Biz Markie, pioneering hip hop entertainer, dies at 57
On July 16, Biz Markie (Marcel Theo Hall, born in New York, 1964) died in a Baltimore, Maryland hospital after a long bout with diabetes.
Rumors of Hall’s death circulated among hip hop fans earlier this month although they proved to be false. The entertainer was hospitalized in April 2020 due to his medical condition and later placed in a rehabilitation clinic after suffering a stroke while in a diabetic coma. “It is with profound sadness that we announce, this evening, with his wife Tara by his side, Hip Hop pioneer Biz Markie peacefully passed away. We are grateful for the many calls and prayers of support that we have received during this difficult time,” explained a press release by Hall-Markie’s manager, Jenni Izumi.
National News
Biz Markie, hip-hop s clown prince, dies at 57
Biz Markie, the innovative yet proudly goofy rapper, DJ and producer whose self-deprecating lyrics and off-key wail on songs like Just a Friend earned him the nickname Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, died Friday. He was 57.
by By Joe Coscarelli / New York Times News Service
Jul. 18 2021 @ 10:11pm
Biz Markie, the innovative yet proudly goofy rapper, DJ and producer whose self-deprecating lyrics and off-key wail on songs like Just a Friend earned him the nickname Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, died Friday. He was 57.
His death was confirmed by his manager, Jenni Izumi, did not specify the cause or say where he died.
Biz Markie, Just a Friend rapper, has died at 57 By Stephen Smith, Zoe Christen Jones
July 16, 2021 / 8:28 PM / CBS News
Biz Markie, the charismatic rapper whose infectious 1989 single Just a Friend became a pop culture classic, has died, his manager confirmed in a statement. Markie, whose real name is Marcel Theo Hall, was 57. It is with profound sadness that we announce, this evening, with his wife Tara by his side, Hip Hop pioneer Biz Markie peacefully passed away, the statement said. Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years, the statement added. He leaves behind a wife, many family members and close friends who will miss his vibrant personality, constant jokes and frequent banter.
Biz Markie, Hip-Hopâs âJust a Friendâ Clown Prince, Dies at 57
An innovative yet proudly goofy rapper, he had an unlikely crossover hit with a tune that led one critic to call him (favorably) âthe father of modern bad singing.â
The rapper Biz Markie in 1988. He became a pop sensation the next year with the unlikely smash âJust a Friend,â which reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.Credit.David Corio/Michael Ochs Archives, via Getty Images
July 16, 2021
Biz Markie, the innovative yet proudly goofy rapper, D.J. and producer whose self-deprecating lyrics and off-key wail on songs like âJust a Friendâ earned him the nickname Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, died on Friday. He was 57.
July 16th, 2021 by KRNB
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Mastercard
Hip-hop legend
His rep confirmed his passing in a statement to ABC News Friday.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce, this evening, with his wife Tara by his side, Hip Hop pioneer Biz Markie peacefully passed away,” the statement read. “We are grateful for the many calls and prayers of support that we have received during this difficult time.”
“Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years,” the statement continued. “He leaves behind a wife, many family members and close friends who will miss his vibrant personality, constant jokes and frequent banter. We respectfully request privacy for his family as they mourn their loved one.”