Biz Markie

Released: November 18, 2003

Songwriter: Biz Markie

Producer: Sorce

[Verse One]
I'd like to tell a story and it goes like this
Before I was makin money hand over fist
The mid-80's is what I'm talkin about
You will agree without a reasonable doubt
As I tell this tale, sittin on a pail
This is one you'll like when it's done
Only certain people know about Union Square
The Rooftop, Latin Quarter, cause I was there
Red Alert downtown, Brucie Bee uptown
Grandmaster Vic had a different sound
You had block parties, with free gifts
Mr. Magic and Marley gave radio a lift
You don't understand, but we do
That's why I'm tryin to explain it to you
So sit back and listen, to what I say
As I tell the story of this beautiful day

[Chorus: sampled]
"We'll go dancing in the dark" - HEY!
"Walking through the park, and reminiscing"
BREAK IT ON DOWN!

[Verse Two]
Before Versace and DKNY
There was a lot of clothes that was fly
Like Polo, Benetton, Coca-Cola and Osh Kosh
Guess jeans and others that's acid washed
D.C. wore K-Swiss and Sergio Tacchini
Girls wore tennis skirts, that was mini
Spot{?}, Ewings, Le Coq Sportif
New Balance, Fila, Nike and Ellesse
African clothes and medallions was worn
And when Rakim came out, knowledge was born
In the midst of it all, I almost forgot
There was a brother uptown makin his own spot
Makin Gucci, leather and suede tailor made
That had more flavor than mom's Kool-Aid
I'm gonna tell you, the name of this man
He goes by the name of the Dapper Dan

[Chorus]

[Verse Three]
See at this time, you might think I'm strange
Cause I wore a four-finger ring, and big gold chains
Like I was Mr. T from the A-Team
It was just a sign of me makin cream
But the cars and jeeps was incred-a
Like the Audi, 280 Z's, 98's and Jettas
Cherokees, Wranglers, Suzuki Sidekicks
L.A. and West coast cars was doin tricks
Now the dances was crazy to match
Like the Pee Wee, The Wop and the Cabbage Patch
The Prep, The Snake, and "The Biz Mark, Biz Mark"
The way the Gucci Girls gave shows a spark
Now listen, to what I got to say-ah
Reagan was Pres', and Koch was the Mayor
You can't beat that with a baseball bat
And you'd never see me without my Biz Mark hat

[Chorus] - 4X w/ ad libs

Marcel Theo Hall (born April 8, 1964), better known by his stage name Biz Markie, is an American rapper, beatboxer, DJ, comedian, singer, reality television personality, and commercial spokesperson. He is best known for his hit single “Just a Friend” and has been called “the Clown Prince of Hip Hop.”

Markie found a love of music through his father, a multi-instrumentalist who played in local Long Island clubs when Markie was a child. Later, Markie performed at house parties on Long Island until he felt confident enough to go to Manhattan and pursue a career in music. He began waiting outside on the stoop of producer Marley Marl’s house daily until Marley took notice of him. Marley assembled a group of rappers including Markie with Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, Roxanne Shante, and others and called them The Juice Crew. Markie was especially known for his beatboxing, something he’d been doing since he was seven years old.

Markie’s first release, a 1986 EP titled “Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz”, was put out under the name Biz Markie “The Inhuman Orchestra”. Its title track became a minor R&B Chart hit. Two years later, “Vapors”, a single from his debut album Goin' Off, gave him his second appearance on the R&B Chart. Years later, Snoop Dogg’s 1997 cover of the song would take “Vapors” into the top 40 on the UK, Scotland and New Zealand pop charts.

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