They are millions to have, like him, sung out of tune on the chorus of
Just a Friend,
his greatest hit: Biz Markie, the "friend" of hip-hop, died Friday at 57, according to his entourage.
"Biz left an artistic legacy that will be celebrated forever by his peers in the industry
(music, editor's note)
and his beloved fans whose lives he has been able to touch through music for over 35 years"
, his representative Jenni Izumi wrote in a statement to AFP.
Biz Markie died with his wife by his side, she said.
No information on the cause of his death was provided.
"I will miss you so much my friend, it hurts."
So many memories, ”
responded rapper Q-Tip, also a native of Harlem, New York.
Known for his beatboxing skills and his self-deprecating lyrics, Marcel Theo Hall launched his career in the mid-1980s. The release in 1989 of the tasty “Just a Friend” had propelled the career of the “Clown”. of Hip-Hop ”in the light.
His autobiographical song "Vapors", in which he recalled his teenage ambitions, was covered by Snoop Dogg in 1997.
He also played a small alien role in the movie "Men in Black II" starring Will Smith.
"New York humor"
More recently, Biz Markie had distinguished himself for his talents as a DJ.
He had participated in musical shows with several new rap stars like Cordae.
Biz Markie had also made several appearances on the big screen, often to play a humorous take on himself and even lent his voice to the cartoon
SpongeBob SquarePants
.
His fame went far beyond the borders of New York or the United States, the artist performing regularly abroad, such as at the Bataclan, in Paris.
“Biz Markie turned hip-hop upside down and introduced New York's sense of humor to audiences around the world,”
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter.
"We are mourning a real son from Harlem tonight."
A few months ago, Biz Markie himself was moved by the death of another great New Yorker, the rapper DMX.
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