Pancakes & SyrupBiz Markie

Biz Markie

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.