Biz Markie

Biz Markie, born Marcel Theo Hall, was an American rapper, beatboxer, DJ, and comedian from Long Island, New York, celebrated as one of hip-hop's most beloved and humorous personalities. A member of Marley Marl's Juice Crew alongside Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, and Roxanne Shanté, he emerged in the mid-1980s known for his exceptional human-beatbox skills and playful, self-deprecating rhymes.

He is best remembered for «Just a Friend», a 1989 single built around his own off-key, gleefully unpolished singing, which became a crossover pop hit and remains one of the most instantly recognizable songs in hip-hop history. Earlier tracks like «Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz» and «Vapors» showcased his showmanship and comedic storytelling, while «Nobody Beats the Biz» highlighted his skill as a battle rapper and beatboxer.

Beyond music, Biz Markie became a pop-culture fixture through television appearances, voice acting, and DJ sets, earning the nickname the Clown Prince of Hip Hop. His early-1990s sampling dispute over «Alone Again» also became a landmark legal case that reshaped how sampling clearances are handled in the music industry. He passed away in 2021, remembered as a foundational and singularly joyful figure in hip-hop.