Music fans have been mourning the loss of rapper Biz Markie, who passed away on July 16. The “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop” had been subjected to death hoax rumors for months, but unfortunately, the news about his death is true this time. Though the cause of death has not yet been specified, Markie had recently been under medical care for complications related to Type II diabetes. Take a look back at his career highlights and find out what Biz Markie’s net worth was.
Biz Markie’s Biggest Hit Was ‘Just A Friend’
Biz Markie was born Marcel Theo Hall in New York on April 8, 1964. The East Coast rapper was known for his unique brand of comedic rap. Songs like “Vapors” and “Pickin’ Boogers” were underground hits in the 1980s, but his 1989 single “Just a Friend” put him on the map. It clinched the last spot on VH1’s 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs; it was also certified platinum seven months after its release.
In terms of mainstream appeal, Biz Markie is considered a one-hit-wonder. But among the hip-hop community—Gen Xers in particular—he’s a legend.
Even though Biz Markie’s future songs never matched the success of “Just a Friend,” he remained a fixture in pop culture. In 2005, he joined the cast of VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club; two years later, he joined the crew on Season 4 of Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘N Out. His playful style even earned him a regular beatboxing spot on Nick Jr.’s Yo Gabba Gabba!
What Is Biz Markie’s Net Worth?
Biz Markie’s net worth is an estimated $1 million.
His modest fortune wasn’t built on “Just a Friend” alone. The rapper had countless guest spots on other artists’ albums (Beastie Boys, Will Smith) and his song “Vapors” was included in the soundtrack for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. There’s live performance money, too—in 2008, he was the opening act for Chris Rock’s No Apologies tour.
He also earned paychecks as a voice actor, lending his signature lisp to SpongeBob SquarePants and Adventure Time.
Most recently, he appeared on an episode of Black-ish and hosted a weekday radio show on LL Cool J’s Sirius XM channel Rock the Bells Radio.
We send our condolences to Biz Markies family, friends, and loved ones.