Remembering Hip Hop Legend Biz Markie 5 Years Later
5 years ago today, on July 16th 2021, beloved hip hop star Biz Markie (Marcel Hall) tragically passed away. The American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ and producer gained prominence during Hip Hop’s ‘golden age’. His creative spirit and iconic voice made him who he was. Often called the “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop”, Markie’s impact stretched beyond his genre of music. His fans keep him alive through new music, archival projects, and strategic partnerships. The legacy of Biz Markie continues to reach new audiences and deepen its cultural impact.
The Legacy of Biz Markie
Not only do his fans adore him, but his peers respect him. His work has been sampled over 1,500 times by legends like The Notorious B.I.G. (“Things Done Changed”), Beastie Boys (“Get It Together”) and The Rolling Stones (“Anybody Seen My Baby?”). More recently however, on May 22nd 2026, rising Texas R&B quartet 2BYG released a singled titled “I Want You”. It revolves around a sample from Biz Markie’s classic “Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz.” Their refreshing take unites two era of culture. It rekindles a once dormant flame and reignites one of hip hop’s most iconic anthems.
November of 2022 saw even more involvement to keep the legacy of Markie alive. Paramount Global announced that Showtime would release a documentary on Biz Markie’s life titled ‘All Up in the Biz‘. Many of his friends and fellow rappers appear in the film, including Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, and Tracy Morgan.
Markie’s music continues to shape contemporary culture. His timeless hit “Just A Friend“, reaching as high as No. 9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, became a key part of the historic New York Knicks Championship run. The platinum-certified hit echoed throughout Madison Square Garden this summer en route to the Knicks first championship in 53 years.
Biz’s influence extends beyond the world of hip hop. Recently, Fat Joe wore a Biz Markie hat on his Joe & Jada podcast. Additionally, one of the lead characters in the final season of hit TV show The Boys wore a Biz Markie shirt. Biz is even featured in Episode 6 of Netflix’s Hip Hop Treasures.
The Biz Markie Estate & Experience
But most of all, the Biz Markie Estate, conducted by Biz’s widow Tara Hall, has become the catalyst for keeping his legacy alive. The Estate manages the intellectual property, music catalog, name, image, and likeness rights of Biz Markie. “Biz always believed in the future of his work, and now it’s my responsibility to protect and carry that forward,” said Tara Hall. They’ve also helped fund foundations like ‘Biz Markie Just A Friend Foundation‘ and ‘Biz Markie’s Emergency Food Pantry‘.
The successful debut of The Biz Markie Experience, unveiled this April, cannot go unmentioned. The New York special exhibition and living archive celebrates Biz’s life, music, career and cultural legacy. It features over 50 artifacts from his personal archive, many of which would have been lost if not for the experience. Rolling Stone described the experience as “a living, breathing timeline of Hip-Hop history.”
Marcel Hall was a hip hop legend. There’s no doubt about it. His humor, vulnerability and originality shone through his music. He was himself and that’s what made him special. Nothing was fake nor fabricated and that’s the legacy he leaves. We must continue to remember those who paved the way for the stars of today. Long live Marcel ‘Biz Markie’ Hall.
Featured Image By: Jerome Ware