Biz Markie
The self-proclaimed 'Clown Prince of Hip Hop' whose hilariously off-key anthem 'Just a Friend' became a timeless, beloved rap oddity.
1964–2021 (age 57)·American rapper and singer·Birthday: April 8·Baby Boomers
Biography
Biz Markie was hip-hop's beloved court jester, a human sampler of goofy sounds and infectious joy in an era often defined by bravado. Emerging from New York's fertile late-80s scene, the DJ and beatboxer turned rapper built a persona on sheer, unadulterated fun. His 1989 debut 'Goin' Off' showcased his technical skill, but it was the following year's 'Just a Friend' that made him a permanent fixture in pop culture. With its deliberately terrible singing over a piano loop from Freddie Scott, the song was a smash that defied all conventions of what a hit record should sound like. While a landmark copyright lawsuit over his sampling later changed music industry laws, Biz's legacy is one of warmth. His later career as a beloved TV personality and children's entertainer proved his spirit was never confined to the booth; he was the friend everyone wanted at the party.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Biz was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Biz Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Biz's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2021Died at 57
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
Key Achievements
- His 1989 single 'Just a Friend' reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and is certified Platinum.
- The 1991 lawsuit 'Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records Inc.' over his unauthorized sample established the requirement for sample clearance in hip-hop.
- Pioneered the use of the 'human beatbox' as a prominent element in recorded hip-hop tracks.
- Had a successful second career as a DJ and personality, appearing on shows like 'Nickelodeon' and 'Yo Gabba Gabba!'.
Did You Know?
He was the touring DJ for the Beastie Boys in the late 1980s.
He made a memorable cameo in the 2002 film 'Men in Black II' as an alien parading as a beatboxing musician.
He was a skilled beatboxer who could mimic a wide array of instruments and sounds.
He was known for his massive collection of rare vinyl records.
“You, you got what I need but you say he's just a friend, and you say he's just a friend, oh baby.”
