'Just a Friend' Rapper Biz Markie Dead at 57 ('https://www.tmz.com/2021/07/16/just-a-friend-rapper-biz-markie-dead-at-57/')

Rapper Biz Markie ('https://www.tmz.com/people/biz-markie/') -- most famous for his iconic hit "Just a Friend" -- has died after a series of complications from diabetes that he's been fighting for more than a year ... TMZ has confirmed.

A family source tells us Biz passed away in a Baltimore hospital at 6:25 PM Friday night. We're told his wife, Tara Hall, held his hand as he took his last breath ... and the nursing staff was there to support his family, telling them how strong he was through his fight.

TMZ broke the story, Biz was hospitalized last summer ('https://www.tmz.com/2020/07/25/biz-markie-hospitalized-diabetes/') for an ailment his rep told us was related to his Type II Diabetes. At the time, the rep said, "He is receiving the best care from an amazing team of medical professionals and we remain positive about the outcome."

However, his condition remained somewhat of a mystery until April when Big Daddy Kane made an appearance on The Breakfast Club, telling the show's hosts Biz was doing better, and in a physical rehab facility.

Throughout his hospital stay, rumors swirled Biz was in a coma, but our source says that was never the case.

Born in Harlem, Biz first made a name for himself, nationally and internationally, in 1989 when his single "Just a Friend" became a Top 40 hit in multiple countries and went platinum.

The rapper's career took off after that ... he acted, did comedy, DJ'd and produced music.

The last time we got Biz was at Reagan National Airport in DC where he joked about the unique way ('https://www.tmz.com/2019/06/27/rapper-biz-markie-talks-paying-50-cent-food-stamps/') he paid off a debt to 50 Cent ('https://www.tmz.com/people/50-cent/').

Biz was just 57 years old.

RIP

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This still cracks me up:

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When I was in high school back in the 80s, there was this boy who every day would sing Biz Markie's "Just A Friend" to me on the school bus. :lol:

RIP, Biz Markie. He was only 8 years older than me.

When I was in high school back in the 80s, there was this boy who every day would sing Biz Markie's "Just A Friend" to me on the school bus. :lol:

RIP, Biz Markie. He was only 8 years older than me.

:heart:

:heart:

I really loved his silly song "Just A Friend." "Oh, baby, you got what I need... but you say he's just a friend, you say he's just a friend... oh baby, you..." Every day, that boy from the school bus would sing that to me.

1989, the 12th grade!

I'm sad to read this. I used to listen to Biz Markie quite a bit.

This still cracks me up:

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I have that on my phone. Years ago I had that playing in my car when a couple of friends were with me and they both started laughing like crazy!

I really loved his silly song "Just A Friend." "Oh, baby, you got what I need... but you say he's just a friend, you say he's just a friend... oh baby, you..." Every day, that boy from the school bus would sing that to me.

1989, the 12th grade!

I had no idea until about ten years ago Biz’s song was a cover. More or less, anyway.

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I have that on my phone. Years ago I had that playing in my car when a couple of friends were with me and they both started laughing like crazy!

It’s on the Beastie Boys’ first best-of compilation. When I first bought it back in 1999, and that track started, I had no idea for a few seconds what I was hearing. Then I realized it was Biz and started laughing. Elton’s lyrics in the original are unintelligible and Biz has fun with it.

It’s on the Beastie Boys’ first best-of compilation.

Yeah, that's how I first heard it.

Biz Markie also does a really awesome cover of That's The Way I Like It with Spin Doctors from the Space Jam soundtrack and I knew very little about Biz Markie until I heard this song. And if memory serves correctly Biz Markie appeared in commercials for Pepto Bismol. Some of his other songs included Going Off and Vapors
Bestie

I had no idea until about ten years ago Biz’s song was a cover. More or less, anyway.

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No, it's not really a cover. It's called "samplin'"! I like this version a lot. The very beginning is just like Biz Markie's "Just A Friend."

No, it's not really a cover. It's called "samplin'"! I like this version a lot. The very beginning is just like Biz Markie's "Just A Friend."

I almost used the word “sample,” but I didn’t think it applied because he didn’t use the original recording.

I almost used the word “sample,” but I didn’t think it applied because he didn’t use the original recording.

That's true, but I don't know what else to call it since it is not a "cover." Parts of it are definitely almost the same, especially the piano and the "you got what I need" lyrics.

RIP Bizzie Biz.

He rapped on The Rolling Stones' "Anybody Seen My Baby?" too. Rest in peace.

When I was in high school back in the 80s, there was this boy who every day would sing Biz Markie's "Just A Friend" to me on the school bus. :lol:

RIP, Biz Markie. He was only 8 years older than me.

Biz Markie was only 5 years older than I am.

Ed.

How terribly sad. I hate the song Just A Friend but Biz Markie seemed like a nice guy. May he rest in peace.

Ed.

"Just a Friend" opening was one of the worst Emmy moments (https://theplaylist.net/best-and-worst-2021-emmy-awards-20210919/): "Well, if you wanted to see Rita Wilson rap live, you probably loved it?" says Gregory Ellwood. "But, that number was closer to a bad wedding reception moment than an exciting opening number for an Emmys (https://www.primetimer.com/shows/73rd-primetime-emmy-awards) telecast. Not sure if CBS and the Television Academy were trying to save money on the production budget, but couldn’t they have done a bit more? Even the 2021 Spirit Awards had more production value in its virtual opener this year."

The Emmys' "Just a Friend" cover made promises about diversity the voters didn't keep (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-09-20/emmys-2021-cedric-entertainer-opener-biz-markie-just-a-friend-rap-lyrics): "The Emmy edition of (Biz) Markie’s earworm included nods to classics like. Friends, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Sesame Street, as well as newer favorites including Ted Lasso, Schitt’s Creek and PEN15," says Tracy Brown. "It also included a shoutout to diversity on TV that the awards themselves, which shut out actors of color despite a historic number of nominations, did not reflect."