Cut Chemist has released a seventy-minute tribute to Biz Markie on Mixcloud. Cut Chemist tribute to Biz Markie is an hour and ten-minute recording of Biz Markie’s songs, live shows and interviews. There are also different people talking about Biz’s songs, old commercial recordings and some guy who “heard everything first.” Sometimes it’s hard to tell what was recorded before the tribute and what Cut Chemist or other Jurassic 5 members added.
In an interview for HipHopDX, Cut Chemist talked about the recording and his relationship with Biz Markie. “Biz was a mentor and a friend,” Cut Chemist said, “He taught me so much as a collector. He also taught me that you could be unlike anyone else and still be accepted. Working on a song together felt natural, like two friends diggin music and then building off of that to make music. It was a true honor to get to know him as best I could over the last 25 + years.”
Biz Markie
Biz Markie died a month ago from complications caused by Type II diabetes. The New York rapper, DJ, record producer, actor, comedian and writer dropped his debut record Goin Off in 1988. His 1989 The Biz Never Sleeps album made him internationally famous and got the hit single “Just A Friend” a No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Biz left a legacy in Hip-Hop. At his funeral, DJ Cutmaster Cool V, Roxanne Shante and Rev. Al Sharpton have spoken. Maseo, Redman, Ice T, Fat Joe and Big Daddy Kane also visited the ceremony. Some people in London have even built a tribute mural.
The Universal Hip-Hop Museum sent their regrets as well: “The Universal Hip Hop Museum is saddened by the news about Biz Markie’s death. His wit, humor, and creative genius will live on forever at the museum.”
