marcel theo hall started going by the alias of BIZ MARKIE at the age of 14 in his harlem neighborhood.
in the 1980s biz started out beat boxing. he helped MARLEY MARL to build his new record company and put them on the map by beatboxing on the underground hit def fresh crew which was released by roxanne shante and cold chillin records in 1986.
in 1989 biz markie released JUST A FRIEND which topped the u.s. hot-100 chart at number-9. just a friend is known to fans all over the world now and can currently be heard in a popular heineken commercial that promotes sober driving. yay!
he is an all time favorite of new yorks own BEASTIE BOYS who have featured biz markie on half their albums. biz has also appeared in various music related tv shows and comedy jams and turntablism acts. in 2000 he performed the song bennie and the jets by elton john on the CHRIS ROCK show.
so hiphop, check it:
shy of the lame beer commercial for tv this guy has never touched anything whack. some other biz markie tracks you will love:
studda step
nobody beats the biz
the vapors
the energy blues
pickin boogers !!
chinese food
biz is a great case study for the anti-autotune argument too. he has such a unique sounding voice and is a legend in rap and an all around cool dude. he is definitely at the top of the list of rappers i would like my children to meet one day when they are old enough to appreciate real hip-hop . . .
