OF THIS INTERVIEW AND WEBSITE IN JESUS CHRIST HOLY HUMBLING BLESSED BLOOD NAME I PRAY JESUS CHRIST IS LORD AND JESUS CHRIST LOVES YOU ALL AND SO DO I BLESSINGS PEACE HAPPY BLESSED HOLIDAYS BLESSINGS PEACE HALLELUJAH GLORY BE TO GOD AMEN
Amen
For me Biz markie represnts good times, comic relif
Biz is a legend get well soon
PRAISE GOD REPENTANCE IS BLISS PLEASE READ THE HOLY BIBLE AND PRAY MATHEW3 HELL IS HOT AND ETERNAL FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH IN JESUS CHRIST HOLY HUMBLING BLESSED BLOOD NAME I PRAY THE LORD AND I REBUKE YOU satan lavaithan OUT OF MY BRETHERN BIZ MARKIE YOU GOT THE VAPORS AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN THEE devil GET THEE BEHIND ME satan IN JESUS CHRIST HOLY HUMBLING BLESSED BLOOD NAME I PRAY BLESSINGS PEACE HALLELUJAH GLORY BE TO GOD BLESSINGS PEACE HAPPY BLESSED HOLIDAYS TO ALL A VRY HAPPY BLESSED JOLLY CHRISTMAS COMING GID WILLINGLY I PRAYRAY FOR PROPHET BIZ MARKIE MY FRIEND AND BROTHER AND CHRIST AND ALL WHO SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS BIPOLAR HINDERENCESSES DIABETS THE COVID VIRUSAND ANY OTHER MENTAL ILLNESSES AND VIRUS AND ANY SPIRITUAL ATTACKS ON TERENCE LEON GLASS BIZ MARKIE AND ALL OF ARE HOLY BLESSED FRIENDS AND HOLY BLESSED FAMILIES GOD US A GOD OF RESTORATION OVER ALL THAT MY FATHER YAWHEY YASHUA ABBA FATHER GOD CHOOSES TO HEAL IN JESUS CHRIST HOLY HUMBLING BLESSED BLOOD I PRAY BLESSINGS PEACE HALLELUJAH GLORY BE TO GOD REPENTANCE IS BLISS BLESSINGS PEACE HAPPY BLESSED HOLIDAYS PLEASE GET WELL TO ALL AND BRETHREN AND FRIEND BIZ MARKIE PLEASE HEAL THEM ALL FATHER YAWHEY ABBA YASHUA ABBA YAWHEY ABBA FATHER GOD INCLUDING THEM ALL AND ME PROPHETESS DR PASTOR UNIQUE MONIQUE
AGNEW GLASS IN JESUS CHRIST HOLY HUMBLING BLESSED BLOOD NAME I PRAY BLESSINGS PEACE HALLELUJAH GLORY BE TO GOD AMEN
Amen
I love the fuck out of that dude. Great DJ, classy guy, hurts my heart that he is going through it like that. I am going to keep him in my prayers. I’m type II insulin dependent and this diabetes is a mother fucker. Sending much love to him and his family.