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Markie in 2014, photo by kathclick /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Marcel Theo Hall
Date of Birth: April 8, 1964
Place of Birth: Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: July 16, 2021
Place of Death: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Ethnicity: African-American
Biz Markie was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer. He was known for his 1989 song “Just a Friend.” He was referred to as the “Clown Prince of Hip Hop,” and was known for his part in hip hop’s golden age. Biz Markie was a member of hip hop collective Juice Crew. Big Daddy Kane was also a member of the group.
Biz was raised in Brentwood and Patchogue, Long Island. He took his first stage name, Bizzy B Markie, from the first hip-hop tape he heard. He was married to Tara Hall, until his death.
Sources: Obituaries of Biz Markie – https://www.theguardian.com https://www.nytimes.com