Throughout his career, Biz Markie always knew who he was: 'My style of music is funky and unpredictable but you always can see that it will be a hit' ❤️
Markie, born Marcel Theo Hall in New York City, found Top 10 chart success in his mid-twenties through"Just a Friend"'s memorably wailing chorus and a notable video that saw him dressed as Mozart pounding at a piano. He wrote and co-produced the song, which hit No. 9 on theBefore that, Markie had been a successful beatboxer and rapper in New York's emerging powerhouse hip-hop scene.
In the early 1990s, hip-hop was still an emerging, mutating genre, and one of its biggest battles came via producers' and rappers' use of samples. A series of landmark lawsuits brought this to the fore, including one by Irish songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan that targeted Markie for his 1991 song"Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records Inc.
, stated that unauthorized samples are a form of copyright infringement, forever changing the music industry and, most directly, hip-hop. Markie, known as much for his sense of humor as his musical prowess, named his 1993 albumIn total, he released five albums throughout his career, the last of which, 2003's, featured collaborations with Diddy and DJ Jazzy Jeff.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biz Markie Dies: ‘Just A Friend’ Rapper And Actor Was 57Biz Markie, the rapper whose classic Just A Friend was a major hit in 1989 and has since been sampled in countless songs and videos, has died. He passed in a Baltimore hospital from complications o…
Read more »
Biz Markie, “Just A Friend” Rapper and Beatbox Pioneer, Dies at 57Biz Markie, the New York rapper who pioneered beatboxing and who had an enduring hit with the song “Just A Friend,” has died, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. He was 57. “It …
Read more »
Biz Markie, jubilant 'Just a Friend' rap star, dies at 57Biz Markie, a beatbox virtuoso, had a playfulness and an off-key, enthusiastic musicality that turned his 1989 song 'Just a Friend' into an enduring pop hit.
Read more »
Biz Markie, Bombastic Rapper Behind 'Just a Friend,' Dies at 57Biz Markie, the bombastic rapper behind the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit 'Just a Friend,' has died at age 57.
Read more »
Rapper Biz Markie, whose 'Just a Friend' became a '90s staple, dies at 57NEW: Rapper Biz Markie, whose song 'Just a Friend' became a 1990s hip-hop staple, has died at age 57, his manager says.
Read more »
Rapper Biz Markie, Known for Hit Song 'Just a Friend,' Dies at Age 57Rapper Biz Markie died Friday with his wife Tara by his side, his rep tells PEOPLE. His cause of death has not been revealed.
Read more »