Short Biography

Marcel Theo Hall (born April 8, 1964 in Harlem, New York) better known by his stage name Biz Markie, is a rapper, DJ, and comedian, best known for the single "Just a Friend". Markie`s career began in the early 1980s. He established his reputation as a beat-box artist. He was one of the original artists who helped producer Marley Marl build Cold Chillin` Records. MC Shan and Roxanne Shante were Marley Marl`s and Cold Chillin` Records first acts. Biz beatboxed on Roxanne Shante`s underground hit "Def Fresh Crew" (1986), which lent credibility to his recording career and put Cold Chillin` on the map. In the same year, Biz Markie`s `coming out` single, "Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz", was released on Prism Records. He released his debut album, Goin` Off, which attracted a fair amount of attention, largely due to the lead single, Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz. The album also featured the underground hit singles Nobody Beats The Biz, The Vapors and Pickin` Boogers.

A year later, Biz broke into the mainstream when Just a Friend, a single featuring rapped verses and out-of-tune, sung choruses, reached the pop top ten. The accompanying album, The Biz Never Sleeps, which also included The Dragon, Spring Again, and "Things Get a Little Easier", that was sampled from the Bobby Susser, anti-drug, hit song, "Once You Understand", went gold.

Biz Markie ended 2007 and began 2008 opening for Chris Rock`s No Apologies" tour. Biz Markie`s act includes spinning records ranging from old school hip hop to Lynyrd Skynyrd and then performing "Just a Friend". Biz Markie`s play list includes the following: "Children`s Story" by Slick Rick, "Rapper`s Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang, "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, "Holiday" by Madonna, "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" by Wham!, "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, "The Breaks" by Kurtis Blow and "Robot Rock" by Daft Punk.

Who's Dated Who content is contributed and edited by our readers. Please report errors or omissions on this page.