Lyrics | Artists | Biz Markie

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Biz Markie

Rap music

Soul music

Old school hip hop

Biz Markie's combination of hip-hop swagger and humorous songwriting made him a star during the late 1980s, when the song "Just a Friend" became a platinum-selling crossover hit. He was born in Harlem, New York, on April 8, 1964, and discovered hip-hop as a young teenager. Goin' Off, his 1988 debut, was a surprise hit that charted at Number 19 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, while 1989's The Biz Never Sleeps peaked at Number 9. "Just a Friend," the latter record's biggest single, found an audience not only amongst rap fans, but pop fans, as well, making Biz Markie one of the ge...