Even though the legendary beatboxing champion, funnyman and who some dubbed as the “clown prince of hip-hop” Biz Markie, passed away at 57 years old, his long, rich history still lives on.
We first reported on Biz Markie’s health issues in 2020 when he was hospitalized due to complications of his diabetes, but everyone was praying for the Biz. Family and friends quickly dismissed any death rumors just a couple of months ago. But sadly, in 2021, his death was no rumor, and hip-hop is dealt yet another huge blow.
“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,” his rep Jenni Izumi said in a statement. “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,” Izumi added. “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.”
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How Biz Markie Rose to Fame
Born Marcel Theo Hall on April 8, 1964 in Harlem, N.Y., Markie was raised on Long Island and began his music career performing in night clubs and colleges, eventually finding himself a member of Marley Marl’s legendary Queensbridge collective, the Juice Crew, where he performed as a beatboxer alongside the likes of fellow rappers like Big Daddy Kane, Masta Ace, Roxanne Shante, and Kool G Rap. Although he didn’t create beatboxing, Markie was one of beatboxing’s most visible pioneers.
Over the course of five albums — most notably 1988’s Goin’ Off and 1989’s The Biz Never Sleeps — the producer-MC developed his own style unlike any other rapper at the time: a mix of half-sung choruses, riveting beatboxing, and silly humor that would earn him the nickname the “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop” and pave the way for off-kilter rappers like Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
Although deemed one of hip-hop’s biggest one-hit wonders — VH1 placed his 1989 classic “Just a Friend” at Number 81 on its 2000 list of the greatest one-hit wonders of all time–Biz was far from a one-hit wonder. With another classic song like “Vapors”, and fun hits like “Me Versus Me” and the infectious “Spring Again” Biz was a hip-hop fan favorite.
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Markie’s debut single, the Marl-produced “Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz” in 1986, showcased the “human beatbox” skills that would become a trademark throughout Markie’s career.
With Marl as producer, Markie released his 1988 debut LP, Goin’ Off, on the Juice Crew’s Cold Chillin’ Records. While not a critical success, the album featured the enduring underground hits “Vapors,” “Nobody Beat the Biz” — a play on the jingle of a New York-based electronics store — and “Pickin’ Boogers,” the latter of which highlighted the Clown Prince’s unique blend of humor and hip-hop. Asked in 2018 if the stories Markie described in “Vapors” were real, he replied, “Dead real. Everything. I didn’t know how to write no other way.” The song would go on to be sampled by everyone from Notorious B.I.G. to Ice Cube, while the “Pickin’ Boogers” line “Now let me take a trip down memory lane” would later feature prominently on Nas’ Illmatic classic “Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park).”
In addition to music, Markie also acted in movies and television. he was cast in a cameo role as a beatboxing, mail-sorting alien in 2002’s Men in Black II. Biz also became a fixture on the children’s TV series Yo Gabba Gabba! with his “Biz’s Beat of the Day” beatboxing segment.
What We Can Learn from Biz’s Passing
In early 2020, though, just after the COVID-19 pandemic began, Markie was hospitalized due to complications with his case of type 2 diabetes. Later in the year, he went into a diabetic coma and had a stroke, which led to him being placed in a rehabilitation facility. However, he was not able to fully recover from this.
When July 2021 rolled around, he was still in bad shape, and rumors of his death even began to spread throughout social media on July 1. But, his representative denied this, saying he was still in the hands of medical personnel. “The news of Biz Markie’s death is not true, Biz is still under medical care, surrounded by professionals who are working hard to provide the best healthcare possible,” his rep told Rolling Stone.
Two weeks later, though, Markie would ultimately pass away at the age of 57, with his wife Tara Hall holding his hand during his last breath. His official cause of death was a result of a stroke he had suffered after going into a diabetic coma.
How does diabetes cause stroke?
Diabetes prevents your body from processing food properly. Your body can’t make insulin or can’t use insulin correctly, which causes glucose (sugar) to build up in your blood.
Over time, high glucose levels can damage the body’s blood vessels, increasing the chance of stroke.
Many adults with diabetes also have other health problems that can lead to stroke:
- Extra body weight (the optimum range for body mass index, or BMI, is from 18.5 to 24.9).
- Heart disease.
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol.
Diabetes-related stroke symptoms
The symptoms of diabetes-related stroke are the same as the symptoms of any stroke:
- Any trouble talking.
- Dizziness, problems with balance or trouble walking.
- Severe, sudden headache.
- Sudden confusion.
- Trouble seeing or double vision.
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body (for example, one side of the face, one arm or one leg).
A stroke is a medical emergency. Get medical attention immediately if you experience any of the symptoms.
