#112 Biz Markie (+ Markie Post bonus)

Just in time for Halloween, we've made it to what's likely the most fun card of the 1991 MusiCards set: #112 Biz Markie. All dressed up like a scientist, looks like he's having a blast with those beakers and whatnot. Even if you managed to make it this far in life without hearing "Just a Friend", you can tell right away this guy doesn't take himself too seriously.

Biz also shows up in the Yo! MTV Raps set, with ProSet just swapping the front and back photos there. With a similar crimson backdrop, I'm guessing both photos were from the same playful publicity shoot.

Ha, that write-up is something else. For a more legit bio, here's his Wikipedia entry. The condensed version is Marcel Hall was born in 1964 and grew up on Long Island. His beatboxing helped him make a name for himself in the mid 80s before scoring a mainstream hit in late '89 with a track borrowing from an old song called "(You) Got What I Need" by Freddie Scott.

Biz Markie - "Just a Friend"

"Just a Friend" reached No. 9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and has endured as a touchstone for that era of hip-hop. I remember another cut of his, "Vapors", getting some late night MTV play around that time, and also know him from occasionally turning up in Beastie Boys recordings over the years.

Biz kept performing through the 90s, aughts, and twenty-teens, also growing his pop culture footprint by becoming somewhat of a TV personality and doing voice-acting guest spots for cartoons such as SpongeBob and Adventure Time. Complications from type 2 diabetes unfortunately took Biz from us at the too-young age of 57 in 2021.

CUSTOM CORNER

Hmm.. What would be a fitting bonus custom to add to this Biz Markie post? 

Looks like an answer is within the question! Haha, sure, let's whip up a Markie Post custom.

And yeah, Biz is pronounced "Mar-KEY" while Mz. Post is called "Marky", but just roll with it.

I watched Night Court when I was a kid and loved her on that show. I think she might've even been my first celebrity crush. Her 80s fashion/hair from that time might not've held up great, but still.

In fact, I had to go ahead and make a sexy image variation. This intriguing screenshot is taken from a 1979 episode of Hart To Hart where she plays a prostitute. Yowza

Sadly, Markie passed away from cancer at age 70 in 2021 (just 3 weeks after Biz's passing) but leaves a long list of credits to remember her by, with other highlights of her career including co-starring on the shows The Fall Guy (1982-1985) and later Hearts Afire (1992-1995). I didn't catch either of those shows, but enjoyed seeing her pop up as the mom of Dr. Elliot Reid on Scrubs, and Mary's mom in There's Something About Mary. There's also a great Night Court mini-reunion in a 2008 episode of 30 Rock, an all-time favorite show of mine.

Happy Halloween, guys. Thanks for reading my big "Markie" post and please feel free to comment below with your thoughts regarding either of the Markies covered here.