Biz Markie, who infused his music with so much fun and humor that he became known as "The Clown Prince of Hip Hop," has passed away... He was 57. "Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years," his manager, Jenni Izumi, said in a written statement. Beloved in the music industry for his lighthearted persona, Biz Markie even had a dance named for him. Born Marcel Hall in New York City, he began rapping in local clubs when he met hip hop producer Marley Marl in 1985. That meeting led to Biz Markie working as a human beatbox with artists MC Shan and Roxanne Shanté. Biz Markie, seen at Kensington High Street in London on April 6, 1988. Biz Markie, seen at Kensington High Street in London on April 6, 1988. In his spare time, Hall recorded demos and in 1988, he secured a deal with the Cold Chillin' label to release his debut album, "Goin' Off." Radio soon caught on and the album launched hits with "Vapors" and "Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz." The following year, his album "The Biz Never Sleeps" went gold, buoyed by what would be his biggest hit, "Just A Friend." His playful, sad sack persona was in direct contrast to some of the harder core hip hop that had become popular in the late 1980s. But Biz Markie would soon find trouble with a case that helped change the way the rap industry did business. Musician Gilbert O'Sullivan sued the rapper over his song "Alone Again" on his 1991 album "I Need a Haircut." O'Sullivan won and moving forward, hip hop artists had to clear the use of samples. "I still was me," Biz Markie said during a 2008 interview. "It wasn't a rape case or a gun case. It was a sample." The rapper had some fun with the case, naming his 1993 album "All Samples Cleared!" Honing his DJ skills, he soon became known as much for rocking the party as rocking the mic. He also expanded his career to include acting, appearing in "Men in Black II," as a narrator on the adult puppet show "Crank Yankers," and on the children's series "Yo Gabba Gabba!" with his "Biz's Beat of the Day." - CNN.
In the words of DJ Sheep... "We truly lost a great one today, Biz Markie, the cornerstone of humour in hip-hop with his larger than life cartoon-ish personality and demeanour. The B-I-Z's discography, legacy and history in hip-hop ran deep and his crates and music knowledge ran even deeper. I feel extremely humbled and blessed in hindsight to have spent time with Biz Markie in Australia, having both shared the stage with him in Sydney as well as spending a couple of days hanging out in Brisbane together with his brother DJ Cool V. We did what Biz does best and hit Chinatown in Brisbane for Chinese food, went diggin' for records and vintage toys and nerded out for many hours sharing, dissecting, politicin' and listening to rare breakbeats, grooves, raps, acapellas and stems. It's one of the very few times I was absolutely geeked out meeting one of my heroes. There's been too many times when I've learned that my childhood rap heroes are actually jerks, even more-so with the advent of social media. There are too many hilarious stories to tell and memories of that tour which will have to wait for another time. This short but sweet 14-minute promo "mega-mix" was done in one take on two decks and a mixer at the request of the promoter of the down under tour. I kept it simple and just blended 7 of my favourite Biz tracks. There's obviously some deeper diggin' to be done in Biz's extensive catalog and I'm sure there'll be some great tribute mixes forthcoming but I kept this one as is because it's from a time and a place that hopefully some others can appreciate. Nobody Beats the Biz. Never. Rest in Peace and my most genuine condolences to his family and loved ones." Tribute mix below... Rest In Peace, Biz Markie.