Marcel Theo Hall, known as Biz Markie, was born on April 8, 1964, in Harlem, NY. He adopted his stage name when he began his career in New York City as a teenage beatboxer and freestyle rapper. His 1989 hit “Just a Friend” ranked in the Top 40 in multiple countries and went platinum. Three years ago, the Hip-Hop world lost this trailblazer when he passed away from complications of diabetes in 2021.
Biz Markie had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in his late 40s and said that he lost 140 pounds in the years that followed. “I wanted to live,” he told ABC News in 2014. The cause of death remains unknown, but he was hospitalized in 2020 due to complications from diabetes.
The Harlem-born rapper had a 35-year career that touched many, and his rep left a statement at the time of his death summarizing how Biz’s death affected the entire Hip-Hop community.
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“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. 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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