Nobody beats the Biz - Is Dead - A sad day for Hiphop music
It came as a shock to me, and I suppose to many other Hip-Hop fans from a certain generation that we were to learn, that the rapper known as BIZ MARKIE ( his real name was Marcel Theo Hall) died on Friday 16th July 2021 at the age of 57 years old.
I never knew at the time and thought it was a joke. A friend of mine told me 2 days after he had died.
He told me to look at YouTube and FIND OUT for myself. And I saw for myself new reports of his death. And he was right unfortunately
CBS NEWS REPORTS ON THE DEATH OF BIZ MARKIE
He's known for his ability to put humor within his raps, his ability to inject Don Rickles style of insults within his raps, his beatboxing ability and finally working with the HipHop Collective known as The Juice Crew – which contained stars like Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shante, Mc Shan, and Marley Marl - Allowed BIZ to learn from these others stars as well
I have never met him (Biz Markie) before. But his music made me think of better and happier days from the past.
When music and football (held a huge part of my life more than it does today)
My first recollection of hearing my first Biz Markie track, was when I was listening to him over a transistor radio via his latest single called “Nobody beats the biz” over a BBC RADIO SHOW based here in England.
The show that escapes me now was devoted to RNB and Rap music at the time.
The song was written by Big Daddy Kane and the record was produced by Marley Marl. Two, major legends within the music of hip-hop.
But this record allows us to witness Biz Markie's rapping styles include the pace of his voice, the delivery, the ability to throw in his talent of beat-boxing within his performance, and finally the cadence of his voice.
Here below is the beginning of the track via the lyrics of the song.
[Scratches & Samples]
"He's Biz Markie"
"The star of the show"
"He's Biz Markie"
"Heartbreaking"
"He's Biz Markie"
"Mr. Dynamite"
"He's Biz Markie"
"Mr. Dynamite"
"So fresh"
[Verse 1]
Yes, y'all and, to the like beat and
You could either dance or just have a seat and
Listen to the way and, what I am displaying
A different kind of rapper language that I am saying
To all the party people that absorbs the info
When it come to rocking parties I am a nympho
Maniac, brainiac for doing my dance
And my record Make the Music will put you in a trance and
Hypnotize your body and, like you do Bacardi and
You won't be fighting or illing, you just be partying
Down, with the funky sound with yours truly
I'm the original B-I-Z M-A-R-K-I but the E
I came to have fun and, not be number one and
Just here to let you know, who's like running the place
And everywhere that I perform and do a show
As long as you know that...
Biz Markie - Nobody beats the Biz
I loved this song so much that I hunted it down everywhere. I tracked and hunted all the record shops within my hometown in Ipswich.
But alas no one of them had it. I promised myself when he ever brings out an album I just had to get it.
The songs used were these samples:
Lafayette Afro Rock Band - Hihache
Steve Miller Band - Fly Like An Eagle
AND THIS ONE:
Nobody Beats The Wiz Commercial - 1985
And sure enough, he did.
He bought out an album called – “Goin Off” in 1988 – which contained other gems from such as – “The Vapours", "Picking Boogers", "Albee Square Mall", and of course "Nobody Beats the Biz".
“Pickin' Boogers” was a track that I loved (As well as Albee Square single and The Vapours single from the album) I hoped that he was not going “RAP” about what I thought he was going to do. And yes, he did a rap about “Picking your nose”…
However, the music and beats featured in that same single are brilliant.
Once again supplied by the great Marley Marl (WHO AT THE TIME WAS HIP-HOP's GREATEST PRODUCER) and the Lyrics were PROVIDED yet again by Big Daddy Kane…
The single, that was “Pickin Boogers” created musically by Marley Marly saw him becoming the first music producer/ music sampler; to use this particular Sample on a commercial track that was
Graham Central Station - The Jam
The sample that was used from the song was at 5 minutes and 10 seconds and it was the drums section within that passage of time.
They also used this old Radio Commercial advert within the same single as well
Shop Rite "Hey Ma, What's for Dinner" Ad w/ Jingle - 1974
That has now gone down in HipHop History as one of the true game changes within HipHop music and Beyond - for this song (“Pickin Boogers” that featured on the Biz Markie – “Goin off” album)
Here below is the finished song that came about via them using the two music singles above.
Biz Markie - Picking boogers
This single release alone was so influential – ”Picking Boogers”.
As it did make people sit up and take notice of the brilliance of the HipHop producer that was Marley Marl, especially in the world of HipHop Music and moving up towards Rnb Music as well.
In fact, a year later (1989), this came out using the same drum pattern that was featured within the single above called “Picking Boogers”….
Soul II Soul - Keep On Movin' - 1989
It was the music single of 1989 in my personal opinion. And I still think that this was Soul 2 Soul’s best-ever single release. And they released some brilliant tracks. However, the drum pattern took its lead from the sample used in “Pickin Boogers” ( as mentioned above).
Then he reached cult status with this track.
Biz Markie - The Vapours – 1988
Marley used a James Brown – a gold standard tune called – “Pappa Don’t take no Mess”. Please listen to the track below of the original song that was used in creating Biz Markie’s – The Vapours
James Brown - “Pappa don’t take no mess” - 1974
It was the fifth single to be released from his debut album which was called – Going off.
In fact, the single that was/and still is revered even featured in an article feature was written about it in Rolling Stone magazine.
Please click on this link to find out more, and how the single came about.
Please click on the link below – to read the interview given by Biz Markie about this single.
Biz Markie Interview with Rolling Stone magazine about the VAPOURS SINGLE
The single called The Vapours was even covered by Snoop Dog in 1997.
Please have a listen to it.
This song cover even featured Biz Markie within the Video (towards the end of the Snoop Dog version of The Vapours)
Snoop Dog - The Vapours - 1997
There was another or should I say album that I managed to gather which showcased his unique talent. It is a single that should have got a lot more critical acclaim than it did when it finally got aired in 1989.
It was a collaboration that he did with fellow New York artists known as – Heavy D.
The song was called “WE WRITE THE SONGS”- 1989 – From the Album – Marley Marl - In Control, Volume 1 – 1988
Marley Marl feat Biz Markie and Heavy D – “WE WRITE THE SONGS”- 1988
When I got this album this song above was on repeat for 2 weeks or so. This is what I imagined hip Hop Music was all about. Great Drum groove, a nice fat bassline, and two RAPPERS with not a care in the world and just going for it.
I only wish I could see them live to perform this song. But this is the best next thing
Marley Marl feat Biz Markie and Heavy D – “WE WRITE THE SONGS”- Live
He went on to continue with the music of HipHop and its movement. He eventually hit gold with the track called – “Just a Friend”.
It went on to sell over 7 million records with it.
He reached number 9 on the Billboard charts
And put Biz Markie into the big time.
Biz Markie - “Just a friend - 1989
Biz Markie was never again to repeat the huge success of the "Just a Friend” single.
But he was still able to have hit on Hip-Hop radio, releasing three consecutive Top 5 singles on the U.S. Rap charts in the early 1990s;
These were the singles called “What Comes Around Goes Around,” “Let Me Turn You On” and “Young Girl Bluez.”
For the next two decades, Biz Markie turned his hand on becoming more focused as a bona fide hip-hop DJ, continuing to work as an in-demand DJ.
He also appeared on several TV shows and films, such as In Living Color”, MTV’s” “Wild-N-Out”, Men In Black 2, and “Yo Gabba Gabba”, with whom he toured the world in the 2010s.
Biz Markie had been struggling with his health for much of the latter part of his life due to diabetes and being overweight.
In recent press interviews, he explained that he had lost weight; and was trying in an attempt to live a healthier lifestyle to combat the Type 2 Diabetes condition that he had now got.
Biz was hospitalized in 2020 for the condition but it seemed that he was making a recovery.
Biz Markie had been a radio DJ for LL Cool J‘s SiriusXM channel Rock the Bells Radio every weekday. That was when we all heard the terrible news of his death
Biz Markie is survived by his wife, Tara Hall.
Do you have a favorite track from Biz Markie? Have you seen him live in concert? Have you met him before? Please let us know any story you have about him here. Please get in touch.
IF YOU WANT TO READ A PREVIOUS ARTICLE THAT I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT - THE CLOWN PRINCE OF HIP-HOP MUSIC.
CLICK ON THIS - BIZ MARKIE
Well, that's all folks for me now anyway.
Please CONTACT US me here if you want to discuss anything mentioned here in this article.
*This article was only done for Educational and News awareness purposes. Not at any time was this article written to achieve financial gain from when this article was written, to the present time, or in the foreseeable future.
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