#PickoftheWeek | Musical Tribute to Biz Markie in Queens on Sept. 19
BY QEDC It's In Queens
The internationally acclaimed Hip-Hop artist Biz Markie died on July 16, 2021. Queens will honor this unique, larger-than-life entertainer with a special musical tribute in Baisley Pond Park on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 6 pm.
Biz’s longtime deejay, Cutmaster Cool V, who also worked on gold and platinum records with Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, and Technotronic, headlights the lineup along with “Uncle” Ralph McDaniels, a former co-host of Video Music Box who is currently Queens Public Library’s Hip-Hop Coordinator.
Also known as the “Clown Prince of Hip Hop” due to his outrageous costumes and lyrics, Biz was born Marcel Theo Hall in Harlem, but he mostly grew up on Long Island. He came onto the scene as a beatboxer for Roxanne Shante of the Queensbridge-based Juice Crew in 1985. He then had solo hits with “Just A Friend,” “Nobody Beats the Biz,” and “Vapors.”
In the 1990s, Biz transcended boundaries and genres to become a general pop culture icon. He had parts in movies, videos, and television shows, while his likeness appeared on dolls, action figures, and even cereal boxes. The Beastie Boys featured him on three of their releases and the Rolling Stones sampled him.
The concert, presented by Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. and Kupferberg Center for the Arts, is free and open to the public. Baisley Pond Park is in the vicinity of North Conduit Avenue, Sutphin Boulevard, 116th Street, and 150th Street in Southeast Queens.