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Biz Markie
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
Biz Markie's real name was Marcel Theo Hall. He was born in Harlem in 1964 and grew up on Long Island, near New York. He took his stage name from one of the first hip hop acts he heard, with the rapper Busy Bee. He began in nightclubs in New York and performed at universities on the East Coast. He belonged to the Juice Crew around the producer Marley Marl and the label Cold Chillin', and helped the rapper Roxanne Shanté with beatboxing.
Music and breakthrough
His debut album Goin' Off appeared in 1988, with Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz and Vapors. The Biz Never Sleeps (1989) contained his biggest hit, Just a Friend, with a chorus based on a soul song by Freddie Scott. Biz Markie was known for his humour; he was called the clown of hip hop. His raps were playful, and he sang his choruses without caring about hitting the right note.
Influence
In 1991 his third album, I Need a Haircut, changed hip hop history. The singer Gilbert O'Sullivan sued him because the track Alone Again used a piece of his Alone Again (Naturally) without permission. The judge ruled in O'Sullivan's favour and the album was pulled from the shops. From then on, permission had to be asked for, and paid for, with every sample. Biz Markie responded in 1993 with the wink of All Samples Cleared! He died in 2021.
Listening
Discography
Studio albums
- 1988Goin’ Off
- 1989The Biz Never Sleeps
- 1991I Need a Haircut
- 1993All Samples Cleared!
- 2003Weekend Warrior
In School of Rock
The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.
- Mixtape 6: Fear of a Black PlanetNL Reader
Mentioned in other articles
- Golden age hip hop Genre
After a lawsuit against Biz Markie in 1991, it became customary to ask permission for every sample and to pay for it.