Biz Markie Dies: ‘Just A Friend’ Rapper & Actor Was 57

Biz Markie this week, with a memorial service for the genre-defining ‘Just A Friend’ icon held yesterday (August 2).The private service, dubbed ‘The Final Show’, took place at New York’s Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts. Among those in attendance were LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Ice-T and Busy Bee, the latter of whom delivered a speech highlighting Markie’s outgoing personality and infectious sense of humour.“Biz was an icon,” Busy Bee said as per Page Six. “He is what we call hip-hop.

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. -- With laughter and tears, songs and stories, friends and family of Biz Markie celebrated his life and legacy at a funeral Monday, remembering the rapper as larger than life and full of love.“He cared for people, he had a way of making us laugh through our pain," said Rev.

 his death was announced on July 16.The star's private memorial — live-streamed on BET's YouTube channel -- took place at the Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts.

Cut through the noise by getting the day's biggest stories sent direct to your inbox

The Biz Never Sleeps. The friend-zone anthem cracked Rolling Stone’s top 100 pop songs and made VH1’s list of 100 greatest hip-hop songs of all time.

Biz Markie – born Marcel Theo Hall, and branded the ‘Clown Prince of Hip Hop’ by virtue of his legendary tenure as a pioneer of the genre, and his inimitable sense of humour – has died at age 57.News of his passing was confirmed by rep Jenni Izumi, who wrote in a statement: “It is with profound sadness that we announce, this evening, with his wife Tara by his side, hip hop pioneer Biz Markie peacefully passed away.

Biz Markie was a rapper best known for his 1989 hit song, “Just a Friend.”Markie had moderate success on R&B radio with his early singles “Make the Music With Your Mouth” (1987) and “Vapors” (1988). But it was “Just a Friend” that made him a star, reaching No.

Biz Markie sadly passed away at 57-years-old on Friday, July 16. His manager confirmed the news with the following statement obtained by HollywoodLife: “It is with profound sadness that we announce, this evening, with his wife Tara by his side, Hip Hop pioneer Biz Markie peacefully passed away. We are grateful for the many calls and prayers of support that we have received during this difficult time.”

Biz Markie, the rapper best known for the hit song “Just a Friend,” died on Friday, July 16. He was 57.

Biz Markie died Friday at age 57. The rapper nicknamed “the clown prince of Hip Hop” was best known for his humorous lyrics, original flow and his 1989 hit single “Just a Friend.”“It is with profound sadness that we announce, this evening, with his wife Tara by his side, Hip Hop pioneer Biz Markie peacefully passed away,” the rapper’s family said in a statement.

news on Facebook on Friday. «To the baddest in the beats icon legend … my brother BIZ MARKIE,» he wrote.

LOS ANGELES -- Biz Markie, a hip-hop staple known for his beatboxing prowess, turntable mastery and the 1989 classic “Just a Friend,” has died. He was 57.Markie’s representative, Jenni Izumi, said the rapper-DJ died peacefully Friday evening with his wife by his side.