Biz Markie obituary theguardian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theguardian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
When you think of rap battles, it’s hard not to cast your mind back to the east coast hip-hop scene of the 1980s; pumped-up rappers clad in shutter shades and primary-colored shell suits, balancing a booming stereo on their shoulder and gearing up to take the stage in a gritty underground club. It was an era that shaped the future of pop culture and stood out in musical history, with pioneering MCs like Kool Moe Dee and Busy Bee Starski both whom took part in one of the earliest and most infamous battles laying down a path for this new, braggadocious offshoot of hip-hop.