Biz Markie has reportedly lost his fight with Type II diabetes and the health complications it caused. According to TMZ,the beatboxing Hip Hop pioneer died at a Baltimore, Maryland hospital at 6:25 p.m. local time. His wife Tara Hall was reportedly with him when he passed and held his hand until he took his last breath.
The Juice Crew legend has been the subject of multiple false death rumors, but a source close to the family told HipHopDX, “Sadly, this time it’s true.”
Biz had been struggling with his health for over a year. In July 2020, he was in a Maryland area hospital receiving treatment related to Type II diabetes. But as the months dragged on, friends of Biz started to worry when they hadn’t heard any updates for six months.
DX was told at the time, “He’s not doing great, but it’s not as scandalous as it felt in the beginning. 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.”
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Then in June, a rumor he’d died started circulating on social media after REVOLT prematurely announced his death. DX confirmed Biz’s situation was dire, but he was still putting up a valiant fight. But sadly for Biz and all those who love him, it was not meant to be and he slipped away at 57 years old.
Born Marcel Theo Hall in 1964, Biz Markie got his start in New York City before relocating to Washington D.C. In 1988, Biz dropped his debut album Goin Off, which included the singles “Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz,” “Nobody Beats The Biz”, “Vapors” and “Pickin’ Boogers.”
The comedic nature of his music soon earned him the nickname “The Clown Prince Of Hip Hop” and he continued pumping out albums throughout the late 80s and early 90s.
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But it was his 1989 sophomore album The Biz Never Sleeps that catapulted him to international notoriety, thanks in part to the hit single “Just A Friend.” The track reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album peaked at No. 66 on the Billboard 200.
Veteran New York City Hip Hop promoter Van Silk has known Biz since the 1980s and is understandably devastated by the news.
“Rest in peace to my longtime friend Biz Markie who I’ve known since he was 15 years old, carrying crates for myself, [fellow promoters] Mike and Dave back in 1981,” he tells DX. “Biz was very special to me and to Hip Hop, as well. If you can DJ in a onesie and get love, you was loved. May you sleep well.”
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Biz Markie Is Alive But 'Just A Friend' Rap Legend Still Needs Hip Hop's Prayers
The Universal Hip Hop Museum also offered a statement that reads, “The Universal Hip Hop Museum is saddened by the news about Biz Markie’s death. His wit, humor and creative genius will live on forever at the museum.”
A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip, Snoop Dogg, DJ Scratch, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea, Parliament-Funkadelic’s Bootsy Collins and numerous other members of the music community have taken to Twitter to express their condolences. HipHopDX sends our support to Biz’s family, friends and fans.
Check them out below.
